Child-Centered Play Therapy approach offers a different play therapy model by advancing with a humanistic point of view rather than just conveying information. The principle of "accepting the client as they are" of Carl Rogers, the advocate of humanistic philosophy, forms the basis of this approach. We act with the thought that each individual is unique and valuable. The therapist does not claim to be superior or wiser than the child; on the contrary, he steps into the playroom, accepting the child's experiences and reality. Here, we descend into the child's world, travel with him and witness his world.
In Child-Centered Play Therapy, as therapists, we look at the child's world through a window. When the child wants to invite us into that world, he lets us step in and welcomes us there. However, if the child is not ready or does not want this invitation, we do not pressure. It is the child's choice to get us there, and in either case, we make it clear that we want to witness it. This testimony is good for the child. In some cases, children can also do this outside. He excitedly said to his mom, dad or some other elder, "Come, what am I going to show you now. I'll play, you just watch. Sit here and watch, okay?" they want to share their own experiences, but they prefer to just share without letting you get involved. Child-Centered Play Therapy is shaped around this witnessing.
Children begin to explore the world using their imaginations. Play is a basic learning tool for them and supports their emotional development. Therefore, a play therapy approach that shows flexibility according to the individual needs of the child seems more appropriate. Every child's needs are different. Play therapy helps children to develop their emotional expression skills and strengthen their ability to cope with problems. However, their understanding of play is different from adults. Play has become not only entertainment for children, but also an area where they experience life and learn (Buharalı, 2019). These natural games offer children the opportunity to create a space of their own and allow them to freely express their inner world. child-centered play therapy And it has the purpose of witnessing this inner world.
The main argument of child-centered play therapy is this: "The child has the power to heal himself and to move into a state of inner well-being. If he is released, he will be prone to progress in this direction. " The task of the counselor is to provide a safe space for the child and to witness his self-discovery and self-healing; participation is to the extent that it allows the participation of the child. The aim of the therapists is to establish the therapeutic relationship and to provide the child with an environment where they can change (Geldard, 2013). In this process, it is important to include the family in the process. It should be noted that in cases where cooperation with the family cannot be achieved, progress may be hindered. For a healthy and lasting process, cooperation should be made with the family and parental counseling should be offered to them. The family should also be prepared for the changes in the child.
"IT IS RELATIONSHIP THERAPY; IT IS NOT PREPARATION FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE OR THERAPY.”
Garry L., Landreth
Child-centered play therapy reaches the child in the playroom, which is a natural environment. The therapy process offers the child the opportunity to reflect his inner world without guidance. The key here is the relationship. The language of this relationship is play, and this language is universal. One nice thing about play therapy is that it can also be effective for children who have not yet learned to speak. Toys replace words and you can continue the process without verbal communication with the child. You can do emotional and behavioral projections, but the child may not respond or respond because he or she cannot speak. This process does not prevent achievements.
According to studies conducted in our country (Demirer, 2021), play therapy plays an effective role in reducing children's anxiety levels. The findings obtained from the research show that the total anxiety levels of preschool children aged 4-6 years after the application of play therapy decreased significantly compared to the period before the application.
In Demirer's (2021) study, 8-11 years of age Separation anxiety, general anxiety, panic, social phobia, OCD, depression, total anxiety and total anxiety-depression levels differed before and after the play therapy application. has been observed. After the application, it was determined that the levels of separation anxiety, general anxiety, panic, social phobia, OCD, depression, total anxiety and total anxiety-depression decreased significantly in the children aged 8 and above (Demirer, 2021).
Game. In addition to providing many benefits in children, therapy also has some limitations. Although it is effective in working with behavioral and emotional problems, it is not functional in working with neuro-developmental disorders. For example, in cases such as autism spectrum, specific learning difficulties and attention deficit, direct child-centered play therapy is not suitable for solving these problems. However, child-centered play therapy can be used to support the development of these individuals in different areas or to solve different problems. However, when used for the above-mentioned problem titles, it may have limitations in providing functional results.
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