THE ROLE OF PLAY IN THE CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS

Russ (2004) discussed the development of adaptive abilities in children and the role of play as a means of getting through emotions which are not express through words. She stated that a child conveys feelings and say things which are not expressed through words and yet manifest it through the means of free play. She further stated that a child can learn to solve his issues, deals with emotional disturbance, stress and loneliness through creativity and the use of fantasy. She also added that play serves as a window to look into the child’s inner struggles and how they cope through the emotional process.

GESTALT PLAY THERAPY

INTRODUCTION

Gestalt Play Therapy was first introduced by Violet Oaklander in 1988. It focuses on the humanistic approach to therapy by giving importance to the wholeness of the child through the integration of creativity which involves the senses, emotions, body and the child’s intellect which is why it is often referred to as creative therapy. Accordingly, play takes a significant part on the child’s mental and physical developmental processes. Through dramatization and taking various roles, a child can become aware of himself, gain understanding of the outside world and how he associates to his surrounding without harming himself. In contrary to what adults think, play is not a mere tool for passing the time but rather it is an expression of the child’s interpretation of himself of which cannot be express through words. Gestalt play therapy is based on the understanding that unlike adults, children often have a difficult time expressing themselves much more on understanding themselves. Therefore, pretend act can be a helpful tool to communicate with them and gain an understanding on how they feel and be aware of what they are going through so problematic behavior and emotions can be resolved. Gestalt Therapy also provides children a safe environment of which they can express their emotions especially anger and frustrations. Carmichael (2006) mentioned the basic principles of Gestalt Therapy which are; figure-ground, organismic self-regulation, I/Thou relationship, and contract and resistance.

Figure-ground are the means of communication and representation. It also conveys two different aspects of the child, the foreground of which are verbal emotions or issues that the child and the therapist are aware of, and the background which relates to the issues that the therapist and the child are not aware of. These could be problems or matters that affect the child. The orgasmic-self regulation is the constant urge to find satisfaction and in order to fulfill those needs, children will strive to do whatever they are capable of in order to express and satisfy those needs. However, since children have not yet fully reached the age of maturation, certain developmental changes and alterations may confuse them. The struggle to distinguish what is true of themselves, others and environment are deliberately dealt with in Gestalt Therapy. Children who experienced abuse, trauma and abandonment may experience anger and yet they may choose to suppress it in fear of rejection. Therefore may take a non-directive approach to express it such as; getting sick, being destructive, social withdrawal, or hurting themselves. Gestalt Therapy views aggression as a means of maintaining a balance and healthy development in children. Gestalt Therapy believes that children should be able to learn to communicate their emotions and their needs in order for them to become a better individual.

Contact and resistance are two most important principles being considered in Gestalt Therapy. If there is willingness and a positive behavior between the therapists and the child, a healthy relationship is being developed. Gestalt Therapy believes that a healthy contact is when the intellect, the body and the mind is fully aware of the relationship being build up between the child and the therapist. However, contact diminishes if there is a resistance and the child blocks his emotions and channel it inwards.

A healthy contact is pursued in order to help the child attains a feeling of security. However, a therapist must also respect resistance and considers the limits. Constant resistance from the child may convey an important aspect that matters to the child. He may change the subject, ignore the therapist or become distracted a sign of which he refuse to deal with a certain issue. Gestalt Therapy then encourages the child to express their feeling and emotions through representation. By directing the subject to an object or interpretation of the self, the child gains a better understanding of himself. By creating scenarios and asking question, the therapist can also gain insight on the child’s altered behavior. It is important that the child becomes aware of his emotions how his body reacts to his emotions and how he can use it to relate to others.

TOY SELECTION

Toy selection is very important in the use of Gestalt Therapy. The toys must provide the child and the therapist with inspirations which encourage creativity, motivation and direction. It must assist the child in a creative expression of their fantasy and imagination. It should be properly selected so that it will appear to the child’s senses such as smelling, hearing, taste, seeing and touch. Gestalt Therapists’ chooses toys or materials that help children’s sensory interpretation and encourage self expression.

Carmichael (2006) also includes the following of what Oaklander would include as appropriate toys for Gestalt Play Therapy:

·         Art Materials: paper in all sizes, felt tip pens, crayons, pastels, colored pencils, finger paints, and similar art supplies. Various gadgets can also be added such as: kitchen timer, stop watch, egg hourglass type timer, counters and beads.

·         Creative play projects: books, writing materials, tape recorder, pictures, projective test, puppets, flannel board, sand tray, drawing, open-ended fantasies, video tape, walkie-talkie, toy microphone, imaginary television set.

·         Self expression through music: guitar, autoharp, keyboard, recorded music, folksongs and guided fantasies.

·         Collage materials: many types of paper, paints, strings and yarns, fabric scraps, colored sand, beads, shell, or anything appealing in texture or color.

·         A basin of water and various pouring materials which can be use in sand play or water play. Carmichael (2006) also added plaster, wax, soap, wood, wire, metal, paper, pipe cleaners, straws, boxes, plastic foam, or items that can be sculpt and construct.  Depending on the age of the children, Gestalt Therapist may also include nails, hammers, glue, staples, screws, nuts, bolts, hand drill, screw driver and coping saw.

·         Clay is also an essential tool to include in the playroom. Clay can be a good tool to engage children in self expression since clay appeals to the sense of touch making children express their emotion through handling the clay. They may hit, pound and punch the clay in anger. And since clay can take different shapes thus making it virtually mistake proof, it is suitable for children who often fears to make mistakes.

ROLE OF THE THERAPIST

Since Gestalt Play therapists’ use play interpretation as a means for intervention, it is very important that they create a setting of which the children can be able to work through the issues which they are facing. The therapist must display an interest in the play process and should focus on the “what” and “how” of behavior rather than the why. In examining a child’s drawing of his family, McConaughy (2005) suggested to ask questions such as; “who are the people in your picture?”, “what are they doing?”, “tell me about the people in your picture”, “what kind of person is___?”, “how does __ feel in that picture?”, “what is __thinking?”, “what is going to happen next in your picture?”. The therapist must also maintain an appropriate attitude towards the child. It must be taken into account that the therapist displays genuine and authentic attitude towards the relationship without conveying judgments or being patronizing. The therapist must focus the issue being resolve and must not be distracted regardless how the child may behave. It also important that the child must understand that the therapist doesn’t take the role of the parents and that personal issue must be guarded so that the therapist may avoid responses which may harm the child. The therapist must display integrity, courage to resolve personal feelings as well as acknowledge personal limitations. The therapist must also provide a specific exercise and use guided fantasies which will then be interpreted through the child’s drawings, storytelling, sand-tray simulation, or through drama. A Gestalt therapist may use experiments or activities to promote the use of imagination to help children explore their inner feelings and help them become aware of themselves and be able to understand his relationship to the outside world. It is important to remember that the child leads the play and the therapist does not direct but follows the child and what direction the child leads.

The following are activities that a Gestalt Therapist can use:
Use visual exercise to help children express their feelings and problematic issues.
Children may draw themselves to express how they see themselves.
Children can draw an emotional response to music, drama, fantasy, poem or dream.
Children can also draw opposites such as; sad/happy, angry/calm, good/bad, love/hate and others.

Children also draw a roadmap of their life and encourage them to include bumps, mountains, or anything that relates to them. They can then show where the road leads and what will it be like. They may include and draw themselves where they are on the road.

The therapist must also focus on the play process and observe how the child connects with the toys and how he approaches it. It is also important to observe what toys the child chooses and avoid. That way the therapist can gain an understanding on how the child views his world as well as focus on the content of play especially the manifestation of loneliness, anger and aggression, nurturance and tragedy.

STRUCTURING THE SESSION

The therapist will start the session by asking the child to take part in an activity. Then the child will be ask to describe, share and talk about his drawings or take part in a role play. The therapist will look into a child’s drawing and ask him to elaborate on the figures and the color he chooses. The child will be asked how he relates himself to his drawing as well as how he sees others and the world around him. The therapist will also encourage and guide the child to create a dialogue between two figures, colors or objects in his drawing. For example the therapist will ask, “What will the triangle say to the circle?” “What would the circle say back to the triangle?”

The therapist will also take into account the colors that are used in the drawing. The following are examples of questions the therapist can ask the child:

·         What do bright colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         What do dark colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         What do dull colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         What exciting colors mean to you? What colors are those?

·         Which color will you use on this drawing? Will you use the bright colors or the dark colors?

In Gestalt Therapy the therapist will also consider how much pressure the child makes in applying the colors or how often a child uses a certain color. In every session the therapist must consider every element used and she must be able to build an awareness how those elements relate to the child’s emotions. It is also important that the child is aware of when the therapy starts and ends. Oaklander suggested that cleaning up is a good signal for the child so he knows that the session is over. It is also important that the child is aware that play has a purpose and there is a time limit to the activity. The child will not be allowed to stay longer and must be taught that the toys and other materials should be respected and toys in the playroom should not be abused or the therapist.

PARENTS INVOLVEMENT

Parents’ involvement is also important in Gestalt therapy. It is suggested that the parents themselves will take the child to the therapy and include him in every conversation they have with the therapist. That way the child is aware of the problems and issues being put to awareness. It is also significant that the therapist get acquainted with the family dynamics as well as how the child behaves in school. Parents are also given task and experiment however it is important to respect the parents and must not coerce them to do an experiment which they are not comfortable doing. When the parents agreed to an activity or experiment they are comfortable with. The therapist will then allow the child to choose an activity he can do at home. The termination of the therapy will also be discussed with the parents as well as the progress of the child.

TERMINATION OF THE THERAPY

Carmichael (2006) quoted Oaklander that a child must not be in a therapy for a long time. The therapist must consider whether therapy is making the child better or making him worst. When the therapy reached to a certain point where progress is not possible the therapist must consider it a termination phase. Furthermore termination must be considered if the child becomes stable and is showing an interest in other activities and social interactions. The therapist must also talk to the school and the parents in order to monitor the progress of the child so necessary measure for termination or continuance can be made. The therapist must also talk openly with the child especially saying goodbye. It could be difficult for the child to separate from the therapist however he must be aware that ending the therapy is a good sign which shows that he is capable of self awareness and is ready to deal with other social interactions.

ASSESSMENTS AND TECHNIQUE

Techniques and assessment in Gestalt therapy includes the use of “expressive-aids”. Oaklander (1997) suggested the use fantasy drawings and imagination. She added that through the use of these techniques the child is able to make physical and emotional contact. She also suggest to use techniques that stimulate the senses. The therapy also uses the empty chair technique to help the child channel his feelings towards others. The child is also asked to talk about their dreams and address them through the use of puppets and other tools that would aid them express their feelings of which the therapist will guide the child and go through the different characters in their dreams. The goal of Gestalt therapy is to let the child become aware of the abstract feelings and encourage them to express it through refining their senses which will help them cope with issues and problems.

Children who have been traumatized become disconnected with their body and their senses. It is the goal of Gestalt therapy to draw awareness to the self and get to know their feelings and unlock those emotions through the help of expressive play. Moreover, children should be able to gain control over their lives and learn to express their feelings towards the outside world in a healthy and safe manner. Therefore, it the goal of Gestalt Therapy helps children develop a strong self awareness and the use of play and exaggerated movement will serve as a tool to help them express those emotions. 

Reference:  Carmicheal K.D. (2006) Play Therapy An Introduction