Play Therapy and Trauma

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how childhood trauma is one of the most likely reasons why an individual child and his or her parents, might seek therapy. It discusses whether there is empirical evidence to suggest that play therapy can be an effective tool for the development of trust between children who have experienced trauma and the therapist.

Outline:
Introduction
Definitions and Significance of Trauma
Definition of Play Therapy
Search Strategies
Review of Literature and Evidence Evaluation
Methodology
Findings of Research
Limitations
Discussion
Implications

From the Paper:

"For children trauma can be anything that disturbs the ability of the child to trust his or her environment, the people both known and unknown in life and the standard set of expectations for events and occurrences now and in the future. Children who have experienced trauma, be it personal or witnessed must develop a whole new set of coping mechanisms to both reestablish trust for their surroundings and for people they come in contact with. As, trust development is a whole goal of self preservation and learning in childhood, and for those at risk a hard won victory of mind over matter, trust often becomes the central issue for recovery. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cattanach, A. (2003). Introduction to Play Therapy. New York: Brunner-Routledge.
• Clupper, L. (2005). Understanding Childhood Trauma. Intervention in School & Clinic, 40(4), 251.
• Dolezal, C., & Carballo-Dieguez, A. (2002). Childhood Sexual Experiences and the Perception of Abuse among Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men. The Journal of Sex Research, 39(3), 165.
• Jessee, P. O., Wilson, H., & Morgan, D. (2000). Medical Play for Young Children. Childhood Education, 76(4), 215.
• Jones, K. D. (2002). The Impact of Learning about Child Abuse Trauma. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 41(1), 45.

More papers on Play Therapy and Trauma:

• Research Paper # 16996 : "Utilizing Play Therapy with Sexually Abused Children"
• Essay # 143802 : "The Controversy Surrounding Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR)"
• Essay # 95292 : "Child Abuse"

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