Failure To Fix Theme In Play Therapy

In this episode, I delved into another control and safety theme—the "failure to fix" theme. It's a counterpart to the "fixing play" theme we explored last time. Understanding these play themes is vital for effective therapy. Failure to fix happens when a child actively tries to repair something but eventually gives up, acknowledging it cannot be fixed. I provided examples, like a pretend town being devastated by a sandstorm in play, followed by attempts to rebuild that ultimately fail. This theme often mirrors a child's feelings of hopelessness or doubts about whether any help is possible. In some cases, it's a way for the child to test the therapist, to see if they'll attempt to "fix" them. I stressed the importance of sticking to the child-centered model, highlighting how crucial it is in addressing these themes appropriately in therapy. This episode offered valuable insights into this aspect of play therapy, helping us better understand children's emotional expressions and needs.

 

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References:

Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley.

VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press.

Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.

Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.