Approximately 20% of children experience serious mental health problems severe enough to meet diagnosis criteria, and less than one third of these children receive the services they need. Identifying effective school-based counseling interventions provides a viable and accessible solution, especially for families with financial barriers. This randomized, controlled outcome study examined the effectiveness of Adlerian play therapy (AdPT) compared to reading mentoring (RM) with 58 kindergarten through third grade students who qualified with clinical levels of disruptive behavior in the classroom. Participants were identified as 48% Latino, 33% European American, and 19% African American. Approximately four-fifths of participants were male. Children were randomly assigned to AdPT (experimental group) or RM (active control group) for 16 sessions of treatment. Children in both groups participated in twice weekly, individual, 30-minute interventions that took place in their schools. Results from a two (group) by two (repeated measures) split plot ANOVA indicated that, compared to the RM group over time, the AdPT group demonstrated statistically significant improvement on (a) disruptive behaviors in the classroom, as directly observed by objective raters and as reported by teachers, and (b) stress in the teacher-child relationship, as reported by teachers. Teachers and observers were blinded to children's treatment group assignment. AdPT demonstrated moderate to large effect sizes on all measures, indicating the practical significance of treatment. Further, 72% of children receiving AdPT improved from clinical/borderline levels of disruptive behavior problems to more normative functioning post-intervention, demonstrating the clinical significance of results. Whereas further research is warranted, results from this preliminary study are promising and support the use of AdPT in elementary schools to meet the needs of children exhibiting disruptive classroom behavior.

A growing disparity between the mental health needs of children and their lack of treatment served as the basis of this study. To address this existent gap, I proposed that child-centered play therapy (CCPT), a holistic treatment that fosters children's emotional, developmental, and social growth would serve as a viable treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of CCPT on problem behaviors among children identified with an intellectual disability. Specifically, a single case, A-B-A design (N = 2) was used to examine changes in participant's problem behaviors as measured on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) across conditions. Trained raters used the ABC to rate participant's problem behaviors 3 times per week during the course of this study. Participants completed 2 weeks of a no-intervention phase, 5 weeks of play therapy 3 times per week, and 2 weeks of a no-intervention maintenance phase. Additionally, participants were administered the Gesell Developmental Observation to assess their maturational age during the baseline and maintenance phases. Parents also completed the ABC during two intervals: baseline phase, and maintenance phase. Analysis of results indicated that problem behaviors decreased for both participants. Results from the percent of non-overlapping data (PND), an indice for effect size further revealed that play therapy was a very effective treatment for participants. Follow-up interviews suggested that play therapy is a viable intervention for children with intellectual disabilities and problem behaviors. Clinical observations and implications for future research are presented.

Background: Playing is a natural part of the child's nature. Through play, the child can relate to his or her surroundings. Play therapy is used in healthcare, a tool to help children and adolescents through difficult circumstances. Aim: The aim was to explore children and adolescents experience of and attitude towards play therapy and the impact on perceived health in connection with inpatient care. The aim was also to investigate the significance of play for children and adolescents during hospital stays. Method: Data was collected through a survey with quantitative and qualitative elements. In addition, a supplemental literature study was conducted. Results: A total of 12 children and adolescents completed the survey, and 5 articles were reviewed in the literature study. The majority (n=10) had a positive attitude towards play therapy. Correlation analysis showed that the younger the children were, the higher they scored on “if it was easier to stay at the hospital after they had been in contact with play therapy” (r = -0.738, p = 0.006). In the qualitative survey it emerged that children and adolescents experienced that the best thing about play therapy was the staff. It emerged in the literature study that through play, the children experienced an increased sense of security, happiness and wellbeing. Play reduced their anxiety, fear and stress. Conclusions: Most participants in the survey had positive experiences and attitudes towards play therapy. Play therapy was perceived as health beneficial and was considered positive in the reviewed studies. Play helped children and adolescents with coping of anxiety, fear and stress. / Bakgrund: Att leka är en naturlig del av barnets natur. Leken bidrar till att förhindra samt minska oro hos barnet. Lekterapin används inom sjukvården och är ett verktyg för att underlätta barn och ungdomars svåra omständigheter. Lekterapin ska vara en plats där barn och ungdomar får komma bort från sjukhusmiljön. En plats där de bara får vara barn. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att undersöka barn och ungdomars erfarenhet av och inställning till lekterapin samt påverkan på upplevd hälsa i samband med inneliggande vård. Syftet var dessutom att undersöka lekens betydelse för barn och ungdomar under sjukhusvistelser. Metod: Studien består av en enkätundersökning med kvantitativa och kvalitativa inslag samt en litteraturstudie för att komplettera resultatet. Resultat: Totalt deltog 12 barn och ungdomar i enkätundersökningen och fem artiklar granskades i litteraturstudien. Majoriteten av barnen och ungdomarna (n=10) var positivt inställda till lekterapin. Korrelationsanalys visade att ju yngre barnen var, desto högre skattade de att det var lättare att vara på sjukhuset efter kontakt med lekterapin (r= -0,738, p=0,006). Enligt de kvalitativa enkätfrågorna upplevde barnen och ungdomarna att personalen var det bästa med lekterapin. I litteraturstudien framkom det att genom leken upplevde barnen en ökad trygghet, glädje samt välbefinnande. Leken minskade deras oro, ångest, rädsla och stress. Slutsats: Majoriteten av deltagarna i enkätundersökningen hade positiva erfarenheter av samt inställning till lekterapin. Lekterapin uppfattades även som hälsofrämjande. Lek ansågs i de granskade studierna som positivt och förbättrade hanteringen av till exempel oro, ångest, rädsla och stress hos barnen och ungdomarna.

This research study was developed to investigate whether a structured discussion group on feelings)in combination with play group counseling can be effective as an intervention approach in working with disadvantaged primary grade children who are exhibiting disruptive classroom behavior. The general nature of the research hypotheses was that developmental play group counseling would not only reduce disruptive behavior of disadvantaged second grade students, but would also help to enhance these students' self concepts and attitudes toward school. None of the six hypotheses were confirmed. Developmental play group counseling did not significantly reduce "classroom disturbance" behavior, improve perceived self image, or improve attitude toward school over periods of time. The data indicated that play group counseling did significantly reduce "classroom disturbance" behavior after seven weeks of treatment, and maintained that general level of improvement eight weeks after the end of the study. The above finding suggested that play group counseling be utilized with disadvantaged early primary grade children who present behavior problems in school.

Parents and educators are often the first to notice that a learner is not coping in the school setting and is displaying certain disruptive behavioural aspects associated with a diagnosis of ADHD. For many parents this behaviour and resulting diagnosis of ADHD comes as a shock and they do not understand where it originates from, how it manifests within each individual or how to manage these symptoms successfully. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic, neurodevelopmental disorder with no cure that can be identified according to the criteria laid out in the DSM-V (2013). Although no longer diagnosed as a learning disorder per se, ADHD is associated with several co-morbid conditions such as learning disabilities and psychological conditions that have a negative effect on learning (DSM-V, 2013:59). The goal of this study was to explore and describe the effect of Gestalt group work on the behavioural aspects associated with ADHD among adolescents in a school setting. Gestalt play therapy and in particular Gestalt group work, was employed in order to assist the adolescent diagnosed with ADHD in managing these disruptive behaviours. The research was conducted with adolescents in a secondary school in Gauteng. These adolescents were diagnosed with ADHD and were often singled out as being disruptive within the classroom. The population for this study was adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 years, previously diagnosed with ADHD, who formed part of a specific school community. The researcher made use of non-probability sampling; specifically purposive and volunteer sampling. Seven adolescents were selected to take part in the quantitative research study, over a period of eight sessions (Strydom & Delport, 2011:392). The study was exploratory in nature and the type of research was applied research. The research design that was appropriate was the single-system design, seeing that this design enhances the link between research and practice (Strydom, 2011a:160). A standardised check list, the 'Current ADHD symptoms scale self-report' was used to obtain information by means of a pretest, mid-point and posttest measurement. This is a standardised measuring instrument that has been developed and tested through empirical methods of instrument development (Adler, Spencer, Faraone, Kessler, Howes, Biederman & Secnik, 2006). The data collected for this study was analysed statistically, through the univariate method of analysis. Computerised worksheets in Excel enabled the researcher to structure findings and to make the most valid and objective recommendations through organised interpretation of data collected (Fouchè & Bartley, 2011). Findings were presented graphically and illustrated in figures. All relevant ethical considerations were considered, for example participants provided informed assent, while their parents provided informed consent for the research to be conducted. Gestalt play provided for theme-based group sessions, assisting participants in recognising as well as mastering positive behaviour, as an alternative to the disruptive behavioural aspect of this condition. The research provided useful research data with regards to the use of both group work and Gestalt play techniques in assisting the adolescent with ADHD in addressing their disruptive behaviour. Gestalt group work as method of intervention seemed to have a positive effect on disruptive behaviour related to ADHD. The group as a whole had improved their behaviour for both the characteristics of ADHD. Behavioural aspects characterised by inattention, as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity for the group of respondents, had improved through the application of Gestalt play techniques. The group of respondents therefore perceived that they had benefited in terms of the improvement of these behavioural aspects of ADHD. It is recommended that educators, parents and caregivers be trained regarding ADHD in order to comprehend the nature of this disorder and the impact thereof on the learner and fellow learners in the classroom. Learners should become aware of their diagnosis, the symptoms and the disruptive element of their behaviour, the impact that this behaviour has in the classroom, as well as the resources available for the adolescent in addressing challenges. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of Filial Therapy as a method of intervention with families with chronically ill children. Filial Therapy is an intervention that focuses on strengthening and enhancing the parent-child relationship. Parents are trained to become the agents of change for their children's behaviors by utilizing basic child-centered play therapy skills in weekly play sessions. The purpose of this study was to a) determine the effectiveness in decreasing parental stress, b) determine the effectiveness in increasing parental acceptance, and c) determine the effectiveness in decreasing problematic behaviors in the chronically ill child as assessed by their parents.

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of filial therapy as a method of intervention for single parents and their children.

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of filial therapy training in: (a) increasing immigrant Chinese parents' empathic behavior with their children; (b) increasing immigrant Chinese parents' acceptance level toward their children; (c) reducing immigrant Chinese parents' stress related to parenting; (d) reducing immigrant Chinese parents' perceived number of problem behaviors in their children; and (e) enhancing the self concept of the Chinese children of immigrant Chinese parents.

This investigation was designed to determine the relationships among single parents' parental stress, empathy, level of acceptance, perception of child problems, and child gender, and the effect of filial therapy training on these relationships. Filial therapy is a parent training approach utilized by play therapists to train parents to be therapeutic agents of change with their own children using child-centered play therapy skills. Parents are taught and given support in a group format. Data from a previous filial therapy study with single parents was utilized in this investigation. Correlational research methods were employed to examine the relationships among the variables measured. Correlation coefficients were obtained between each of the following five variables: parental stress, level of acceptance, empathy, perceived problems of the child, and child gender. Additionally, multiple and logistic regression was utilized in search of a possible predictive model. Significant correlations were found between parental stress and acceptance, parental stress and perception of child problems, parental empathy and acceptance, parental empathy and perception of child problems, and between parental acceptance and perception of child problems. No significant correlations were found between child gender and any of the variables. Significant correlation changes were found in several of the measured variables (from pre- to post-) due to the filial therapy intervention. Regression analysis indicated that parental acceptance was predictive of parental empathy, parental empathy was predictive of parental acceptance, and parental stress was predictive of parental perception of problems. No significant findings of prediction were obtained with child gender. This study supports filial therapy as an effective intervention with single parents, as well as the appropriateness of the assessment instruments commonly used in filial therapy research. The results of this research provide insight into those areas of the parent-child relationship impacted by filial therapy, as well as the relationships between the variables measured.

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