Status of play therapy programs across the state of Tennessee that service children with special needs

Author

Lisa A. Modenos

Date of Award

12-1997

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Recreation and Leisure Studies

Major Professor

Mary Dale Blanton

Committee Members

Frank Hendrick, Pat Beitel

Abstract

As the review of literature indicated, play therapy is a way for children to explore and express their feelings in a safe environment. Play therapy is a way to work through problems, fears, guilt, and anger. It is a pathway for self-discovery and mastery.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the status of play therapy programs across the state of Tennessee that service children with special needs. This purpose was addressed by identifying the populations served, the primary funding for play therapy programs, the professionals who perform play therapy sessions, the approaches of play therapy utilized, and the projected benefits from play therapy programs. To achieve this purpose, a questionnaire was developed and administered to Tennessee hospitals and health care professionals that were either members of the Child Life Council, agencies contracted with the University of Tennessee practicum and internship programs, or members of the Association for Play Therapy. Each questionnaire was numbered and color-coded and consisted of twelve checklist and open-ended questions. A total of 62 questionnaires were administered to Tennessee hospitals and health care agencies: thirty-five of these questionnaires were returned to the researcher. Of the 35 that were returned, 22 were returned completed and 19 qualified for the entire study.

A descriptive analysis of the percentages was utilized in order to determine the status of play therapy programs within the state of Tennessee. Based on the data collected, the results indicated that the majority of the respondents were either Recreation Specialists/Activity Therapists, Child Life Specialists, or Social Workers with their certifications including CTRS, CCLS, School Counselor, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Of the 22 participants, 19 utilized play therapy in their programming. The majority of the respondents considered the primary function of their agency to be clinical. The number of beds ranged from 0 to 160 and the number of clients per agency ranged from 5 to 200, with an average of 74. The ages of the populations served varied from birth to 100 years of age and the majority that received play therapy were between the ages of 4 and 18.

Most of the service for inpatient programs served populations with physical disabilities, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, behavior problems, and conduct disorders. Most of the service for outpatient programs served populations with learning disabilities. The length of stay for inpatient was short-term and the length of stay for outpatient was both long and short-term. The primary source for funding play therapy programs was insurance. The majority of the respondents incorporated play therapy 41-100% during a client’s stay. The majority of the professionals who performed the play therapy sessions were school counselors, music therapists, art therapists, speech pathologists, and clinical psychologists. The most commonly used aspects of play therapy included non-directive and directive play, child-centered play, role playing, and puppets. The projected benefits from play therapy programs included to release stress, express feelings, build trust, increase self-esteem, explore feelings in a safe environment, and help the child “speak” to the therapist in his/her language of play.

Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that further studies regarding play therapy should develop a broader range of delimitations. It was also recommended that a more comprehensive and extensive study could be conducted in order to determine the status of play therapy programs across the southeast or even nationwide. In order to ensure a population of infant to eighteen years of age, future studies could include only children’s hospitals and health care agencies. Future research in this area could also be conducted in order to investigate children’s responses or reactions to play therapy.

Recommended Citation

Modenos, Lisa A., "Status of play therapy programs across the state of Tennessee that service children with special needs. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1997.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/10613