The influence of integrative play therapy on children

• Author: Flora Lamçja (Zeqaj)
• Position: European University of Tirana
• Pages: 188-192

IIPCCL Publishing, Tirana-Albania

Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences Vol. 1 No. 3

November 2015

ISSN 2410-3918

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

188

The influence of integrative play therapy on children

Flora Lamçja (Zeqaj)

European University of Tirana

Abstract

The integration of theory, technique and common factors in psychotherapy has gained

prominence since the 1990s. Previously, it was called eclecticism, but integration has become

the preferred term to describe the blending of theory, technique and common factors (Norcross

2005). In the past, eclecticism meant to choose from various theories and techniques a

therapeutic strategy that appears best for a particular client (Schaefer 2003 p.308). However,

Norcross (1987) explains eclecticism as a further integration through which various theories

are applied on interactive and coordinated explanations of the therapy.

Because of psychological disorders, especially for children and adolescents are multilayered,

complex and multi determined a multifaceted treatment approach is needed (Schaefer 2003).

Indeed, many clients do not come with a clearly defined diagnosis, but rather several

overlapping problems due to the co morbidity of issues (such as in the cases of complex trauma

resulting in overlapping attention problems, along with phobias and sexualized behaviors).

The clinicians trained in one theoretical and treatment approach is finding the “one size”

cannot fit in all the presenting problems that are being faced today.

Due to this multidimensional aspect the play child/play therapy calls for the unique demand

that the therapist should wear a lot of different hats and should be skillful in changing from

one therapeutic stance to another, in order to meet the needs of the child and of the various

members in the child’s life (Coonerty, 1993). In one moment, the play therapist is intensively

involved in deeply evocative and conflicted play therapy the child client. At that moment, the

therapist needs to deal with the child’s internal struggles, setting limits and being an educator

or mediator with the child, while in the next moment the therapist should engaged with the

role of a parent, or school psychologist, or classroom teacher to assess the child’s functioning.

Keywords: integrated play, children, influence, therapy.

Theoretical concepts

The integrated theory of play/play

Another good example of the assimilated integration is the theory of play through

the object relations, created and utilized by Helen Benedict (2006). The play theory of

the relations through objects is mainly based on the therapy techniques which react

fast towards children. They are also highly attuned therapy techniques with specific

goals in order to meet each child’s needs. This treatment approach is based on an

attachment of object relations which is a collection of loosely organized models held

together by three basic ideas.

The first and the most important theory is the prevailing belief that interpersonal

relations are the central driving and motivational in human development.

(Benedict,2006). This is based by the neuroscience research that has been able to show

that the early brain development requires attuned and interactive events that are