A longitudinal study assessing trauma symptoms in sexually abused children engaged in play therapy.

Children who have been sexually abused exhibit a variety of emotional, sexual, behavioral, and psychological problems. A great deal of interest has been generated in the use of play therapy as a clinical approach to intervention with sexually abused children. This study explores the effect of play therapy as a primary treatment modality with sexually abused children. The impact of specific traumatic symptoms and overall treatment is examined. Findings indicate that, overall, trauma symptom severity in children decreased after 6 months of play therapy. In addition, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and sexual distress scores indicated a significant decrease. Additional research is recommended to develop evaluative and systematic guidelines that will further validate the use of play therapy as an empirically supported assessment and treatment tool. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An integrative approach to play therapy with an autistic girl.

An integrative approach to treatment that utilizes the rapport building component of nondirective play therapy with directive techniques is presented. This approach targets maladaptive behavior and parent education. A case study describes a brief course of therapy involving an 11-yr-old autistic White female client who seemed unhappy, was noncompliant at home, and lacked some basic living skills. It is shown that upon receiving therapy, the S experienced increases in social behavior and compliance at home and displayed a less irritable mood. The course of her therapy and specific interventions are examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of play therapy outcomes.

The results of a meta-analysis of play therapy research are presented with an emphasis on characteristics of therapy that predicted treatment outcomes. Results of the analysis are based on experimental and quasi-experimental studies of play therapy. The results indicate that play therapy has a moderate positive effect on treatment outcomes with children. Parental involvement and treatment duration were significantly related to treatment outcome. Studies that involved therapy for 30–35 sessions produced the greatest effect. Nonsignificant predictors of treatment outcome are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The case for needs in psychotherapy.

In the history of psychology, proposals have been made regarding the nature of human needs, but this concept has yet to be incorporated into standard programs of intervention. I argue that unmet needs contribute to chronic psychological problems and, consequently, that a needs-based approach can be effective in their treatment. Situating needs in an ethological framework, I qualify six core needs that have emerged in the context of a psychotherapy practice that draws on both cognitive therapy and schema therapy. I outline a needs-based model that introduces a proactive dimension to these two approaches, and promotes flexible utilization of their respective clinical tools. The result is a more integrated and streamlined approach to the treatment of longer-term problems. I conclude by advocating the interdisciplinary study of needs as human adaptations. Clinicians of all orientations can play an important role in the development and application of a broadly based theory of needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)