Typical Features

• Play therapists accept the child’s play and communication (accept the child and the child’s potential for growth).

• All or much of the work take places in the displacement of play or spoken metaphor (verabl play).

• Play therapists are child-centered (follow the child’s lead in play rather than imposing views of others).

• Most play therapists use the child's own words and attributions to play (rather than adding new material of their choosing).
• (Gently) serve as interpreters/framers of events, feelings and meanings.
• Set as few limits as practical.

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© James Drisko, PhD
last updated 2/21/01