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What’s the point of learning to recognize themes in play therapy sessions?

Does it really matter?

Play therapists often talk about what play themes occurred in their clients’ play therapy sessions.

Are play themes even real or are we just making them up to justify that play therapy is actually working?

We know that play therapy has become the “go-to” treatment approach for children and several play therapy models are considered evidence-based.

But what about play themes?  We talk about them, but has anyone researched them and their role in play therapy sessions?

YES!!

A group of researchers examined behavior and play themes using a case study approach with qualitative and quantitative measures.  

While there are definitely limitations with this research approach, the benefit of gaining a closer look at what happens in play therapy sessions provides important information for play therapists and the field of play therapy.

Join me for this free weekly podcast, I’ll discuss play themes and understanding play behavior in play therapy.  

Then I’ll discuss the study and its implications for your play therapy work with children.

Citation for the study discussed:

Snow, M. S., Hudspeth, E. F., Gore, B., and Seale, H. A. (2007). A comparison of behaviors and play themes over a six-week period: Two case studies in play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 16(2), 147-159. doi.10.1037/1555-6824.16.2.147

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