Chapter 8 - Interventions

Abstract

This chapter discusses the general or overarching elements of any and all ecosystemic play therapy interventions. First, it reviews the ecosystemic play therapy definitions of psychopathology and cure. Second, it discusses the range of treatment modalities available to the ecosystemic play therapist for addressing any and all treatment goals. Third, it examines the play therapy process in terms of two critical factors: the role of the play therapist–child relationship and the role of problem solving. Fourth, the chapter addresses some of the issues involved in planning activities for specific therapeutic content areas. Finally, it presents a brief discussion of activities specifically aimed at helping the child transition through the various play therapy treatment stages. Besides discussing the therapy process, the chapter also explores the child-play therapist relationship. The therapist, in such cases, functions as a model and source of reinforcement. A separate section of the chapter also describes the session activities for treatment stage. It divides the process into five stages and explores them individually. Also various examples are given about the types of activities that can be used to highlight and facilitate each of the treatment stages. However, it emphasizes that each will need modification to suit the needs of individual clients.