The theory of therapy that I have personalized and developed is that of an Integrative Play Therapy Approach (IPT). Gil, Konrath, Shaw, Goldin & McTaggart Bryan (2015) describe this method as an approach which utilizes a combination of two or more therapeutic styles. This will allow my personal theory to be customized as needed to meet varying client needs. In developing my individual theoretical orientation of therapy, I took into consideration my experiences within the field and my previous education, as well as my own values, personality traits and my natural therapeutic style. Additionally, the setting in which this therapeutic style is being utilized is taken into account. Given this, it is important to highlight that my approach will …show more content…
A positive relationship between the client and an empathetic therapist provides the client with a safe space and opportunity to express themselves and feel understood and accepted. Building the client-therapist relationship will occur at the onset of therapy, and will continue to be built and maintained throughout the process. A relationship is built through engagement between the two parties, particularly the therapist being involved and interested in what the client is interested in at that time (Cavett, 2015). This includes asking questions to show interest and allowing the client to take the lead on play. In encouraging a supportive relationship, a large component is the client feeling not only understood by the therapist, but also to feel accepted by the therapist throughout the therapeutic process. Building relationship within my therapeutic practice will include providing praise to the client for their effort within therapy, rather than focusing on the quality of how they are doing in therapy. Kottman and Ashby (2015) reflect on this by explaining that this is a way to build confidence within the client and portray to them that they are competent in learning and doing things for themselves. After …show more content…
My theory will include both directive and non-directive approaches, focusing on building a supportive client-therapist relationship, a full lifestyle assessment and understanding of the client’s belief system, as well as engaging in a strength based, goal-oriented practice which focuses on changing thoughts and choices, through education to the client and building self-regulation within the
This study looked at the therapeutic relationship and its influence in the process of Child-centered play therapy (CCPT). An exploratory single subject quantitative-qualitative design was used to examine therapist relational variables and their associations with changes in children’s behavior in CCPT (Hilliard, 1993; Jordans, Komproe, Tol, Nsereko, & De Jong, 2013). Specifically, we examined changes in levels of therapist process variables and their corresponding relationships with changes in children’s behaviors within and between cases to better understand therapeutic processes that impact child behavior, as well as the therapeutic relationship.
Melanie Klein was born on March 30th 1882, born in Vienna, Austria. Melanie was going to go to attend medical school but family fortunes disabled that process. Melanie was the last of four siblings. Growing up, Melanie’s relationship with her mother, Libussa Reize, was always difficult causing depression later on in her life. Having her sights set on studying at the gymnasium, in 1898 she passed her entrance exams for psychiatric medicine. At age twenty-one she got married to Arthur Klein, who was an industrial chemist and they had three children. Melanie first experienced psychoanalysis when she began taking treatment after her mother’s death.
Rye N. Child-Centred Play Therapy. In: JH Stone, M Blouin, editors. International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation. 2010.
The authors of the article suggested that future studies should account for the client’s desires to please the therapist and have a larger sample size. The authors concluded that “it appears that a form of being-with and being-for the client cultivates a well-balanced and open human relationship where the core uncertainties and existential concerns about the meaning of the world and of being-in-the-world can not only be addressed but challenged” (Oliveira, Sousa, and Pires, 2012, p. 301). Challenging the client about how they react to the world provides a positive change in the client during therapy.
Wehrman, J. D., & Field, J. E. (2013). Play-Based Activities in Family Counseling. American Journal of Family Therapy, 41(4), 341-352. doi:10.1080/01926187.2012.704838
Together, therapist and patient examine not only a situation that the client was involved in, but also the client’s experience of the event. This is done in the relational context of the therapeutic relationship, allowing experiences to evolve and for deepening and articulation to cause change.
The psychotherapies that I most support are a hybrid of two therapies, Carl Rogers’ nondirective Person/Client-Centered Approach and Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Approach. To put it simply, I call it the Person-Centered Cognitive Approach to psychotherapy. A collaboration of these two approaches is what I feel to be the most effective way to help clients achieve homeostasis and growth. I believe the client/therapist relationship is important, and this is why I support the Roger’s Person-Centered therapy and feel it is effective. If the client/therapist relationship is agreeable the atmosphere of the therapeutic relationship will allow for the client to open up, trust the therapist, and allow them to aid the client to move in a constructive direction (Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy). Beck’s Cognitive Therapy also puts great emphasis on a collaborative therapeutic relation, but the reason I support this approach opposed to behavioral approaches is because it says we are what we think (Corsini & Wedding, 2008), and in order for us to be able to change we have to become aware and evaluate our thoughts (Rosner, 2012).
O’conner, K. & Braverman, L. (2009) Play Therapy, Theory and Practice; Wiley & Sons, Inc, Hoboken, New Jersey.
Carl R. Rogers theorized that through providing a certain kind of relationship with the client, one in which empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence were present, the client would “discover within himself the capacity to the relationship for growth, and change and personal development” . As a counselor empathy is essential as it allows me to enter my clients internal frame of reference, while still retaining a problem-solving stance. Entering the client’s internal frame of reference means I must consider the emotions and thoughts of the client, it is similarly vital not to get lost in the internal frame of reference as this creates the distinction between sympathy and empathy. Unconditional positive regard, also called acceptance is essential as it plays a role in creating a helping relationship in which the client feels safe to express any negative emotions or thoughts, while being...
My personal approach to counseling comes from several different theoretical frameworks. Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) has the most influence in what I would consider my personal approach. I truly believe that the way an individual feels about themselves will impact them more than anything else. When an individual feels that they are not good enough then they will continue to struggle in all aspects of their life. Thoughts affect our feelings and our behaviors; therefore, if you are able to change an individual’s negative thinking then you are able to change their feelings and behaviors. Therapists must be able to challenge an individual’s irrational beliefs about themselves and work to change these to more rational thinking. Studies have shown that individuals who are trying to lose weight will have more success if they just believe that they are capable of losing the weight. Just their positive thinking can enhance their personal diet and exercise. REBT will have the greatest impact when working with clients in my personal theory but I will also take many aspects from other theories as well.
To explain, the client should not be inferior to the counselor; the environment should be two people discussing an issue and ways to make a difference. A therapist should occasionally share similar experiences; therefore, sessions should make clients feel comfortable. To add, the client should feel safe due to the positive atmosphere the therapist brings to the session. The goal is to finally give the client a chance to be heard, regularly people are muted and feel like they are insignificant to society. Similarly, to Person-centered therapy where communication with the client is unconditionally positive. The therapist needs to genuinely care about the client needs for them to fully express themselves successfully. Furthermore, clients should be encouraging to make their own choices which model how to identify and use power responsibly. Hence, this will help the client feel more confident in everyday life when making a meaningful
Reflecting on my work as a therapist, I recognize the importance of the therapeutic relationship. For instance, in EFT the therapist, “the therapeutic relationship, characterized by presence, empathy, acceptance, and congruence, helps clients to feel safe enough to face dreaded feelings and painful memories (Greenberg, 2014).
Within the therapeutic alliance, the clinician-client relationship can be critical to the outcome of therapy. If a client does not feel that his or her feelings, expressions, and or thoughts matter to the therapist, there is no alliance much less a relationship. When a client feels invested in it can certainly change the outcome of therapy. For instance if a client has come to therapy with feelings of inadequacy, lack of visibility and indifference if the therapist treats him or her in the same manner it is highly unlikely the client will return to this clinician. A study (Friedlander, Bernardi, and Lee, 2010) shows that outcomes were more negative when clients felt clinician lack of engagement and involvement in session.
This is a counselling method used to help youngsters communicate their inner experiences through using toys and play. Nondirective play therapy is a non-pathologizing technique founded on the belief that youngsters have the internal drive to attain wellness (Petruk, 2009). Play therapy is grounded on the theory that play is a youngster’s language, the toys considered the words a youngster uses to express or show their inner experiences and how they experience and perceive the world. Within a play session, and throughout the course of sessions, themes develop in the youngster’s play, giving the therapist insight into the child’s feelings, thoughts, experiences, and interpretations of their world (Petruk,
As the semester comes down to an end, I have realized how much I have grown. My knowledge for play therapy was not as large as it is now. I am so thankful that I was able to be in this class and learn what I have learned. The skill set I have gained has helped me tremendously with my practice.