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