How to Do Play Therapy : Building a Growth Mindset Role Play

Summary

In this play therapy session, the therapist employs various techniques to boost a young boy's self-esteem and self-efficacy. They offer encouragement, acknowledge efforts, and avoid praising outcomes. The therapist also reflects the child's feelings to help him develop emotional vocabulary and self-identify his emotions. The session maintains structure while respecting the child's desires and feelings, and the therapist avoids labeling toys to promote the child's symbolic play and creativity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The therapist uses play therapy techniques to facilitate self-esteem and offer encouragement.
• 👍 The therapist focuses on acknowledging and reinforcing effort rather than praising the outcome.
• 🤔 The therapist encourages the child to think and solve problems independently.
• 👶 The therapist promotes a sense of self-efficacy in the child by allowing them to accomplish tasks.
• 🥳 The therapist maintains a playful and positive interaction, using phrases like 'you got it' to boost confidence.
• 🚫 The therapist maintains session structure while acknowledging the child's feelings and desires.
• 🍼 The therapist uses a delay tactic to manage the child's immediate needs, like wanting milk.
• 🗣️ The therapist reflects the child's feelings to help develop an emotional vocabulary.
• 🧩 The therapist avoids labeling toys, allowing the child to use their imagination and symbolic play.
• 🤝 The therapist engages in cooperative play, accepting and responding to the child's play offers.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of the therapist in the initial minutes of the session?

The primary goal of the therapist in the initial minutes is to facilitate self-esteem and offer encouragement to promote a felt sense of self-efficacy.

How does the therapist acknowledge the boy's efforts?

The therapist acknowledges the boy's efforts by reinforcing the process rather than praising the product, such as recognizing where things go and complimenting the boy's actions without focusing on the outcome.

What does the therapist do when the boy needs help?

When the boy needs help, the therapist offers assistance but also praises the boy's self-reliance, like noting when he does not need help and when he successfully completes tasks on his own.

Why does the therapist mention '10 more minutes' when the boy wants milk?

The therapist mentions '10 more minutes' to maintain the structure of the session while acknowledging the boy's immediate wants and feelings, providing a compromise that allows the session to continue.

How does the therapist reflect the boy's feelings?

The therapist reflects the boy's feelings by verbally acknowledging his emotional states, such as disappointment or happiness, to help him develop an emotional vocabulary and self-identify his feelings.

What is the significance of the therapist not labeling the toys?

The significance of the therapist not labeling the toys is to allow the boy to use play symbolically and express himself creatively without being limited by adult interpretations of the toys' functions.

How does the therapist encourage the boy's self-directed play?

The therapist encourages self-directed play by using the boy's own words to label toys and by allowing him to guide the play, which fosters creativity and autonomy.

What does the therapist do when the boy tries to leave the room?

When the boy tries to leave the room, the therapist works to maintain the structure of the session while acknowledging his feelings and wants, offering reassurance and a compromise to address his needs within the session's framework.

How does the therapist respond to the boy's actions with the toys?

The therapist responds to the boy's actions with the toys by engaging in the play, reflecting on his choices, and encouraging him to continue, which supports the therapeutic process.

Why does the therapist avoid making the toys represent specific things?

The therapist avoids making the toys represent specific things to allow for symbolic play, which can be therapeutic as it allows the boy to express complex feelings and thoughts through the play.

How does the therapist use the boy's interests to maintain engagement?

The therapist uses the boy's interests, such as sounds or specific toys, to maintain engagement by reflecting on and validating his experiences, which helps keep him interested and involved in the session.