Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie studie was om deur die benutting van Gestaltspelterapie, adolessente wat gedragsprobleme openbaar, bewus te maak van hulself, ten einde hul toe te rus om hul lewenssituasie meer toereikend te hanteer. Daar is veral gefokus op die aspekte van die Gestaltterapeutiese proses wat die bewustheidsvlakke van die adolessente verhoog het. Ten einde hierdie doel te bereik is die navorsing kwalitatief benader, spesifiek deur ‘n deeglike literatuurstudie en die beskrywing van individuele en groepsgevallestudies. Die informasie is ontleed deur die data-spiraal analise. Vanuit die informasie wat verkry is, deur die integrasie van die literatuur en die empiriese ondersoek, kon die benutting van Gestaltspelterapie met adolessente wat gedragsprobleme openbaar, verken en in diepte beskryf word. / The main purpose of this study was to utilize Gestalt Play therapy with adolescents that display behavior problems, to make them aware of themselves, in order to equip them to handle their life situation more effectively. The focus were specifically on that aspects of the Gestalt therapeutic approach that increase the levels of awareness. In order to achieve this goal the research was approached qualitatively, specifically through a thorough literature study and the describing of individual and group case studies. The information was processed and analised by using the data-spiral analysis. From this information it was possible to explore and describe the utilization value of Gestalt Play therapy with adolescents that display behavior problems. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie)

M. Diac. (Spelterapie) / Text in Afrikaans with summaries in Afrikaans and English / Anorexia nervosa is ‘n komplekse eetversteuring wat hoofsaaklik voorkom onder adolessente meisies regoor die wêreld. Anorexia nervosa word geklassifiseer as ‘n versteuring wat ten spyte van literatuur steeds nie ten volle verstaan of begryp kan word nie, weens die kompleksiteit daarvan. Hierdie kompleksitieit het ‘n tekort aan insig en begrip van ander tot gevolg wat weerstand by die adolessent wek. Die terapeutiese proses met hierdie individue word sodoende negatief beïnvloed en lei tot beperkte groei en verandering. In die betrokke studie is die ervaringswêreld van die adolessent wat lei aan anorexia nervosa nagevors met die doel om lig te bring op hierdie komplekse, tog hedendaagse verskynsel. Na die uitvoering van ongestruktureerde onderhoudvoering met adolessente meisies wat lei aan anorexia nervosa, is verskeie temas, konsepte en kategorieë geïdentifiseer en bespreek aan die hand van Gestalt terapeutiese konsepte. / Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder that mainly affects adolescent girls all over the world. Anorexia nervosa is classified as a disorder that, despite existing literature, cannot be fully understood or comprehended, due to the complexity of the disorder. The complexity of Anorexia nervosa makes it difficult for people to understand these individuals, which causes resistance to occur within the adolescents. The resistance then complicates the therapeutic process, which can lead to inefficient growth and change in therapy. In this study, the experience of adolescent girls that suffer from anorexia nervosa is researched with the aim of shedding some light on this complex, though common, issue. After interviewing adolescents that suffer from anorexia nervosa, certain themes, concepts and categories were identified and explained by the hand of Gestalt therapeutic concepts. / Social Work

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Teachers have a central role to play in the process of educational transformation. Given their deep contextual understanding of their school it is important to provide a safe space, so that their voices can be heard. Within the context of educational transformation, educational psychologists are challenged to redefine their role and to become more involved in the general process of schooling. The new role envisaged for educational psychologist suggests an enlargement of their scope of practice to include both individual work as well as work within the different systems. The role as organizational consultants suggests that the educational psychologist must assist with professional teacher development and organizational development in order to equip schools to become more effective in their purpose and goals. The study attempts to explore the directive use of sandtray as a non-verbal and projective technique, within the framework of school development planning, to facilitate school development. It is envisaged that the outcomes of the research can contribute towards the range of skills and interventions that educational psychologists can use to effect school reform and development. A qualitative case study within the interpretive paradigm was chosen as research design. The case was a high school in the Namaqua District of the Northern Cape Province. The sample for this study consists of 6 teachers that were representative of the staff. The data was collected through 6 individual sandtray sessions, semi-structured interviews and 1 focus group discussion. Photographs of the subjects sand worlds were also taken. The review of literature and the findings of this research, suggest that sandtray, as a projective technique, when used in an ethical and responsible way, during the auditing phase of school development, can give the educational psychologist access to the underlying personal and structural dynamics that hinders the process of development and renewal within a school. Secondly, it helps to develop an understanding of the individual perspectives, point of views and emotional reactions of teachers towards the existing context of the school. Since school development is also concerned with personal and professional development of teachers, it is important to provide psychosocial support for teachers to deal with personal issues that emerge out of the sandtray process as well as the challenges within the context of their school. To develop a composite picture of the school it seems important to involve all role-players in the initial phases of school development planning.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Deaf learners are unique and require special support and assistance. It is apparent in the literature that deaf learners are more exposed to both physical and sexual abuse. The consequences of the latter can lead to emotional problems, for example, enuresis, anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, anger outbursts and attention deficits. One of the biggest challenges in the life of deaf learners must surely be communication. Misunderstandings and subsequent frustrations that ensue, normally occur as a result of communication difficulties between deaf learners and the hearing person. From the literature it appears necessary to stimulate the deaf learner's language development as early as possible, as it impacts on several aspects of his/her maturation into adulthood. Communication difficulties can also influence the emotional development of deaf learners. Therapeutic support for deaf learners are a challenge. The therapist that works with the learners should ideally be able to sign. The young deaf learners do, however, not yet have a signing system and consequently communication is problematic. The learners themselves experience frustrations as he/she is not able to express his/her emotions. The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of developmental play therapy as a psychotherapeutic technique for the treatment of emotional problems in young deaf learners. To some degree, the technique makes it possible for verbal communication between therapist and learners to be replaced by physical contact. The aim of the activities is to take learners back to the early mother-child relationship and for the therapist to model healthy relationships. The research undertaken here is a qualitative case study. It was approached from an eco-systemic perspective, in other words learners are viewed as the core system which, in turn, is part of several other systems for example the family, school, church, community, etc. The systems are interdependent, which means that change in the one system also results in change within the other systems. In the data production video recordings, unstructured interviews, observations and field notes were used. Data analysis was done using the principles of coding. The results of the study show that developmental play therapy is indeed an effective psychotherapeutic technique in the treatment of emotional problems in young deaf learners. It would appear that the technique requires adaptation for deaf learners needs in order to be effective. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dowe leerders is uniek en het spesiale ondersteuning nodig. Uit die literatuur wil dit blyk of dowe leerders meer blootgestel word aan beide fisiese en seksuele mishandeling. Die gevolge van laasgenoemde kan lei tot meer emosionele probleme, byvoorbeeld enurese, angsversteurings, depressie, paniekaanvalle, woedeuitbarstings en aandagafleibaarheid. Een van die grootste uitdagings in dowe leerders se lewe is seker kommunikasie. Misverstande en frustrasies wat daaruit vloei, ontstaan gewoonlik as gevolg van kommunikasieprobieme tussen dowe leerders en die horende persoon. Uit die literatuur blyk dit noodsaaklik om dowe leerders se taalontwikkeling so vroeg as moontlik te stimuleer aangesien dit verskeie aspekte in sy/haar volwassewordingsproses beïnvloed. Kommunikasieprobleme het ook 'n invloed op dowe leerders se emosionele ontwikkeling. Terapeutiese ondersteuning van dowe leerders is 'n uitdaging. Die terapeut wat met die leerders werk, moet verkieslik gebaretaal kan praat. Die jong dowe leerders het egter nog nie werklik 'n gebaresisteem nie en gevolglik is kommunikasie 'n probleem. Die leerders self ervaar frustrasies, omdat hy/sy nie die vermoê het om uiting te gee aan sy/haar emosies nie. Die doel met hierdie studie was om die moontlikheid van ontwikkelende speelterapie as psigoterapeutiese tegniek in die hantering van emosionele probleme by jong dowe leerders te ondersoek. Die tegniek maak dit in 'n mate moontlik om die verbale kommunikasie tussen terapeut en leerders te vervang met fisiese kontak. Die doel met die aktiwiteite is om die leerders terug te neem na die vroeê moeder - kindverhouding en gesonde verhoudings deur die terapeut te modelleer. Die navorsing neem die vorm van 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie aan. Dit word benader vanuit 'n ekosistemiese perspektief, dit wil sê die leerders word gesien as die kernsisteem wat deel is van verskeie ander sisteme soos byvoorbeeld die familie, skool, kerk en gemeenskap. Die sisteme is interafhanklik wat beteken dat verandering in die een sisteem ook verandering in die ander sisteme tot gevolg het. In die data-produksie is tegnieke naamlik video-opnames, ongestruktureerde onderhoude, observasies en veldnotas gebruik. Data-analise is volgens die beginsels van kodering gedoen. Die resultate van die onderhewige studie wys daarop dat ontwikkelende speelterapie wel In effektiewe psigoterapeutiese tegniek is in die hantering van emosionele probleme by jong dowe leerders. Dit wil voorkom of die tegniek aangepas moet word by dowe leerders se behoeftes om werklik effektief te wees.

Lietuvai atkūrus nepriklausomybę pradėtos kurti galimybės specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turintiems vaikams ugdytis kartu su jų bendraamžiais. Toks ugdymo organizavimas, kai vienoje grupėje ugdomi ir specialiųjų poreikių vaikai, reikalauja iš pedagogo naujų ugdymo bei ugdymosi metodų įvaldymo, keisti savo kaip ugdytojo vaidmenis ir nuostatas. / Since Lithuania gained its independence, the opportunities for education of children with special educational needs together with their peers were created. Such organization of learning when children with special educational needs are educated in the same group requires from a teacher the mastering of the new educational and learning methods and change of his/her role and attitude as an educator.

The purpose of this study was to research the therapeutic outcomes achieved by a five year-old boy with Asperger Syndrome (AS), by means of non-directive processes of child centred play therapy (CCP) and sand tray play therapy (STP). In this investigative-descriptive qualitative research design, a saturated, holistic, intrinsic single case study was used as research method. The therapeutic process, events and outcomes of a unique single case within the context of AS, non-directive play therapy and the interactional-pattern analysis (IPA), are described. This study was motivated by the fact that the researcher disposed of data for a unique single case study that could contribute meaningfully to the need for a research database that describes effective therapeutic interventions and outcomes with children with AS. From the perspective of Rogerian person-centred theory (RPT), the literature study focused on an integrated discussion of AS, CCP and STP by means of 17 interpersonal variables of the interactional-pattern analysis (IPA). The following data sources was investigated: interviews with parents and teachers; CCP-sessions of J recorded on video; photos of some of J’s STP-sessions and the therapists’ process notes. Triangulation was used to evaluate the various categories of therapeutic outcomes from different viewpoints and to give meaning to them. The conclusions indicated that this boy with AS had used the non-directive processes of CCP and STP to achieve various therapeutic outcomes in the areas of: imaginary play; dramatic play; social interaction with the therapist, parents, family, teachers, his peer group and with strangers; traumatic experiences during visits to the doctor and bath times; identification, expressing and regulating emotions; and minimising acting out behaviour. Therapeutic outcomes have been demonstrated in 8 IPA-variables, namely: empathy, defining of relationships, potential to evoke acceptance or rejection, sincere interest and congruent conduct, control, emotional distance, problem solving and aspects relating to the presenting problem. The conclusion was reached that the conduct of the boy with AS as well as his mother and the therapist, played a mutual role in achieving his therapeutic outcomes within the 17 IPA-variables. The unstructured process of the non-directive play (CCP and STP) was utilised by a young child with AS to achieve therapeutic outcomes that relate to his everyday existence. A final conclusion is that involving the boy’s mother in his therapy and utilising an adapted Filial play program, enabled the mother to make emotional contact with her son and to diminish conflict between them. Guidelines for therapists are suggested with regard to non-directive responding in therapeutic contexts as found in this study. Furthermore, the contribution of this research to Psychology as science and discipline, is presented. Limitations of this study are indicated and recommendations for further research are made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psigologie))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

This research brings together two concepts that are often depicted as polar opposites. Sutton-Smith (2001) however suggests that the opposite of play is not work, but depression, and moreover echoes other scholars in reclaiming play as an essential human expression, even for adults. This study, therefore, argues that, given the precarious wellness territory our workplaces are in, something about work is not working. It is furthermore proposed that, given all the evidence of the therapeutic potential inherent to play, there is indeed something nutritious at play in play. Despite these well-supported arguments, play remains hidden away in the academic shadows of more serious industrial psychological preoccupations. Surprisingly, the same conspicuous absence is even mirrored in Positive Psychology, a bustling field that claims to celebrate glee, fun, and happiness (Seligman, 2002a). Entitled “An autoethnographic exploration of play at work,” this dissertation leans on the metaphor of “exploration”, or more specifically, exploratory play. This results in two distinct yet interwoven dimensions to the research study. Firstly, the research approaches the phenomenon of play and play-based methods in workshop contexts through the lived experience of the researcher. Secondly, the research project in itself is conceptualised as work, and the methodology of autoethnography is conceptualised as a playful approach to this work of conducting research. Aside from widening the research scope, this also appropriately matches research methodology to the research domain. Aside from being about play at work, this research also is play at work. Autoethnography, as a recent development in qualitative research, remains unconventional and somewhat controversial in the South African social sciences. Autoethnography, as an offspring of ethnography, offers a method to reflexively incorporate the researcher’s own lived experience in the study of culture as a primary source of rich phenomenological data. Instead of minimising the emotive and subjective, this research amplifies and celebrates it. Given a fair degree of unfamiliarity in terms of autoethnography as well the accusation of being overly self-centred, the experience of the researcher is then complemented by the views of a number of co-creators to the culture being studied. This is done through external data-gathering in the forms of a focus group as well as number of semistructured, dyadic interviews. While therefore leaning more toward postmodern themes, this research also incorporates what has been termed analytical autoethnography (Anderson, 2006), wherein the researcher is a full-member of the setting being studied, is portrayed as such and is committed to theoretical analysis. This study can therefore be summarised as an autoethnographic case study that balances evocative and analytical styles (Vryan, 2006) while emanating from the philosophical assumptions of interpretivism and subjectivism. Internal realities and meaning-creation are thus emphasised rather than the received views of positivism. The central research question being explored is how play and play-based methods promote work-related well-being. To answer this question, firstly, play and play-based methods are explored, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. From within workshop (pedagogical) contexts, the play-based methods considered throughout this study include metaphor and story, creative-arts-based play, physical-body play and also the uncelebrated yet essential methods of icebreakers and games. A preliminary taxonomy is proposed for play-based methods to offer description and to facilitate reflection and learning. Descriptive elements in this taxonomy include interactive vs. solitary, competitive vs. cooperative, motor-sensory vs. cognitive-mind, participative vs. vicarious and rule-bound vs. improvisational. Building on this exploration of play-based methods, the second aspect explored in more detail has to do with the more internal and subjective experiences of participants, or players, if you like. These experiences are then related to prominent concepts encountered in Positive Psychology to, by proxy, understand how they relate to work-related well-being. Significant themes that emerge from this include play as fun, play as mind-body integration, play as authenticity, play as community, and play as stress-relief and resilience. This is then woven into a creative non-fiction, in accord with a trend in qualitative research called creative analytical practices (CAP) (Richardson, 2000). This creative non-fiction, detailed in Chapter 4, forms a key autoethnographic output that animates all these themes in a way that is accessible, evocative and playful. Chapter 5 complements this chapter with an in-depth exploration of the research journey as a confessional tale. While adopting the metaphor of hiking in mountains (exploring nature), this confessional tale clarifies the research process and incorporates an in-depth analysis of the themes, both in terms of research data as well as literature. This is supported by a number of separate appendixes, including interview transcripts, depictions of the interview analysis as well as a number of photos from the field. In terms of its uniqueness and unconventionality, this research joins in the choir of related work to incorporate more contemporary research genres into the social sciences in South Africa. By doing so, it opens up doors to phenomena that simply resist being studied with the ontological and epistemological assumptions of conventional modern science. Furthermore, the effect and impact of this research is that it provides accessible and practical ideas as to how a synthesis of play and work can help us renew and rejuvenate our work and workplaces. That is, how we can come alive in the work contexts that risk becoming sterile, clinical and inhuman in the wake of Taylorist reductionism and efficiency. Given that state of work and workplace, and the productive and therapeutic potential in play, indeed, we are too busy not to play. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a filial therapy training model with high school students enrolled in a Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL) program. Specifically, this study was designed to determine the effectiveness of filial therapy in: (1) increasing observed empathic behavior with children, (2) increasing acceptance toward children, (3) increasing the ability to allow children self-direction, and (4) increasing the level of involvement with children. Additionally, this study was designed to determine the effectiveness of filial therapy in facilitating healthy parenting attitudes of nonparenting adolescents. A research question was presented to determine if a relationship exists between empathy, acceptance, involvement and allowing children self-direction and other factors considered to be healthy parenting attitudes. An Analysis of Covariance on post-test scores revealed significant findings in the high school students ability to demonstrate empathy towards children, allowing the child self direction, communication of acceptance, and involvement as measured by the Measurement of Empathy in Adult-Child Interactions (MEACI). An Analysis of Covariance on post-test scores revealed no significant changes in parenting attitudes as measured by Adult- Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2). A Bivariate Correlation revealed a statistically significant correlation between the Empathy, Acceptance, Allowing the Child Self-Direction and Involvement scales on the Measurement of Empathy in Adult-Child Interactions (MEACI) and the Oppressing Children's Power and Independence scale on the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2). This study supports the use of filial therapy as an effective training model for increasing high school students' empathic behavior with children. Filial therapy training offers significant possibilities for future use in high school curricula to facilitate the development of healthy parenting attitudes and interactions between future parents and children.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T18:15:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FLOR DE MARIA ARAUJO MENDONCA SILVA.pdf: 1051673 bytes, checksum: dbdeb6491694829645c78ae3c74a0b8b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-19 / Introduction: The symbolic meaning of negative aspects carried on the hospitalization and how the play therapy could be an alternative of expression for the child to elaborate emotional and traumatic aspects resultant of the hospitalization. Objectives: The general objective of this research was to analyze the psychological benefits produced by the play therapy as a palliative care on the hospitalized children with cancer. The specific objectives were to evaluate through the HTP projective test on its chromatic form, the importance of the play therapy as a palliative care for the hospitalized children with cancer, to identify the emotional conditions of children with cancer and how they catch it, to evaluate the benefits that the symbolic representations made during serious and/or terminal chronic disease produce on the children. Methodology: On this research, it has worked aspects linked with behavioral, social, psychic defenses and somatic disturbances conditions, through the play therapy with hospitalized children, as well as emotional and psychological-affective aspects involved on the diseasing. The samples of the research were 10 male and female children, from 5 to 12 years old, hospitalized because of the cancer disease. This is a quantitative research with an experimental analytic frame (conjugate), clinical and not randomized assay lineation and exploratory and descriptive research as well. In order to analyze the psychological benefits of the play therapy as a palliative care on the hospitalized children due to a cancer, two psychological evaluations with the children were performed, one before starting this intervention process and another at the end of it. Thus, the results of both evaluations were compared. The quantitative attributes were analyzed by the statistic program SPSS for Windows 16.0 (2007). The statistic descriptive analysis was performed by the Signs Test, comparing the attribute in two times (before and after). The values of p < 0,05 were considered significant. The basis of the information were hospital papers (medical dossier), anamnesis with parents or caretaking, biased observation of the behavioral and social attributes, psychic defenses and somatic disturbances by application of the projective test and by the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of HTP on the chromatic form; semi-structured interview with the children under the HTP pattern. Results: The results about behavioral, social, psychic defenses and somatic disturbances attributes evaluated during the play therapy process with hospitalized children with cancer, standard to: p=0.508; p=0.754; p=0.016; e, o p=1. Final Considerations: This research has showed the benefits produced by the play therapy as a palliative care to hospitalized children with cancer, although the quantitative results on the behavioral, social and psychic attributes has not shown significance, it was evident that a significant number of attributes has maintained stable, even not having remissibility of the symptoms at the end of the play therapy process. The fact of not having negative evolution of some present symptoms, the stability forwarded can be seen as a meaningful positive result of the play therapy and could be an instrument with potentiality functions for the hospitalized children. / Introdução: O significado simbólico dos aspectos negativos contidos na hospitalização, e como a ludoterapia poderá ser uma alternativa de expressão para a criança elaborar seus conteúdos emocionais traumáticos decorrentes da doença e da hospitalização. Objetivos: A pesquisa teve como objetivo geral analisar os benefícios psicológicos produzidos pela ludoterapia como cuidado paliativo em crianças hospitalizadas com câncer e como objetivos específicos avaliar através do teste projetivo House Tree Person na forma cromática a importância da ludoterapia como cuidado paliativo para as crianças hospitalizadas com câncer; identificar os estados emocionais vivenciados pela criança com câncer em relação à sua doença; avaliar os benefícios que as representações simbólicas construídas durante a vivência de uma doença crônica grave e/ou terminal produzem na criança. Metodologia: Nesta pesquisa foram trabalhados aspectos ligados às condições comportamentais, sociais, defesas psíquicas e aos distúrbios somáticos através da ludoterapia com as crianças hospitalizadas, bem como aspectos psicoafetivos e emocionais envolvidos no adoecimento. Os sujeitos estudados na pesquisa foram 10 crianças de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária de 5 a 12 anos, hospitalizadas por câncer. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa com o desenho analítico experimental (pareado), delineamento de ensaio clínico não randomizado, bem como pesquisa exploratória e descritiva. Para analisar os benefícios psicológicos da ludoterapia como cuidado paliativo em crianças hospitalizadas por câncer, realizaram-se duas avaliações psicológicas com as crianças antes de iniciar o processo de intervenção através da ludoterapia e, no final desse processo de intervenção, comparando-se os resultados obtidos nas duas avaliações. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados através do programa estatístico SPSS for Windows 16.0 (2007). A análise estatística descritiva foi feita pelo Teste dos Sinais, comparando-se todas as variáveis em dois momentos (antes e depois). Os valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados significativos. Os instrumentos da coleta de dados compreenderam documentos do hospital (prontuários médicos); anamnese com os pais ou cuidadores; observação sistemática das variáveis comportamentais, sociais, defesas psíquicas e distúrbios somáticos mediante aplicação do teste projetivo e pelas avaliações quantitativas e qualitativas do HTP na forma cromática; entrevistas semi-estruturadas com as crianças na padronização estabelecida no HTP. Resultados: Os resultados acerca das variáveis comportamentais, sociais, defesas psíquicas e distúrbios psicossomáticos, avaliadas durante o processo ludoterápico com as crianças hospitaladas com câncer, corresponderam a: p=0.508; p=0.754; p=0.016; e, o p=1. Considerações Finais: Esta pesquisa demonstrou os benefícios produzidos pela ludoterapia como cuidado paliativo em crianças hospitalizadas com câncer, embora, os resultados quantitativos nas variáveis comportamentais, sociais e psicossomáticas não tenham demonstrado significância, mas ficou evidenciado que um número significativo de variáveis permaneceram estáveis, embora não havendo remissividade de sintomas ao final do processo ludoterápico. Porém, as variáveis defesas psíquicas apresentaram significância estatística ao final do processo. O fato de não haver evolução negativa de alguns dos sintomas presentes, a estabilidade evidenciada pode ser considerada um resultado significativamente positivo da ludoterapia pode ser um a ser instrumento com funções potencializadoras para crianças em situação de hospitalização.

The rapport building phase of child investigative interviewing is referred to in practice guidelines as an essential. Nevertheless, in contrast with other aspects of the interview it has been subject to little empirical examination. There is a lack of information on the rapport phase’s impact on children’s communication and whether this changes across a variety of different circumstances. Finally, few researchers have empirically assessed different styles of rapport building. This thesis investigates the communicative influence of the rapport building phase in child investigative interviews. It also examines the effectiveness of a new collaborative play approach to rapport building with respect to its influence on children’s communication and the rapport levels between the interviewer and child. The investigation began by interviewing practitioners about their perceptions and experiences of rapport building practice, and their opinions on the use of play during the rapport phase. A grounded theory approach to analysis found that interviewers perceive the rapport phase as a tool for facilitating communication with children during the investigative interview. This is achieved in three main ways: (1) assessing the child during the rapport phase, (2) adjusting interview approach based on the child’s presentation during the rapport phase, and (3) producing a psychological outcome in the child that then facilitates communication. The resultant theory and the comments made about play rapport were used in subsequent experimental chapters to design and implement play rapport, and to interpret the empirical findings. The second line of enquiry investigated the communicative impact of a collaborative play approach to rapport building in adult-child interactions. Children across three different age groups (6-7, 8-10 & 12-14 year olds) were more communicative and demonstrated greater rapport with an adult after play rapport than children in a control condition. The findings indicate that a collaborative play format of rapport building is an effective communication facilitator. The third empirical study tested play rapport’s efficacy in a mock investigative interview situation. It was compared with the current open style of rapport building used by practitioners in the UK, and a control condition that involved no rapport phase. Older children (8-10 year olds) who experienced play rapport demonstrated information benefits in comparison with children in the control condition. No differences were found between the open style and the control, and the open style and play rapport for information detail or accuracy. Children (5-7 and 8-10 year olds) were however, more resistance to interviewer suggestion after engaging in a play rapport phase in comparison with children who experienced the open style of rapport building. These results indicate the potential of play rapport as a communication facilitator for children in investigative interview settings. The final empirical chapter examined anxiety data taken from the children during the third study. This was to address the hypothesis that improvements in recall as a result of the rapport phase, and in particular play rapport, were due to a reduction in the children’s anxiety levels. The data showed no differences across the rapport protocols in terms of anxiety for any of the measures. The information benefits found could therefore not be explained with respect to a reduction in anxiety. Alternative theories were then proposed, and future research outlined that could further investigate the psychological underpinnings of the communicative effects of the rapport phase, and the collaborative play rapport approach.