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christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 2
Coping Skills: The Bereaved Child
Sandplay therapy is a form of play therapy that allows chil-
dren the sensory experience of manipulating figures to create
a subjective world. These figures represent feelings and ideas
that the child may or may not experience on a conscious
level. Sandplay offers the child opportunities to symbolically
portray concepts like grief, and subsequently process feelings
associated with the loss (Green & Connolly, 2009). As cited
in Green and Connolly (2009), the therapeutic gains associ-
ated with sandplay in grieving children are expressions of grief
through figures, symbols, and metaphors in protective envi-
ronments; understanding of the psycho-educational aspects
of loss; release of dominant sensations through symbolic play;
and the building of a therapeutic alliance to nurture accep-
tance as the child improves coping skills (Reddy, Files-Hall &
Schaefer, 2005).
Social Skills
Social skills are also enhanced as children engage in play.
During free play, they are able to assume new identities,
participate in creative activities and play out different social
scenarios. The play therapy room provides a nonthreatening
environment that creates a venue for the child to articulate
his or her subjective experiences. The play therapist and child
form an alliance that fosters a nurturing relationship. The
resulting therapeutic alliance, when maintained appropriately,
will stimulate the child’s social drive and augment the devel-
opment of necessary social skills (Ray, 2011).
The Therapeutic Relationship
Virginia Axline, a pioneer in child-centered play therapy,
believed the therapeutic relationship was central to promoting
change and fostering growth in the child. Axline (1969) devel-
oped eight principles to facilitate the therapeutic process. The
first and second principles delineate the therapist’s demeanor.
Axline suggested the therapist must establish a genuine
relationship based on unconditional acceptance and under-
standing of the child. Once positive rapport is established,
the child is able to direct the play and attach his or her own
personal meaning to the play. The third and fourth principles
recognize the importance of permitting the child freedom to
explore ideas and feelings; those feelings are then reflected by
the therapist, guiding the child toward self-awareness. The
fifth and sixth principles assume the child is inherently moti-
vated toward change; the child, when given the proper tools,
can direct this process. The seventh principle acknowledges
that this process can be a gradual one and the therapist should
not impose time constraints. The eighth and final principle
speaks to limits and boundaries established by the therapist
to encourage awareness of the child’s responsibility, further
grounding the child to reality (as cited in Van-Fleet, Sywulak
& Sniscak, 2010). The efficacy of play therapy can be further
enhanced with parental involvement as the ideal number of
sessions is delivered (Bratton, Ray, Rhine & Jones, 2005).
The therapeutic gains associated with play therapy are
substantial. Children are intrinsically motivated to play and,
when nurtured, this process can promote self-exploration,
better emotional regulation, more positive social adjustment,
and healthy coping skills (Ray 2011). Children are afforded
the opportunity to grow and thrive whether participating in a
play therapy relationship or engaging in free play. Reviewing
the research and recognizing the implication of play is helpful,
but little compares to observing the pure delight and conta-
gious laughter of a child immersed in play.
✠
Josephine M. Olson, M.A., NCC,
received
her master’s degree in Community and School Counseling
from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia,
and has conducted play therapy sessions in the school and
agency setting with at-risk youth.
References
Association of Play Therapy (2013). Retrieved from a4pt.org/ps.index.
cfm?ID=2289.
Bratton, S.C., Ray, D., Rhine, T. & Jones, L. (2005). The Efficacy of
Play Therapy with Children: A Meta-analytic Review of Treatment
Outcomes.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice
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376-390.
Ginsburg, B.G. (2002). The Power of Filial Relationship Enhancement
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Ginsburg, K.R. (2007). The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child
Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-child Bonds.
Pediatrics
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Green, E.J. & Connolly, M.E. Jungian Family Sandplay with Bereaved
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Children are intrinsically motivated to play…
