Gender-Typed Play and Amniotic Testosterone.

Sex differences in play are apparent in a number of mammalian species, including humans. Prenatal testosterone may contribute to these differences. The authors report the first attempt to correlate gender-typed play in a normative sample of humans with measurements of amniotic testosterone (aT). Testosterone was measured in the amniotic fluid of 53 children (31 boys and 22 girls). A strong sex difference was observed in aT and, at ages 4.75 to 5.8 years, on a modified version of the Child Game Participation Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analyses on the entire group and within-sex correlations suggested that variations in aT did not contribute to individual differences in game participation as reported by the mother. A critique of explanations for this finding is presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play and development of cosmic confidence.

Explored self-motion play or "peragration," a fundamental, primary play form existing neonatally and persisting throughout life. In human and subhuman primates, peragration precedes, both temporally and functionally, such social play as rough-and-tumble. Two groups of 4 rhesus monkeys each were studied from 24–36 wks in unlike playrooms. The control group continued to play in the previously mutual playroom completely equipped with apparatus enhancing self-motion play. To research the effects of playroom deprivation for the experimental group, the self-motion apparatus was entirely removed. Without the special equipment, peragration not only persisted but increased significantly as compared with nonapparatus play of the controls, in both individual and social patterns, although individual play continued to be significantly preponderant. Apparatus play was not eliminated because the infants transformed walls and platforms into peragration props and continued to learn the mobile capabilities of their bodies in relation to the physical environment and to gain cosmic confidence. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play and development from an ethological perspective.

Examined play from conceptual and empirical viewpoints to clarify its importance in development. Distinctions are made between the play of presymbolic and symbolic organisms and between play, exploration, and "application." A review of play in nonhuman animals indicates that play increases with phylogenetic status, is important for mature social development in more advanced species, reflects intentional activity, and is essential for the development of tool-using strategies. An exploration–play–application sequence is posited to help clarify the embedded role of play in the development of adaptive strategies. (64 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapy with hospitalized children.

Provides a limited review of the literature pertaining to the use of play therapy in the hospital setting. Specific attention is given to situations involving the terminally ill child. V. Axline's (1969) original principles of play therapy are examined and applied to the play therapist's role in interactions with the hospitalized and/or terminally ill child. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play Therapy with Young Perfectionists.

Recent empirical research has supported a view of perfectionism as potentially adaptive as well as maladaptive. As a result, it is important to accurately assess the form of perfectionism before designing a treatment plan. Cognitive/Adlerian approaches to play therapy offer unique opportunities for assessing and treating maladaptive perfectionism in children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapy in 2100: Precognitions and prognostications.

The author predicts three possible paths play therapy could take over the next 100 years, depending on the evolution of civilization, culture, and technology and on the efforts of the professionals in the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Addressing Diversity Issues in Play Therapy.

Globalization is upon us, resulting in almost daily exposure to and interaction with highly diverse populations. To practice ethical play therapy, play therapists must become culturally competent. Play therapists are called on both to address cultural issues in therapy and to facilitate children's pride in, and preservation of, their culture. Despite this, the existing literature on cultural competence in psychotherapy has rarely been applied to play therapy practice. The author's goal is to do just that so as to provide play therapists with a model relevant to their work. Play therapists must first fully understand the concept of culture and its potential impact on their own lives, the lives of their clients, and the play therapy process. Second, play therapists need to develop adequate levels of culturally related awareness, skills, and knowledge. Last, they can ensure the work they do is more culturally sensitive and competent by following basic guidelines. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Critical Review of Play Therapy Assessments.

As part of the creative modalities, play therapy offers a therapeutic mode for diagnosis, assessment, and treatment interventions. The purpose of this paper is to critically review three play therapy interventions: The Developmental Play Assessment, the Marschak Interaction Method, and the Family Systems Test. A brief introduction to each assessment will be presented. Additionally, validity and reliability data will be addressed. The overall evaluation will include the assessments desirable as well as undesirable features, which is of critical importance to play therapists and those therapists using play as a method of diagnosis and assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapy in Hong Kong: Opportunities and challenges.

Play therapy is a well-established therapeutic approach for working with children and families in the West. This article describes the current situation of play therapy in Hong Kong—a cosmopolitan city where East meets West. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats confronting the development of play therapy as an extension of core graduate-level mental health training are analyzed. Through this process, a number of strategic issues central to the growth and development of professionalism in play therapy are identified and discussed. A path for the future development of play therapy for mental health professionals in Hong Kong over the next decade is presented. Possibilities for collaboration in research and practice among play therapists from all over the world are also suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapists' self-perceived multicultural competence and adequacy of training.

Explored the self-perceived multicultural competencies and adequacy of multicultural training of play therapists across the United States. Registered play therapists belonging to the Association for Play Therapy (N=134) completed the Multicultural Counseling Survey (MMCTS) (C. C. Holcomb-McCoy & J. E. Myers, 1999). Results indicate that play therapists perceive themselves as competent on Multicultural counseling competence. The results also suggest that play therapists perceived their multicultural training as less than adequate. Although results indicate no difference between play therapists' competence and training based on years of experience, there was a difference in multicultural competence and training based on coursework in multicultural counseling. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapy with multiple personality disorder clients.

The use of play therapy with child alters of adults who have multiple personality disorders is explored. Various approaches to play therapy that are used with children may also be effectively used with child alters. Play may be used to help sublimate expressions of anger, recover dissociated memories, and increase communication and cooperation among alter personalities. Play therapy offers distinct advantages when working with child alters, and the play room allows for special techniques that can be used with all alters in the personality system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play in the context of the family.

Argues that symbolic play between parents and children contributes indirectly to the emotional, social, and cognitive development of children. Family play may serve important functions for the family as well, such as the generation of positive affect, consolidation of the family paradigm, integration of shared symbols, and affective communication. A model of symbolic play that can include fathers and couples as well as mothers at play with their children is proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapy behaviors of sexually abused children.

Examined the question of whether there are specific play therapy behaviors associated with children who have been sexually abused, and whether these behaviors differ by sex and age of the children. A survey instrument was developed which listed 140 play therapy behaviors. 21 play therapists participated in a field test to establish external validity. 249 play therapists were also surveyed to identify professionals who provide play therapy. Analysis identified highly interrelated play therapy behaviors of sexually abused girls and boys from ages 3–10 yrs. Suggested use of the play therapy behaviors include assessments to detect sexual abuse and recommendations for child placement and/or court testimony. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play: A general facilitator of associative fluency.

Tested the hypothesis that children's play can have a general facilitating effect on associative responding. Data from 36 middle-class preschool Ss show that those in the play condition produced significantly more standard and more nonstandard uses for a variety of materials than Ss in either imitation or intellectual task (i.e., verbal cues) conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mapping the Characteristics of a 'Good' Play Therapist.

In this pilot study, concept mapping, a methodological approach combining qualitative and quantitative analytic strategies, was used to identify the therapist qualities, competencies, and skills necessary for effective play therapy outcomes as perceived by a sub-sample of 28 experienced play therapists who are members of the Association for Play Therapy (APT). The clusters associated with the therapeutic relationship and facilitative skills (e.g., empathy, warmth, and genuineness) were rated as the most essential skills to possess and also as the most difficult to develop. In contrast, the clusters associated with play therapy interventions and theories were rated as the least important skills to possess but as the easiest to acquire. The findings are discussed, with implications for therapeutic practice, research, and policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Play therapy for children with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the leading birth defect in the United States, yet few treatment options exist for children afflicted with this disorder. Although play therapy has demonstrated its efficacy with numerous special populations, as of today, no research has been conducted on its use with FAS. This article presents an overview of current data on FAS, an argument for the use of child-centered play therapy for children diagnosed FAS, and suggests areas of research needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recognizing Defenses in the Drawings and Play of Children in Therapy.

Children's drawings and play have long been recognized as rich repositories of symbolic material derivative of infantile sexual fantasy. That view is based predominantly on the early drive theory approach to the interpretation of dreams with an almost exclusive focus on symbolic content. In an effort to broaden the interpretive skills available to the child therapist, this article places the content of children's drawings and play into the background and brings the defensive processes into higher relief. It addresses the defenses in children's play and even more so the defenses in children's drawings. Without creating a simplistic formula, the author offers examples of ways to recognize defenses in children's drawings and play based on observations from clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Countertranferance Among Play Therapists: Implications for Therapist Development and Supervision.

This study examined countertransference management among play therapists. Registered Play Therapist Supervisors (N=154) completed the Countertransference Factors Inventory-Revised and a demographic survey regarding a recent supervisee. The areas explored included countertransference management with regard to therapist gender, academic degree, license, theoretical orientation, type of supervision, population served, practice setting, play therapy training, and experience. A moderate positive correlation of 53% was found between play therapy training and countertransference management. A low positive correlation of 27% was found between years of experience and countertransference management. Differences were found among groups in the areas of degree, license, and practice setting. No significant findings were obtained for gender, theoretical orientation, population served, and type of supervision. The study provides recommendations and implications for supervision of developing play therapists, and suggestions for future research in the area of countertransference among play therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)