adding a little play to your day
TRANSCRIPT
Adding a Little Play to Your Day: Therapists Learning to Play
Much of this comes from Child Parent Relationship Training by Dr Garry
Landreth and Dr Sue Bratton.
Copyright (c) 2006, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. From Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) Treatment Manual: A 10-Session Filial Therapy Model for Training Parents, by Bratton, S.,
Landreth, G., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S.R. (2006). New York: Routledge. Permission to reproduce is granted.
Adding Some Play to Our Presentation!
Introducing Mrs. Plays-Alot• She is a loveable, but misguided play
therapist.• Her intentions are good, but her mistakes
go from harmless and funny to extremely serious.
Can you spot her mistake?
First phone call with prospective client:
Rules of ThumbFocus on the donut, not the hole
Be a thermostat, not a thermometerWhat’s most important may not be what you do, but what you do after what
you did!Grant in fantasy what you can’t in reality.
Encourage the effort rather than praise the product.
Group Discussion Worksheet
In working with child clients, what they say and what they mean can be very different. We are going to practice
noticing emotions. This helps us to communicate the Be With Attitudes.
Rules of ThumbNever do for a child what they can do for themselves.
When a child is drowning, don’t try to teach them to swim.During play sessions, limits aren’t needed until they are
needed.
Big Group DiscussionLets talk about some of the reactions we have seen by
clients in session.
Adding Some Play to Our Presentation!
Mrs. Plays-A lot meets with her prospective client family for the first time
Mistake?
Rules of ThumbThe clinicians toes should follow their nose.
You can’t give away that which you don’t possess.
Basic Principles for Play Sessions Structure your time, place, toys to
promote freedom. Your major task is to understand the
child—not to know the answers. Communicate that understanding to
the child. Set very firm, but few limits, as you
go-- not at the beginning.
Basic Principles of Play Sessions
Goals
Child plays to communicate thoughts, feelings, needs to the clinician who then reflects them back
Child experiences acceptance and learns to meet needs appropriately.
Clinician understands child and can make better recommendations, interventions, etc.
Adding Some Play to Our Presentation!
Mrs. Plays-A lot talks to parents about their child’s play.
Rules of ThumbIf you can’t say it in 10 words or less, don’t.
WHERE THERE ARE NO LIMITS, THERE IS NO SAFETY.
Christy’s Play Room
Toy Checklist: No batteries No broken toys Displayed well and consistently Toys should be chosen, not tossed in Easily replaced Not special to clinician
Toy ChecklistReal Life Toys
oBaby dolloBottleoDoctor KitoPhonesoFamilyoPlay MoneyoAnimalsoCarsodishes
Toy ChecklistAggressive Toys
Dart Guns [shoot yourself!] Rubber knife/dagger Rope Aggressive animal with mouth Army Men Mask
Toy ChecklistCreative/Emotionally Expressive Toys
Play Doh Crayons, markers, pencils Plain white paper Scissors Tape Egg Carton Deck of cards Foam ball
Special Instructions about Guns
Shoot yourself first!
Basic Limit Setting Acknowledge the Feeling [Notice!] Communicate the Limit Target an appropriate alternative
ACT before its too late%21.mp4
What to do in your sessions
Set the stage Let the child lead Join actively in the play as a follower Track Play Reflect—NOTICE—feelings Set firm and consistent limits Encourage the effort Talk!
What not to do in session
Sleep [or not talk] Evaluate behavior/feelings Ask anything Allow interruptions Teach or preach Initiate
After the session, then what? Write a complete note—include toys,
emotions, important statements, limits given, etc.
Wonder about how the child experiences the world.
Consider how to use this experience to inform homework or recommendations for the parents
Adding a little play to our presentation
Mrs. Plays-Alot goes to court.
Special Topics Ethics When to refer out Structuring for Freedom Structured Doll Play