Abstract
Behavioural and emotional problem is commonly reported in childhood, some cases require psychological management. Non-directive therapeutic play or child-led play that always involve spontaneous drawing, is one of the most natural and potential means to work with children, yet it is not being fully utilised and explored. This is a single case study, of a 6-year-old girl, referred for therapeutic child-led play skill session for being easily irritable and aggressive at home. Following 20 sessions with a trained therapeutic play practitioner, mother reported marked improvement in her child’s emotional regulation. We explored the child’s emotional standing when she was drawing, as well as the changes that evolved as we analysed series of drawings she produced throughout the therapy. We conclude that careful analyses of spontaneous drawing, coupled with in-session behavioural observation, and reflection, emotional state of the child can be tacit. This information is consistent with parent-reported scoring.
Highlights
Play is children’s’ main, natural activity through which they could potentially heal from emotional disturbances, when therapeutically supported by play therapist [1]
Many children engage in spontaneous drawing as it serves as a mean of communication and emotional expression when verbal language is limited [3]
The cut-off measure indicating problems in the clinical range [18] are scores above the 90th percentile for the Total Difficulties domain
Summary
Play is children’s’ main, natural activity through which they could potentially heal from emotional disturbances, when therapeutically supported by play therapist [1]. Children are engaged by therapist in warmth and friendly manner, accepted non-judgementally, given freedom and responsibilities to make choices, and reflected upon to gain insight of their own actions [1,2]. Play therapy is theoretically framed to approach the child in a holistic manner using integrative techniques combining multiple play activities including creative visualisation, storytelling, drama, puppets and masks, dance and movement, music, sandplay, art, and drawing [1]. Many children engage in spontaneous drawing as it serves as a mean of communication and emotional expression when verbal language is limited [3]. Jung continued that spontaneous drawing allows the child to express their
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