Learning Objectives
Get Your Game On!
Adapting Traditional Board
Games for Play Therapy
Presented by Pam Dyson, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S
Texas Association for Play Therapy Conference
April 28, 2017
3:30pm – 5:00pm
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Explain the rationale for using traditional board
games in play therapy
Determine which traditional board games are
appropriate for play therapy
Adapt traditional board games to have
therapeutic value
Identify how play therapy games can be used
with various populations
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Why Use Traditional Board Games?
They’re often familiar to children
Why Use Traditional Board Games?
Board games can reveal the internal
psychodynamic working of the child
Easy to adapt and make therapeutic
One game can be used in multiple ways
Can use them with different populations
Inexpensive – budget friendly!
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
There are parallels between their dramatic
and their board-game play
We can see unconscious content,
defensive needs, and interpersonal and
transference relationships
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Which Ones Should I Use?
(Bellinson, 2002)
Use of Games and Techniques
Developmentally appropriate.
Dramatic, magical play of childhood is replaced
by interest in and ability to follow rules of
games in the middle years and followed by the
structured, rule-oriented play of adolescents.
Theory is important but theory without
techniques is basically philosophy.
Techniques are valuable but without theory
are reckless, and could be damaging.
Follow them in their development and don’t
push them prematurely into the verbal world of
adults.
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Bellinson, 2002)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Sweeney, Baggerly, Ray, 2014)
1
Use of Games and Techniques
Types of Games
Ask Yourself Three Questions:
Engagement
Is the technique developmentally appropriate?
Assessment
Does the technique have a theoretical basis?
Emotional Expression
Does the use of this technique have specific
therapeutic intent?
(Sweeney, Baggerly, Ray, 2014)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Skill Development
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Supplies
How to Adapt Traditional Board Games
Create a color code
Write up question/situation cards
Alter the board/pieces
Add elements from other games
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Supplies
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Pick Up Sticks
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(McDowell, 2002)
2
Pick Up Sticks
Ants in the Pants
(McDowell, 2002)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Candy Land
Break the Ice
(Yorke, 2011)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Break the Ice
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Hutchison, 2011)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Kenney-Noziska, 2008)
Don’t Break the Ice with Worries
(Kenney-Noziska, 2008)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Sepp, 2015)
3
Kerplunk
Trouble
(Lowenstein, 1999)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Jenga
Jenga
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Checkers
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Lowenstein, 2002)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
Connect Four
(Yorke, 2011)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Dodge, 2008)
4
What About Cheating?
Tips for Effective Therapeutic Game Play
Resist the urge to win
Expect children to cheat
Resist the urge to let the child win
Confronted or allowed?
How they cheat is important
Stay alert for opportunities to interpret and
teach
Some children won’t cheat
Role play new skills
Engage in therapeutic conversation
(Yorke, 2012)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
References
Bellinson, J. (2002) Children’s Use of Board Games in Psychotherapy.
Jason Aronson, Inc
Dodge, C. (2008) Connect 4 and Oh So Much More in Lowenstein, L.
(Ed) Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents,
and Families: Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Techniques
Toronto: Champion Press
Hutchison, L. (2011, July 16) Classic Board Games to Play With Three
Year Olds and Why. Retrieved from
http://blog.playdrhutch.com/2011/07/16/classic%E2%80%9Cboard%E2%80%9D-games-to-play-with-three-year-oldsand-why/
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
(Yorke, 2011)
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
References
Kenney-Noziska, S. (2008) Techniques-Techniques-Techniques:
Play-Based Activities for Children, Adolescents, & Families
Pennsylvania: Infinity Publishing Company
Lowenstein, L. (1999) Creative Interventions for Troubled Children &
Youth Toronto: Champion Press
Lowenstein, L. (2002) More Creative Interventions for Troubled
Children & Youth Toronto: Champion Press
McDowell. B., (2002) The Pick-Up-Sticks Game in Hall, T., Kaduson,
H., Schaefer, C. Fifteen Effective Play Therapy Techniques.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice Vol. 33, No. 6, 515522
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
References
References
Sepp, J. (2015, March 25) Don’t Break the Ice With Worries. Retrieved
from
http://mssepp.blogspot.com/2015/03/dont-break-ice-with-worries.html
Yorke, G. (2011, May 23) Using Checkers in Play Therapy. Retrieved
from https://myplaytherapypage.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/usingcheckers-in-play-therapy/
Sweeney, D., & Baggerly, J., & Ray, D. (2014) Group Play Therapy:
A Dynamic Approach. New York, NY: Routledge
Yorke, G. (2011, May 30) Dr. Gary’s Candy Land Therapy Game.
Retrieved from http://myplaytherapypage.wordpress.com
Yorke, G. (2011, January 23) More Tips for Effective Therapeutic Game
Play. Retrieved from http://myplaytherapypage.com/more-tips-foreffective-therapeutic-game-play/
Yorke, G. (2012, June 25) Cheating in Play and Child Therapy.
Retrieved from
https://myplaytherapypage.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/cheating-inplay-child-therapy/
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
5
Pam Dyson, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S
Providing Affordable Continuing Education Opportunities
for Play Therapy Credentialing
Practical Solutions to Child Behavior Problems
3900 Pebble Creek Ct., Suite 102
Plano, TX 75023
Phone: 469-209-1590
[email protected]
www.dfwplaytherapy.com
3900 Pebble Creek Ct., Suite 102
Plano, TX 75023
[email protected]
469-209-1590
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
APT Approved Provider 10-269
TX LPC Approved Provider 2312, TX LCSW Approved Provider 6779
TX LMFT Approved Provider 831
©2017 Pam Dyson, All Rights Reserved
6