CLAYtherapy: What is it?
Play therapists communicate with children through the medium of toys; blocks, dolls, puppets, paints, vehicles and, of course, modeling clay or Play-Doh. Children are naturally attracted to clay or the many forms of Play-Doh®. Most have grown up with clay at home and school. Children like clay. They like feeling, molding, squashing, rolling and pounding clay. If children don't have clay they will play with pie dough, mud, pudding, ice cream or mashed potatoes. Counselors use clay because it helps children explore difficult concepts and express fundamental emotions.
is a new book for therapists who treat children. Its author directs the reader in the use of over 50 unique clinical techniques within the CLAYtherapy experience. Three of these techniques are; Talk first or play first, Boss of the clay and, Trust your eyes. This 150 page manual of text, and over 300 drawings and photographs provides therapists a new clinical method of using clay as a medium to assist in the treatment of children. The techniques use both direct and nondirective methods in linking the play/talk needs of the child with the clinical/relationship goals of the counselor. The use of clay has never been so useful in quickly establishing rapport, teaching clinical concepts and engaging children in the treatment process.
CLAYtherapy, as an adjunct to Play Therapy, guides the reader through a step-by-step process in successfully making dinosaurs, airplanes, a frog, elephant and half a dozen other projects in a way that most thought they never could (child and counselor alike). The approach is hands-on, practical and user-friendly accommodating all levels of clinical experience and artistic ability. Everyone can do this. CLAYtherapy is designed for any professional guiding children in seeking resolution and coping with life issues. These issues include problem solving, self-esteem enhancement, decision making and impulse/anger control. Its use enhances the initiation of therapy and the ongoing development of the treatment relationship. It supports clinical goals whether they are short-term interviewing, long-term relationship building or data collection approaches. It is ideal for children 4 through 12 years, and often beyond.
CLAYtherapy relieves a child’s fears of counseling, grabs and holds their interest, provides a wide array of clinical connections and establishes an immediate problem-solving environment. Children are drawn to its visual appeal and hands-on attraction. Its play-while-we-talk, something-to-take-home when we are finished approach, is the ultimate intake icebreaker while the depth of its clinical application is limited only by the counselor’s creativity, clinical insight and experience.
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©2007 Paul R. White |
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