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Development of play and mentalisation within child psychotherapy

A qualitative exploration of change and quality of play within a time limited psychodynamic psychotherapeutic aproach (MBT-C)

About the project

Theory and studies of play: Play has been used as a mean and goal within Child Psychotherapy for many years (Klein, 1955)(Winnicott, 1971)(Fonagy& Target, 1996). There exist some quantitative studies of play in psychotherapy (Kernberg, Chazan & Normandin, 1998)(Halfon & Bulut, 2019). While there are many clinical papers on the topic, there are still few papers with systematic qualitative methodology in studying the phenomena of play in psychotherapy.

Study based on videotaped sessions: Four children aged 5-6 years old (one girl and three boys). Every session is videotaped. Treatment is mentalization based therapy for children (MBT-C).

Timeline: Two treatments are ended, two more planned ended this autumn. Single case conceptual analysis began. Reflexive thematic analysis across cases begin this autumn.

Objectives

Exploring the communication, types and meaning in the dynamics of play within the therapeutic relationship.

Outcomes

  1. Understand how play as a therapeutic factor is used as a vehicle of change and development in the therapy over time
  2. Explore changes in play and the therapeutic process over time within treatments and across treatments
  3. Understand therapist behavior and action
  4. Understand relational themes over time
  5. Potentially develop new conceptual understanding of process and of play within Child psychotherapy

Background

Modern research has demonstrated the significance of play for childrens development (Barish, 2020), especially for the development of affect regulation and mentalization (Fonagy & Target, 1996), and also for processing of trauma (Diaz & Lieberman, 2010). At the same time therapy through play is being practiced less within many health services.

Tools

Instruments: CBCL parents, CPTI

Method of analysis: Reflexive thematic analysis, which will consist of analysis of video-taped sessions.

Selected publications

Barish, K. (2020). The Role of Play in Contemporary Child Psychotherapy: A Developmental Perspective. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 19(2), 148-158

Diaz, M. A. & Lieberman, A. F. (2010). Use of play in child-parent psychotherapy with preschoolers traumatized by domestic violence. I C. E. Schaefer (Red.), Play therapy for preschool children, (s. 131-156). American Psychological Association.

Fonagy, P. & Target, M. (1996). Playing with Reality: I. Theory of mind and the normal development of psychic reality. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 77(2), 217-233.

Halfon S. & Bulut, P. (2019): Mentalization and the growth of symbolic play and affect regulation in psychodynamic therapy for children with behavioral problems, Psychotherapy Research, 29(5), 666-678. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1393577

Kernberg, P. F., Chazan, S. E. & Normandin, L. N. (1998). The Children´s Play Therapy Instrument (CPTI). Description, Development, and Reliability Studies. Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 7(3), 196-207.

Klein, M. (1955). The Psychoanalytic Play Techniques. Its History and Significance. I Envy and gratitude, and other works, 1946-1963, 122-140. 

Winnicott, D. W. (1971) Playing and Reality. Basic Books.

Published Oct. 18, 2023 5:07 PM - Last modified Oct. 18, 2023 5:09 PM

Participants

Detailed list of participants