Psychoanalytic Play Theory:
Abstract:
Play therapy conceptualizes the natural and non-simulated problem-solving techniques that communicate patient’s experiences and the plausible healing processes. As a self-guide to personal acceptance and knowledge, play therapy helps solve psychosocial problems by integrating growth and development with the constructs of social dynamics. The psychoanalytic theory of play on the other hand, stresses out the desire aspects that are functional in the evaluation of play therapy, by analyzing its therapeutic value on satisfaction of attainable goals. In this case, play therapy acts as the cellar foundation while the psychoanalytic theory co-creates the aspects of building the therapy itself. That is, the evaluation of the theory on the basis of knowledge; its strengths and weaknesses, how it responds to clients’ needs and the appealing aspects, forms the functional analysis of the play therapy.
The psychoanalytic theory of play finds its strengths on the flexibility aspects whereby it promotes learning by defining roles and identity for self-regulated acceptance behavior(s). As the natural mode of expression, the theory supplements the play therapy by helping children define and monitor their motor skills in a symbolic and fantasy-based environment (Giordano, Landreth & Jones 2005).
The theory is appealing more so in the separation of developmental phase(s) whereby, for instance, the sphere stage addresses the formal and/or informal ego adjustments to the world. The microsphere stages attempt to redefine the mastering process based on the internal feelings about toys and the external environment, and the final stages where the child is introduced to the world; observing the play behavior of others and learning social rules (Badenoch, 2008).
Initially, I used to think that play therapies could apply only to cases that require formal and systematic operational settings, but integration with the informal settings is fruitful too. For instance, Cooper and Alfille (2011) observed that by symbolizing desires through play(s), the theory responds well to the clients’ needs by allowing them adjust to the external demands of reality through the incorporation of the theory’s cathartic potential; eliminating theory’s perceived weaknesses.
Conclusion:
Psychoanalytic play theory plays a major role of supplementing play therapy by providing structured and unstructured approach strategies, and by offering reflective and flexible methods of analysis. In addition, the combination of cognitive and functional environmental conditions promotes the implementation of the play therapy by coordinating the material set-up in relation to personalities and the degree of satisfaction (O’Connor & Braverman, 2009).
References:
Badenoch, B. (2008). Being a brain-wise therapist: A practical guide to interpersonal neurobiology. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Cooper, J., & Alfille´, H. (2011). A guide to assessment for psychoanalytic psychotherapists. London: Karnac Books.
Giordano, M., Landreth, G. L. & Jones, L. (2005). A practical handbook for building the play therapy relationship. Lanham: Jason Aronson.
O’Connor, K. J., & Braverman, L. D. (2009). Play therapy theory and practice: Comparing theories and techniques. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.