PSY 181 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Play Therapy, Motivation, Externalization

• School: University of Rochester
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 181
• Professor: C H R I S T O P H E R N I E M I E C

Document Summary

Major theoretical contributors: virginia axline, hiam ginott, clark moustakas. Play is the emotional language of children. Children don"t have the necessary verbal skills for therapy, so play is considered an expression of their phenomenal field. Therapist must accept all of child"s feelings with unconditional positive regard. Two types of children in play therapy: Internalizers: children who have neuroses that stem from repression. Aim is to elicit child"s feelings by creating a permissive environment in which child can play and fully express those feelings. Externalizers: children who cause problems in the world and have a difficult time controlling their impulses. Important to separate feelings from behaviors in play therapy. All feelings are acceptable, but not all behaviors are acceptable and behavior limits must be set for harmful behaviors. Limit setting: limits are genuine, not arbitrary. Limit setting facilitates the child"s expression of unpleasant emotions in a healthy way. The therapist provides an acceptable outlet for these unpleasant emotions.