Course: School-Based Play Therapy
INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST - School of Education
Course: School-Based Play Therapy
Instructor: Dr. Herbert Goetze
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A basic survey of the field of play therapy in school applications will be the focus of this course including definitions of play, play classification systems, and characteristics of play programs, play diagnostic and play treatment procedures from a psychoeducational point of view.
Course Objectives/Competencies
In this course, students will:
1. Expand their professional knowledge about methods of emotional change in children.
2. Apply new techniques for classroom use.
3. Demonstrate pre-therapy skills.
4. Design play spaces in schools.
5. Explain how different therapy techniques can be adapted for maladjusted disturbed target groups of children.
6. Apply course information to different work places in school environments.
7. Share ideas and concerns about problems connected with using play therapy in schools.
8. Verbalize a philosophy of play therapy.
9. Create a safe, equitable, positive, and supportive learning environment in which diversities are valued.
10. Show therapeutic core skills: warmth, empathy and positive regard towards individuals with and without exceptional learning needs;
11. Show the following therapeutic micro skills: observe/listen child, receive child’s verbal and non-verbal communication, observe play behavior, be non judgmental, be in the here-and-now of the child, discover play themes, accept and reflect feelings without road block use, be attentive, follow the child’s lead in play, appreciate child’s tendency towards growth in play, be with child’s metaphors, accept roles in role play, see the play world from the child’s viewpoint, understand intentions and purposes of child, feeling child’s pain without loosing distance, encourage child’s efforts to decide and solve problems, set needed limits, record sessions in a written form.
MATERIALS
Required Text: Drewes, A. A., Carey, L. J., & Schaefer, C. E. (Eds.) (2001). School-Based Play Therapy. New York: Wiley. ISBN: 0-471-39402-5.
ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE ACTIVITIES
1. Two quizzes
2. Class presentation
3. Attendance
3. Project
GRADING AND EVALUATION
Passing 60 points
Failing 59 and below
Bibliography
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Axline, V. (1947). Play therapy. The inner dynamics of childhood. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
Benedict, H.E. & Mongoven, L.B. (1997). Thematic play therapy: An approach to treatment of attachment disorders in young children. In: Kaduson, H. G., Cangelosi, D. & Schaefer, Ch. E. (Eds.). The playing cure. Individualized play therapy for specific childhood problems (pp. 277 - 315). Northvale (N.J.): Jason Aronson.
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Session make-up
Most class sessions will be divided by a game part, a lecture part on a specific topic, a training part, a video demonstration (some demos in German), a presentation, a question and answer time. But be flexible: If topics of interest not mentioned in this syllabus come up, these will be dealt with.
Instructions for Presentation
This is your presentation project. You will prepare and present by yourself to receive max. 25 points. Your points will be determined partially by your classmates, and partially by your instructor. Select a play therapy topic from the list. Select a day for presenting and get it on the instructor’s schedule. Ask the instructor if you have any questions about procedures or references.
Grading Criteria
1. Handout a (at least) 1-page outline of your presentation.
2. Handout a reference list of resources related to your topic.
3. Explain the relevance of your topic.
4. Introduce your topic - what is it and when one should use it (if talking about an intervention)?
5. Explain - tell us everything we need to know about the topic.
6. If possible: demonstrate the intervention – if possible include a video. If you deal with a target problem, try to include case histories.
7. Present a problem about your topic which is to be solved by class members in small groups.
8. Present at least 5 critical questions related to your topic (which may be included into our quizzes).
The bottom line: Will class members be able to understand how play therapy approaches may be applied to your target group? Or can they use the intervention presented as a result of your instruction? Will class members be able to locate additional information on the topic, if interested?
Instructions for your project
Select one child or a small group of children you would like to work with. Select children who apparently do not present emotional / behavioral problems.
Find / create a play environment. If a play room is available, use it; if not, present the child basic materials to play with – as you were informed in class.
Explain to the child that you are going to meet her/him 3 times in order to play with him for 30 minutes. If necessary make an oral/written contract about that. Remember: If the child chooses not to play for 30 mintues, that is acceptable.
Start your play session with the instruction you learned in class, and then let him take the lead.
Remember: Your main task is to reflect back and to join the play when invited. To make it easier for the child, you may insert I-messages from time to time.
End a session the way you have learned in class.
Immediately after your play session you must fill out a reflection form about the session.
After you are done with your sessions, a written review of your project is expected which you should mail to the instructor,
Your review should consist of: 1. Describe demographics of chosen child, 2. self-evaluations of each play session, 3. a lengthy report about what went well and which problems you met. (Don’t forget to include actual verbalizations from the child and from you), 4. summarize the main points of your project as stated.
Grading Criteria
Play sessions actually performed
Guidelines were followed.
Complete review paper submitted in time.
Peer Feedback Form
Print and bring one of these forms for each class presentation
Date: Presenter: Topic:
Did the presenter give you an outline? Yes No If yes, quality?
Did the presenter give you a 1-page reference list? Yes No If yes, quality?
Give detailed feedback on these aspects:
Overview / Introduction
Relevance of topic clear?
How well explained?
Demonstration included?
A nice problem to be presented to small groups?
5 interesting questions - related to the topic – presented?
Overall impression about this presentation: