Dealing for Healing: Play Therapy as a Solution for Counselor’s Dilemma at School Setting
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
ABSTRACT
In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language. Play is used as a therapy for children due to their natural limitations in cognitions and verbal communication in expressing their emotions and struggles. Hence, counselors need to have the ability to deal with child clients in counseling sessions, if not it will remain as a counselors’ dilemma in school settings. The therapeutic relationship during play therapy sessions can provide a corrective emotional experience necessary for healing. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the uses of play therapy as a solution for counselor’s dilemma in dealing with child clients in school settings. Besides, this study aims to increase positive attitudes toward children, to expand play therapy knowledge, to enhance the play therapy skill and to explore the competency and satisfaction level of school counselors dealing with children. This was a qualitative study using interview questions to gain the demographic data as a school counselor and to explore experience and competency conducting counseling sessions with children from five school counselors. The findings show through play therapy training that was participated by the counselors was effective to give insights and help the counselors to work effectively in helping children with mental health concerns. The counselors had the opportunity to increase their attitude, knowledge, and skills in play therapy and improve the quality of the counseling profesion in Malaysia.
KEYWORDS
Play Therapy, School Counselor, Dilemma