Low income male preschoolers with externalizing behaviors have continued behavior issues throughout elementary school, middle school, high school, and into adulthood and create stress for their teachers. Because of this, it is important to detect externalizing behaviors early and implement an appropriate intervention. A single subject reversal…

Single parenthood as a common psychosocial phenomenon seems to be regarded as one of the most significant issues in the psychological domain and needs to be taken into serious consideration due to emotional, psychological, and social problems created by it. With regard to the rapidly growing population of single parents and their children…

The use of play therapy with mentally retarded children and adults is examined. The lack of research on the topic is noted, and information on psychoanalytically oriented play therapy approaches are reviewed. Application of play therapy to mentally retarded clients is explored in terms of two questions: (1) at what level do mentally retarded…

The author presents a case study in which play therapy is used with an older child. (BY)

Play therapy components are: (1) child's feelings and actions; (2) playroom setting and materials; (3) counselor techniques and implementation of one's personality. Counseling techniques are: (1) reflection; (2) interpretation; (3) silence; and (4) structure. Case study used to illustrate. (EK)

Explores three dimensions of change in play therapy. Actual case material is used to examine the role of pivots as windows of change in the helping process. Argues that the pivoting function may serve as a universe for change which allows us to focus more intently on therapeutic events. (Author/ABB)

This article discusses how to work with a child who uses inappropriate language. The words inappropriately used by young children are grouped into five categories: (1) names of body parts considered as private, and their nicknames; (2) bathroom words and body products; (3) religion-related words; (4) sexually charged words overheard when adults…

Shows how program activities can be a major therapeutic tool as an aid in diagnosis, a specific treatment intervention, positive reinforcement after discussion, an aid to behavior management. Discusses general factors to be considered in choosing group activities. (JH)

Following 14 weeks of therapy conducted by volunteer teachers, experimental subjects showed a statistically significant rise in assertiveness, particularly with their peers. The correlation between the teacher's role performance and degree of child's improvement suggests that this technique was instrumental in change. (Author/CJ)

This paper describes the processes of Monitored Play-Therapy, a method which seeks to measure the changes which may take place over a number of play therapy sessions. The laboratory is in use at Georgia State College in Atlanta and is designed for boys seven through twelve years of age. The Monitored Playroom Laboratory consists of a control booth…

There are many unanswered questions about play therapy. Monitored play therapy is an attempt to discover answers to these questions. The main emphasis is on quantitative recording and analysis of the process and outcome of play therapy. However, because of its newness, monitored play therapy also has some weaknesses. The main strong point is the…

Describes a project involving nondirective play therapy conducted in two elementary schools in Kern County, California. (CB)

An effective intervention program which used a CREFT (child relationship enhancement family therapy) approach for changing problematic child behaviors is described. The approach features child-centered play therapy and employment of parents as primary change agents, and provides parents with the understanding and skills to facilitate behavioral…

Play therapy has been employed by therapists to alleviate children's emotional stress. Most research dealing with this type of intervention has been in the form of case studies, focusing on therapy outcome rather than on the therapeutic process. The process of one child in individual play therapy was analyzed through the use of time-series…