Our approach to therapy may be a little different. It is focused on creating a safe nurturing environment for our little people and parents to thrive in. This environment encompasses total acceptance of the child for who they naturally are.
This is underpinned by the 4 key principles developed by Dr Carl Rogers
- Empathy – feeling with the child
- Unconditional Positive Regard – acceptance for who they are
- Attunement – Meeting the child where they are at with care and support
- Congruence – The therapist models being in alignment with their words, presence and actions
Under these conditions the child is “Free to be the true whole Person” – Carl Rogers
Strong empathic relationships are associated with supporting regulation and integration within the nervous system. Unconditional Positive Regard and Empathy have been shown to increase therapeutic outcomes and increase a child’s belief in their own abilities. As a result, this leads to a decrease in external behaviours such as aggression and improved emotional regulation.
Brain development is experience dependent, and the repetition of activities helps create new connections and strengthen new ones. When a child engages in play it enhances epigenetic changes in the brain. The ability of a child to initiate play releases a cascade of stress relieving chemicals. The emotional engagement of a child in play is key to this process. As a result, the highest focus is placed on creating an environment where this can be nurtured.
References:
Hong R, Mason CM. Becoming a neurobiologically-informed play therapist. International Journal of Play Therapy [Internet]. 2016 Jan [cited 2023 Jan 31];25(1):35–44. Available from: http://ezproxy.deakin.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=2016-00466-005&site=eds-live&scope=site
Ray DC, Jayne KM. Humanistic psychotherapy with children. In: Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice, 2nd ed [Internet]. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2016 [cited 2023 Jan 27]. p. 387–417. Available from: http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-f.deakin.edu.au/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&db=pzh&AN=2015-26919-013&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Rogers CR. A Way of Being [Internet]. Boston: Mariner Books; 1995 [cited 2023 Jan 27]. Available from: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy-b.deakin.edu.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1870513&site=eds-live&scope=site
JAYNE KM, RAY DC. Therapist-Provided Conditions in Child-Centered Play Therapy. Journal of Humanistic Counseling [Internet]. 2015 Jul [cited 2023 Jan 27];54(2):86–103. Available from: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=103577262&authtype=sso&custid=deakin&site=eds-live&scope=site