Discussion 1 – Play Therapy

Children who have been abused or traumatized in some way may benefit from working with a therapist. Children often reenact trauma through repetitious play in order to establish mastery over their emotions and integrate experiences into their history on their own terms. Through the use of toys and props, children may naturally share their emotions and past experiences without feeling the pressure they might encounter with traditional talk therapy.

For this Discussion, review the course-specific case study for Claudia and the Chiesa (2012) and Taylor (2009) articles.

Post an explanation of ways play therapy might be beneficial for Claudia. Using the insights gained from the articles, describe ways you might have worked with Claudia to address her fears and anxiety related to the mugging she witnessed.

Please use subheading and be detailed in response. Use APA formatting with 2 peer reviewed references.

Support your posts with specific references to the Learning Resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

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Discussion 2 – Tranference and Countertransference

Specific skills and knowledge are essential for a social
worker working with children. Understanding transference and
countertransference is crucial to a healthy therapeutic relationship. Both
transference and countertransference can be evident in any client–therapist
relationship, but are especially important in working with children because of
a common instinct among adults to protect and nurture the young. The projection
or relocation of one’s feelings about one person onto another, otherwise known
as transference, is a common response by children (Gil, 1991). Countertransference,
a practitioner’s own emotional response to a child, is also common.

For this Discussion, review the Malawista (2004)
article.

Post your
explanation why transference and countertransference are so common when working
with children. Then, identify some strategies you might use to address both
transference and countertransference in your work with children.

Please use subheading and be detailed in response.
Use APA formatting with 2 peer reviewed references.

Support your posts with specific
references to the Learning Resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for
your references.