This study was directed to explore the practicability of play therapy as a support system to primary schools in order to offer the child an optimal learning opportunity. A need exists to support primary schools, to establish therapeutic services which will be available to all children with emotional, behaviour and social problems. Gestalt play therapy can be used as a source of support within the context of the primary school. It is important that the therapist and teacher have sufficient knowledge around the different developmental phases of the child. In this study the focus was on the general characteristics, cognitive, social- and moral development of the primary school child. A qualitative approach and by utilizing semi-structured interviews, were used in order to collect the data concerning the study. Results from the empirical research indicated that there is a definite necessity for therapeutic services, as support systems at primary schools, in order to assist the child to reach his/her maximum potential. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

Text in Afrikaans / The young learner is in the developmental phase where he wants to master tasks successfully. When the learner experiences problems at school it influences his motivation and how he views himself. Learning disabled learners are exposed to academic failures and form negative views about their abilities and functioning. The effect of Gestalt play therapy on the self-esteem of the learning disabled learner was explored. The study was done through a baseline consisting of an adjusted Rosenberg's Self-esteem Questionnaire that was completed by educators and learners before and after the therapeutic program. Because of the learners' learning disability, they used an aid namely "Talking-Mats". Although learning disabilities influenced the learners' self-evaluations substantively, the learners' circumstances at home further substantively influenced their self-esteem. It seems that Gestalt play therapy did have a positive effect on the self-esteem of learning disabled learners. / Social work / M. Diac.

The aim of the qualitative study was to explore and describe the utilisation of Gestalt Play Therapy in Occupational Therapy intervention with traumatised children. An applied study was conducted and the case study strategy was used with a flexible design. Objectives for the study included conducting literature reviews regarding the profile of the traumatised child and Occupational Therapy and Gestalt Play Therapy intervention with the traumatised child. The empirical study included data collection and analysis, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews. The gathered data was analysed with the use of Creswell's Data Analysis Spiral. The empirical data showed that Occupational Therapists do utilise Gestalt Play Therapy in their intervention with traumatised children by drawing on their combined knowledge base of Gestalt Play Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapists then conduct a holistic assessment and treatment aims are set according to the assessment with a focus on providing holistic intervention. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Through literature and personal experience it became apparent that cerebral palsy is a condition that poses physical challenges to the everyday lives of children diagnosed with this condition. Negative feedback from society and significant others in the lives of these children may lead to an emotional imbalance in these children. Although various models for addressing emotional issues in children with cerebral palsy exist, their needs within a therapeutic setting are not addressed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the Schoeman model in therapy with the child with cerebral palsy. The Schoeman model is a therapeutic model that is based on the Gestalt philosophy and is used in conjunction with Gestalt play therapy. Through applying the different aspects of this model the study sheds light on the usefulness of the Schoeman model in therapy with the child diagnosed with cerebral palsy. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Text in English / Children with learning disabilities often exhibit emotional problems. Conversely, children experiencing emotional upsets cannot achieve scholastically. The exact nature of the relationship is difficult to elucidate. Most aid programmes deal with one aspect of the problem, placing little or no emphasis on the child in totality. This study focuses on the learning disabled child as a whole from a relation theory perspective. The aim is to ascertain how the child's difficulties affect his relation structures. Once the interaction between the relation structures had been established a programme was devised to assist the child emotionally and scholastically. Play therapy has proved one of the most successful methods of child psychotherapy. This study attempts to incorporate the essential elements of play therapy into a remedial programme. It was found that the children benefitted from both components of the programme and that it had a positive influence on their relation structures / Kinders met leerprobleme toon dikwels ook emosionele probleme. Omgekeerd kan kinders met emosionele versteurings dikwels nie skolasties presteer nie. Die presiese aard van hierdie verwantskap is nie duidelik nie. Die meerderheid hulpprogramme fokus op enkele aspekte van die probleem, ,met min of geen klem op die kind·in-totaliteit nie. Hierdie studie is daarop gerig om die leergestremde kind vanuit die relasieteorie waar te neem en van hulp te wees. Die doel is om te bepaal hoe die kind se probleme sy relasies be"invloed. Nadat die interaksie vasgestel is, is 'n hulpprogram ontwerp om emosionele sowel as skolastiese hulp te verleen. Spelterapie. blyk een van die mees geslaagde metodes in kinderpsigoterapie te wees. Die studie poog om die essensiele elemente van spelterapie by 'n remedierende hulpprogram in te sluit. Daar is bevind dat die proefpersone by hierdie program gebaat het en dat hulle relasies positief be"invloed is. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (with specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A Ludoterapia Centrada na CrianÃa, aqui entendida nÃo somente na proposta original de Axline, mas tambÃm a partir da Ãtica de VanFleet, Sywulak e Sniscak, tem como postulado a noÃÃo de que o brincar à um diÃlogo lÃdico que propicia a expressÃo dos sentimentos e a expansÃo das possibilidades na histÃria de vida da crianÃa. A terapia ajudaria a crianÃa a identificar, reconhecer e expressar melhor seus sentimentos. Cabe ao terapeuta, portanto, apresentar habilidades que possibilitem um espaÃo de seguranÃa para a expressividade da crianÃa. Essa habilidade do terapeuta à compreendida por Amatuzzi como uma predisponibilidade Ãtica. Para que a Ãtica da LCC seja pensada em seu viÃs filosÃfico, toma-se como base para este trabalho a Ãtica da alteridade radical de LÃvinas, que propÃs a responsabilidade como estrutura da subjetividade. A condiÃÃo Ãtica dar-se-ia na abertura e disponibilidade ao Outro, à sua diferenÃa. O Outro levinasiano nÃo conceituÃvel, antecedente e transcendente ao ser, estabelece uma relaÃÃo de assimetria com o Mesmo. Partindo dessas perspectivas, apresenta-se a questÃo norteadora desta pesquisa: qual o lugar destinado ao radicalmente Outro na Ludoterapia Centrada na CrianÃa? Para responder tal questionamento, o seguinte objetivo geral foi traÃado: analisar o lugar destinado ao Outro na Ludoterapia Centrada na CrianÃa. Os objetivos especÃficos sÃo: a investigaÃÃo entre alteridade e subjetividade, a partir da Ãtica levinasiana, na Ludoterapia Centrada na CrianÃa; a realizaÃÃo da releitura da Ludoterapia Centrada na CrianÃa, a partir do radicalmente Outro. A metodologia utilizada à a hermenÃutica filosÃfica de Gadamer, que propÃe a fusÃo de horizontes entre autor e intÃrprete para a criaÃÃo de um novo horizonte de compreensÃo. A partir das aproximaÃÃes entre a Abordagem Centrada na Pessoa e a Ãtica da alteridade radical, realizadas por Vieira e Freire e Schmid, apresenta-se como resultados a existÃncia de espaÃo para o Outro levinasiano na Ludoterapia Centrada na CrianÃa, desde que o terapeuta seja abertura e disponibilidade ao trauma que representa a chegada da crianÃa em sua diferenÃa absoluta. Verifica-se, tambÃm, que a crianÃa que chega para o atendimento se apresenta como Rosto, que remete ao Infinito e à transcendÃncia do Outro. A crianÃa, portanto, seria entendida como o Outro levinasiano, a quem o terapeuta à intimado a responder. Para que a abertura do terapeuta seja possibilitada, este deve vivenciar processos permanentes de inadaptaÃÃo no face a face com a crianÃa. Presta-se agradecimentos pelo apoio da CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior (CAPES) no desenvolvimento deste trabalho. / The Child-Centered Play Therapy, understood not only in the Axlineâs original proposal, but also from the VanFleet, Sywulak and Sniscakâs perspective, has as its premise the notion that the play is a ludic dialogue that promotes the expression of feelings and the expansion of possibilities in the childâs life. The therapy would help the child to identify, recognize and express his/her feelings. The therapist should, therefore, have the skills to enable a safe space for the childâs expression. This ability is understood by Amatuzzi as an ethical previous disponibility. For a philosophical perspective of the ethics of the Child-Centered Play Therapy, it is taken as basis the LÃvinasâ ethics of radical alterity, who proposed the responsibility as subjectivityâs structure. The ethical condition would be developed by the openness and availability to the Other, towards the Otherâs difference. The non-conceptuable levinasian Other, human beingâs antecedent and transcendent, establishes an asymmetric relationship with the Same. From these perspectives, it presents the guiding question of this research: what is the place for the radically Other in Child-Centered Play Therapy? To answer this question, the following general objective was traced: analyze the place reserved to the Other in the Child-Centered Play Therapy. The specific objectives are: inquiry the relation between otherness and subjetivity, based on levinasian ethics, in the Child-Centered Play Therapy; to develop a new reading of Child-Centered Play Therapy, based on radically Other. The chosen methodology was the Gadamerâs philosophical hermeneutics, which proposes the fusion of horizons between the author and the interpreter in order to create a new horizon of comprehension. From the similarities between the Person Centered Therapy and the Ethic of radical alterity, developed by Vieira & Freire and Schmid, it is presented as result that there is a place to the levinasian Other in the Child-Centered Play Therapy, as long as the therapist is openness and disponibility to the trauma that represents the arrival of the child in his/her absolute difference. It is also verified that the child who comes to the attendance, therefore, would be understood as the levinasian Other, whom the therapist is called upon to respond. To enable the therapist openness, he/she (the therapist) should experience permanent processes of inadequacy in the face to face relationship with the child. Grateful for the support of the CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior (CAPES) in the development of this research.

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of culturally responsive child-centered play therapy when compared to a curriculum-based small group counseling intervention as a school-based intervention for Hispanic children experiencing behavioral problems that place them at risk for academic failure. Specifically, this study measured the effects of the experimental play therapy treatment, compared to Kids' Connection, on reducing Externalizing and Internalizing behavior problems of elementary school-age Hispanic children. Twenty-nine volunteer Hispanic children were randomized to the experimental group (n=15) or the comparison group (n=14). Subjects participated in a weekly 30 minute intervention for a period of 15 weeks. Pre- and posttest data were collected from parent and teachers using the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children (BASC). A two factor mixed repeated measures analysis of variance was computed for each hypothesis, to determine the statistical and practical significance of the difference in the pretest to posttest behavior scores of children in the two groups. According to parents' reports, the children receiving play therapy showed statistically significant decreases in externalizing behaviors problems, specifically conduct problems, and moderate improvements in their internalizing behavior problems, specifically anxiety. Teacher BASC results showed no statistical significance and negligible-to- small practical significance between the two groups at posttest as a result of treatment; however, problems with integrity of data collection of teacher BASCs were noted. This study determined that, according to parents' reports, culturally responsive child-centered play therapy is an effective intervention for school-aged, Hispanic children referred for behavioral problems that have been shown to place them at risk for both academic failure and future, more serious mental health problems. Additionally, culturally responsive considerations regarding counseling Hispanic children and families were explored. This was a progressive research study that, according to a review of the literature, is the first of its kind to focus on the effects of culturally responsive child-centered play therapy treatment with Hispanic, Spanish-speaking children.

This study examined the effectiveness of child centered play therapy (CCPT) with academically at-risk 1st graders. In this quasi-experimental design, twenty-one 1st grade students were assigned to the experimental group and 20 students were assigned to the no treatment control group. The children in the experimental group received two 30 minute play therapy sessions per week for the duration of eight weeks. Three hypotheses were analyzed. A two-factor repeated measures analysis of variances (SPANOVA) were performed on each dependent variable to determine if the experimental group performed differently from the control group across time according to the pretest and posttest results of the Young Child's Achievement Test (YCAT), the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSAYC), and the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS). Additionally, partial η2 was calculated to determine practical significance. One hypothesis was retained at the .05 level of significance. Findings indicated that academically at-risk 1st graders who participated in CCPT scored statistically significant higher on academic achievement. Specifically, children assigned to the experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in Early Achievement Composite (p = .03) when compared to children assigned to the no treatment control group. No statistical significant results were found on Self-Concept and Student-Teacher Relationship Stress.

The number of children in classrooms is constantly increasing, causing shy children to become more invisible in the classroom. Thompson&Rudolph (2000: 542) indicate that shyness and withdrawal are attempts to avoid participation in one’s surroundings. The researcher is of the opinion that if shyness is not adequately addressed during middle childhood, it can continue to limit the potential of shy people. Shyness is not generally considered as problematic behaviour for children in their middle childhood. Shyness inhibits children to express themselves. They rarely participate in class and usually hold an irrational negative view of themselves. There is a need for shy children to be able to express themselves, in order to gain optimally from the school setting. Play therapy is based on developmental principles and thus provides, through play, developmentally appropriate means of expression and communication (Landreth&Bratton, 1999:5). Group therapy complements the normal developmental tasks that further children’s capacities for social interaction and intimacy. The researcher conducted intervention research. Many facets of intervention research are both qualitative and quantitative in nature, depending on the distinctive elements of the particular research project (De Vos, 2002a:368). Due to both the qualitative and quantitative nature of intervention research, the researcher employed Creswell’s dominant-less-dominant model in order to accommodate both research approaches. The goal of this study was to explore the impact of group play therapy on the social skills of shy children in their middle childhood. The researcher conducted a one-group pretest-posttest design in order to measure “shyness” as well as social skills before and after intervention. Seeing that the quantitative paradigm answered the research question of this research project, it was utilized as the dominant approach. Through comparing the pre-test and post-test scores, the researcher realized that group play therapy has a positive impact on the social skills of shy children. The unstructured observation provided the researcher with a better insight into the phenomena of shyness, and represented the qualitative approach. By combining the two research approaches, the researcher was able to achieve the outlined goal and objectives of this study. Further research into effective implementation of group play therapy to address shyness in the middle childhood years is recommended. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Play therapy in a school setting was studied to determine its therapeutic effectiveness on students' reading achievement, self-concept, and locus of control. The sample consisted of 24 students in two first grade classes who had been retained because of low achievement in reading. Instruments used in the study were the Gates MacGinite Reading Test, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire. Analysis of covariance, used to test the significance of the difference between the adjusted post-test means of the experimental and control groups, showed that participants in play therapy scored significantly higher in self-concept than did those who were not exposed to treatment. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in reading achievement or locus of control. Since research has shown that low achievers in reading tend to have low self-concepts, it seems reasonable to assume that improved self-concept would be related to improved reading scores. The nature of such a possible relationship needs further study. Recommendations were made for integrating affective components into academic remediation programs, and suggestions for further research were made.