Child psychology, also called child development, is the study of the psychological processes of children and especially, how they develop as young adults and how they differ from one child to the next. It basically tend to map onto children’s physical, cognitive and social/emotional development. Psychologists attempt to make sense of every aspect of child development, including how children learn, think, interact and respond emotionally to people around them and understand emotions and their developing personalities, temperaments and skills. It also includes how individual, social and cultural factors may influence their development. Child study is of comparatively recent origin. Notable psychologists namely Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein and …show more content…
The eight principles provide therapists to successfully communicate and observe the child and thus help the child to overcome his/her limitations and find their way back to life. First, the therapist must develop a warm, friendly relationship and good rapport with the child as soon as possible. Second, the therapist must accept the child as it is. In order for the child to feel comfortable with themselves it is imperative they must feel accepted by the therapist. Dr.Axline points out that it is essential for therapists to be cautious of their tone of voice and body language as they can significantly “add to or subtract from the degree of acceptance that is being put on the situation”. Third, the therapist establishes a feeling of permission in the relationship so that the child feels free to express his or her feeling completely. Permissiveness is interwoven with acceptance. Once the child establishes permission and feels accepted he/she will express themselves without shame or guilt. Fourth, the therapist should be alert to the feelings the child is expressing and reflects these feelings back so that the child gains insight into his/her behaviour. Fifth, the therapist should maintain a deep respect for the child’s ability to solve his own problems if given an opportunity. If a child feels respected they begin to take responsibility for themselves and as a result they get …show more content…
It chronicled Axline’s therapeutic relationship with a five-year-old boy who appeared withdrawn and uncommunicative. Dr.Axline writes from her viewpoint as a therapist, after helping Dibs. The book records the weekly play therapy sessions of Dibs with Dr.Axline and describes Dibs’ behaviour and demonstrates how Dr.Axline used reflective listening and allowed Dibs to discover himself and his responsibilities. Dr.Axlines’s style is formal and each chapter describes the play therapy session or event. The book reflects the activities of Dibs captured by Dr. Axline and how she was engaged with Dibs and her subject matter. The basic theme outlined by Dr.Axline is how play therapy can help a child psychologist to help the child who has been in isolation lead to his self-discovery. The book holds that through self-knowledge one gains valuable life experience and grows as a complete new human being. The book is important because of its contribution to play therapy. Although, it also tells the story of how Dibs goes from being thought “retarded and hostilely rejecting” to being a “brilliant boy”. “Dibs in Search of Self” is an inspirational
The field of child counseling has been enriched through the integration of play therapy within different therapeutic approaches, as this method allows children to express thoughts and feelings that they might not be able to convey any other way due to their limited vocabulary (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). Over the past eight years, MacGill (2017) has built both her private practice, as well as functioned as a school counselor for students with special needs, MacGill demonstrates each day the many ways that play therapy can be integrated with several different therapeutic approaches as a method of building rapport and gaining a better understanding of each child’s mental health needs. MacGill is a Licensed Clinical
For the purpose of this essay, I will be comparing and contrasting two child development theorists, Donald Winnicott (1896 – 1971) and Eric Erickson (1902 – 1994), and showing how their theories link to therapeutic play.
Why it is difficult for researchers to isolate specific causes of child behaviour - using two of your own examples. How is the term “correlation” a solution to this problem?
Engaging with the study of the mind and its effect on human behaviour fascinates me. Why do we behave the way we do and how does our social surrounding affect us? My interest deepens into how the innate mind of a human builds up and exhibits certain types of behaviour. I am intrigued by how child behaviour differs from adult behaviour, and how children exhibit their behaviour in the environment aspiring me towards the role of a child psychologist. My vision is to work with children to understand their behaviour as well as improve it using the skills I aim to learn during my undergraduate course of psychology.
Developmental Psychology is the ways that people change throughout their lifespan. Studies include the psychological affects, physical and social growth, intellectual, emotional and perceptual changes that occur. Developmental Psychology focus on a wide range of behavior changes beginning with prenatal development. Developmental Psychology also focuses on developmental disabilities and the effects it might have on people’s behavior. As with many fields related to psychology, a developmental psychologist must obtain a doctorate for most positions; some positions at the university level requires a PhD.
Virginia M. Axline (1911-1988) was an American psychologist. She was a student of Carl Rogers (1942), who is the founder of non-directive therapy and today referred as person- centred therapy. Axline developed non-directive play therapy, which applied Carl R Roger’s person-centred therapy principle in play therapy. It based on theory that the child’s behaviours is constantly caused by drive for self-realization. In Axline’s books, Dibs in Search of Self (1964) and Play Therapy (1947), she demonstrated different cases of using play therapy. In summary of non-directive play therapy, child chooses the theme, content and the process
This book portrays the effectiveness of play therapy on an emotionally disturbed boy named Dibs. Dibs', 5, had been attending a private school for 2 years. Throughout his years in school, he showed no improvement on his behavior. He continued to alienate himself from the other kids, as well as, his teachers. In the beginning, he never spoke nor moved. He then started to crawl around the room observing every item in his way. Dibs' would come in everyday and stand where his mother had left him until one of the teachers took off his coat. He spent most of his time looking at books, as if he could read them. Although, if anyone approached him, he would back into the wall and cover himself. He would scream, push, and sometimes scratch anyone that
The field of child counseling has been enriched through the integration of play therapy within different therapeutic approaches, as this method allows children to express thoughts and feelings that they might not be able to convey any other way due to their limited vocabulary (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). Over the past eight years, MacGill (2017) has built both her private practice, as well as functioned as a school counselor for students with special needs, MacGill demonstrates each day the many ways that play therapy can be integrated with several different therapeutic approaches as a method of building rapport and gaining a better understanding of each child’s mental health needs. MacGill is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor,
In their sessions together, Dr Axline integrates the principles of non-directive play therapy. Her psychological approach to children was based on most of the humanistic concepts of
The topic of this book is how play therapy can help a child who has been in isolation, and self-discovery. Axline supports this view in various ways throughout the book. She explains her reasoning for not interrupting Dibs and gives many examples of using counseling skills. Axline’s style is formal and the chapters are clearly organized. There is a chapter for each play therapy session. She describes Dibs’ activities captivatingly, making the book engaging to read and showing that she, too, is engaged with Dibs (counsellorjen/wordpress).
The author emphasizes how the actual psychological development of the child and the treatment of various problems that a child may face during development are the two most important things that a child psychologist must be able to handle. The author also touches a lot on the factors of a child’s development and how setting, family, community, and the media all play a huge role in the developmental state of the child. The author also touches on the reality of child psychology in that children are almost never raised in a perfect environment and that there is such a wide array of issues that need to be treated as children progress through childhood and
The success of play therapy achieved in the end was uplifting. Throughout the story, my emotions were on a roller coaster. I was engrossed in the techniques of Axline’s approach and the gradual development of Dibs’ personality. His improvement was evident and I felt joyous each time he demonstrated strength and hope. In the beginning, Dibs was resistant to leaving the Child Guidance Center because he feared going home to an emotionally absent environment. Soon, he began accepting the fact that when the hour ended he had to leave. An endearing moment happened when Dibs told Axline that he would return the following Thursday to “fill up again with happiness” (Axline, 1964, p. 133). The playroom was a special place where Dibs could express himself without limitation, and his liberation was refreshing.
Child Psychology, study of children’s behavior-including physical, cognitive, motor, linguistic, perceptual, social, and emotional characteristics-from birth through adolescence. Child psychologists attempt to explain the similarities and differences among children and to describe normal as well as abnormal behavior and development. They also develop methods of treating social, emotional, and learning problems and provide therapy privately and in schools, hospitals, and other institutions.
In the selected case study, The mode of therapeutic intervention will take the Gestalt Play Therapy focus. The interaction between Jacob and I will be an open dialogue with straightforward caring, warmth, acceptance, and self-responsibility that specifically focuses on inclusion, with me fully present in the experience of Jacob, where I will not judge, analyze, or interpret what is observed. My presence refers to expressing observations, preferences, feelings, personal experience, and thoughts to Jacob. Commitment to dialogue will present the opportunity to encourage a sense of connection between Jacob and me. Our dialogue will be active and nonverbal or verbal. It can be any modality that expresses and moves
According to Blom, (2006) “The integration of polarities is a prerequisite for a dynamic and healthy life process.” Therefore, all techniques and modalities from gestalt theory focus on direct experience and experimentation. From this perspective, direct experience is the only way that learning can take place. The therapist should avoid counseling and interpretation during therapy and focus on creating an atmosphere where the client can discover what is important and they can react to the information as it is important to them. The therapist is primarily a catalyst in the process of therapy. Oaklander (1994) posits that any interpretation by the therapist must be verified with the child.