Publication Date
2010
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Department
School for Social Work
Keywords
Play therapy, Client-centered psychotherapy, Nondirective, Directive play therapy, Play
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how play therapists determine when to use a directive versus nondirective treatment approach with children. Eleven therapists who engage in play therapy with children participated in individual interviews designed to collect their perspectives about their preferred play therapy treatment approach. Participants were selected through a non-random convenience snowball sampling technique from across New England. The findings of this study reflect for this sample, there does not appear to be a uniform method of determining when a directive versus nondirective play therapy treatment approach is utilized. Participants tend to determine treatment method based on their personalities and educational backgrounds, suggesting that the needs of the client may be less important than the comfort level of the therapist when determining treatment approach. These findings suggest that a more thorough educational structure is needed for effective clinical social work practice with children and families.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Andrews, Carolyn, "Who directs the play and why? an exploratory study of directive versus nondirective play therapy" (2010). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/1169
Comments
iii, 61 p. Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2010. Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-52)