Intensive child-centered play therapy in a remote Australian Aboriginal community

TY - JOUR

T1 - Intensive child-centered play therapy in a remote Australian Aboriginal community

AU - Wicks, Joanne M.

AU - Cubillo, Carmen

AU - Moss, Simon A.

AU - Skinner, Timothy

AU - Schumann, Brandy

PY - 2018/10/1

Y1 - 2018/10/1

N2 - Few studies have explored mental health treatment programs for Aboriginal Australian children under the age of 12 years old. Isolated locations, coupled with therapy modalities that are not developmentally and culturally suitable for children who have experienced adversities, exacerbate the typical challenges in providing health services needed for optimum child development. Therapeutic services offered in Aboriginal communities typically follow a traditional delivery of therapy, meeting no more than once a week, or less, as remoteness increases. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of an intensive child-centered play therapy (iCCPT) program in a remote Aboriginal community with children who have experienced adversity. Pre- and postmeasures, utilizing Goodman's (1997) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were collected from parents and teachers. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents who participated in the program after the intervention ended. Nine child participants attended an average of 15 sessions in a 10-day format. Total difficulties, as reported by both parents and teachers, diminished after the program. In particular, emotional problems, as rated by teachers, decreased over time. If replicated in a randomized control trial, these findings would suggest that an iCCPT program may be feasible and effective in remote Australian Aboriginal communities.

AB - Few studies have explored mental health treatment programs for Aboriginal Australian children under the age of 12 years old. Isolated locations, coupled with therapy modalities that are not developmentally and culturally suitable for children who have experienced adversities, exacerbate the typical challenges in providing health services needed for optimum child development. Therapeutic services offered in Aboriginal communities typically follow a traditional delivery of therapy, meeting no more than once a week, or less, as remoteness increases. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of an intensive child-centered play therapy (iCCPT) program in a remote Aboriginal community with children who have experienced adversity. Pre- and postmeasures, utilizing Goodman's (1997) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were collected from parents and teachers. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents who participated in the program after the intervention ended. Nine child participants attended an average of 15 sessions in a 10-day format. Total difficulties, as reported by both parents and teachers, diminished after the program. In particular, emotional problems, as rated by teachers, decreased over time. If replicated in a randomized control trial, these findings would suggest that an iCCPT program may be feasible and effective in remote Australian Aboriginal communities.

KW - Aboriginal child therapy

KW - Australian Aboriginal childhood trauma

KW - Child trauma

KW - Intensive child-centered play therapy

KW - Play therapy

U2 - 10.1037/pla0000075

DO - 10.1037/pla0000075

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85049810255

SN - 1555-6824

VL - 27

SP - 242

EP - 255

JO - International Journal of Play Therapy

JF - International Journal of Play Therapy

IS - 4

ER -