Social Work Practice with Children in Schools and Therapeutic Settings Essay

Social Work Practice with Children in Schools and Therapeutic Settings - Essay Example The essay outlines the effective use of various play therapies. It is also significant that Ramon Rivera develops mastery over his own traumatic experiences and the therapist can employ effective play therapies with him. The therapist can benefit from the good insights gained from Adlerian play therapy and as Morrison observes the posttraumatic play therapy can offer the child a unique opportunity for Rivera â€Å"to express fully and gain mastery over his experience† and â€Å"to gain insight and understanding to establish social interest and a sense of belonging† . There is no doubt that the childhood trauma has adversely affected the child’s emotional, physical, cognitive and social faculties and has contributed to his social and emotional difficulties in such a way that he fails to cope up with his studies, peers and the social world around him. One has to bear in mind the fact that Rivera will not be able to express himself or share his feelings completely t o the therapist through normal conversations or dialogues just as an adult is able to do. Therefore, it is imperative that the therapist elicits responses regarding the boy’s experiences, inner feelings, emotions and frustrations through play therapy. The therapist needs to derive significant play themes through the four phases of counseling that include ‘building an egalitarian relationship’ with the client, ‘exploring the client's lifestyle’, ‘helping the client gain insight into his or her lifestyle’ and ‘reorientation’ whereby the therapist offers other positive alternatives to the client to solve the problem behavior.