Play Therapy Generally Speaking, Play Article Critique

Instead, Phillips sees that the issues surrounding #2 are the most important and neglected. He finds a lack of commonality in number of sessions, time of sessions, intervention, and even parental involvement (Phillips, 19). By its very nature, though, since each individual client is coming from a diverse background, would it not stand to reason that some children might need a longer session, or more sessions, than others -- depending upon the severity of their issue. Similarly, since each individual responds to play in a slightly divergent manner, their individual needs will naturally vary. but, is this not the same as other models of cognitive therapy? Some adults suffer from minor compulsions; say needing to quit smoking; some suffer from stronger issues; and some are ill enough to require daily therapy; why should this be different with children. More important, why should this invalidate an entire methodology?

Phillips' argument is important in that it "reminds us of current evidence-based standards and challenges us to initiate methodologically sound studies" (Baggerly, 35). However, when we critically compare the research done since 1985 we do find that "because most play therapy research uses the design of play therapy vs. absence of intervention," and are therefore unable to conclusively say that play therapy is the most effective treatment (Bratton, 386). Is this really the most important thing about play therapy that should concern the field, though, or should we perhaps hone in on actual methodological issues that can be field tested and measured -- thus proving or disproving the overall efficacy of play therapy?

REFERENCES

Association of Play Therapy. (2001, June). Play Therapy. Association Newsletter, 20, p. 20.

Baggerly and Bratton. (2010). Building a Firm Foundation in Play Therapy Research: Response to Phillips. International Journal of Play Therapy, 19(1), 26-38.

Burroughs, Wagner, and Johnson. (1997). Treatment of Children of Divorse: A Comparison of Two Types of Therapy. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 27(2), 83-99.

Drewes, a. e. (2009). Blending Play Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. New York: Wiley.

Landreth, G. (2002). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. New York: Routledge.

LeBlanc and Ritchie. (2001). A Meta-Analysis of Play Therapy Outcomes. Counseling Psychology QUarterly, 14(2), 149-63.

Phillips, R. (2010). How Firm is Our Foundation? Current Play Therapy research. International Journal of PLay Therapy, 19(1), 13-25.

Piaget, J. (1999). Play, Dream, and Imitation in Childhood. New York: Taylor and Francis/Routledge.

Ray, Bratton, Rhine, and Jones. (2001). The Effectiveness of Play…