Pathways to Attachment Security in Play Therapy

Secure attachment in early life is the gold standard for buffering a person against adversity throughout life. One of the appealing qualities of play therapy is that it enhances relationship building between the child and therapist.

In this recording, watch David Crenshaw, PhD, as he shares the dos and don’ts of the therapist role, developed over the past 30 years in practice, and the tools needed to tackle them.

Do’s

• Build a secure frame for the play therapy relationship and setting
• Pay attention to the "little things"
• Establish boundaries and place emphasis on safety with the child in play therapy
• Demonstrate consistency, reliability, and commitment
• Have the difficult conversations around boundaries and fantasies about rescuing, idealized parents, and adoption
• Pay close attention to timing and pacing in play therapy
• E molto altro ancora!

Don'ts

• Do not expect or demand trust
• Don't avoid difficult conversations around boundaries and "good parents" and adoption fantasies
• Don't seek validation for doing "good play therapy"
• Do not keep play therapy moving at all times
• Don't aggressively confront resistance in all of its forms
• Don't keep play therapy brief to please the managed care companies