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News Highlights - the latest developments in play therapy
PTI News
The latest developments in Play Therapy
This page is your
opportunity to announce events, jobs, express views etc. Just send them to
jefferyht@yahoo.co.uk - we
reserve the right to publish or not!
APAC has developed a new route for stage 3 (modules 7 and 8) of the programme by which you may gain your MA in Practice Based Play Therapy.
Stages 1 and 2, The Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play and Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy remain delivered as experiential exercises,
clinical work and face to face presentations and demonstrations. The route started on 5th November 2011.
The advantages of this new blended learning route are:
- Work at home, at your own pace – study is more enjoyable
- No travel and accommodation costs – save money
- No time away from home needed – less hassle in your domestic life
- Personalised Academic Supervisor and Tutor support – based on your individual learning style
- More efficient drafting of your research proposal and dissertation including access to the unique PTI/PTUK database of play therapy
clinical outcomes – less time required and better quality work
The blended learning methods, include on-line availability of structured course material, electronic transmission of assignments and feedback,
personal tuition and support by your Academic Supervisor by phone, email or Skype, electronic discussion group ‘etc For details see:
http://www.playtherapy.org/mastercourses.html
2007
Conference - Neuroscience, Play and Parenting
The conference held in Dublin was well
attended with 299 delegate days.
The key note address by Margot Sunderland
was outstanding in content and presentation. It was given a
rapturous reception by the delegates. Margot provided a concise
review of neuroscience research relating to child development and the
importance of play as a way of developing and rectifying problems that
occur in the healthy growth of the brain. (Full report in the Summer
2007 issue of the 'Play for Life' journal)
The conference was opened by Monika
Jephcott, President of PTUK. She presented the latest PTUK
research results, based on over 700 cases where pre and post therapy
measures have been obtained, as summarised below. These confirm
the main previous finding that 70% of children receiving play therapy
from therapists trained to PTI and PTUK standards of competencies will
show a positive change.
An overwhelming case for
the use of play therapy is made by combining the neuroscience and PTUK's
practice based evidence research.
Latest
Research Results
Our fourth research report is based upon the
total dataset (as at April 2007) held in SEPACTO,
the UK's database of play therapy clinical outcomes, developed and
managed by PTUK on behalf of PTI. It includes cases covered in previous
reports. The data has been supplied
by 167 PTUK and PTI members.
Gender
The clients are two thirds boys, one third girls. This proportion has
been remarkably consistent during the six years we have been recording data.Girls 32%
Boys 68%
Age
The figures show that:
* The majority of clients being of primary school age.
* However some play therapists work with young people
Type of Intervention
This is a the second time we have carried out this analysis. The results are similar to the last
time. The majority of the sessions are 1:1 with 48% being short
term (1 to 12 sessions) and 36% being long term (over 12 sessions). Only
16% of the recorded cases used group work. It is rather surprising that
group interventions are not used more frequently in the climate of cost
effectiveness and throughput targets.
Changes in Total Difficulties
|
N |
% |
|
Improved |
524 |
68.59% |
|
No change |
61 |
7.98% |
|
Worse |
179 |
23.43% |
|
764 |
100.00% |
The 68.59% of cases showing a positive change is lower, by about 2%,
than predicted from previous data. It was hypothesised that a large
batch of data received from students contained cases who were initially
assessed as ‘normal’ and where it would be difficult to effect a
positive change – indeed providing therapy might stimulate dormant
issues from the unconscious. An analysis of changes was undertaken using
initial assessment scores of 10, 20 and 30. This shows that the
percentage of cases showing a positive change increases with the
severity of total difficulties problems.
As shown in the table below, by excluding the children who were in
the 'normal' classification, 73% of the children showed a positive
change.
Change in Total Difficulties –Clients With a Pre Therapy Score of 10+
|
N |
% |
|
Improved |
453 |
72.95% |
|
No change |
40 |
6.44% |
|
Worse |
128 |
20.61% |
|
621 |
|
Changes in Pro-Social Scores
|
N |
% |
|
Improved |
385 |
54.77% |
|
No change |
162 |
23.04% |
|
Worse |
156 |
22.19% |
|
703 |
100.00% |
As with total difficulties it was decided to test the hypothesis that
cases with the more severe pro-social problems would show a higher
percentage cases exhibiting positive change.
Changes in Pro-social – Clients Pre Therapy Score <5
|
N |
% |
|
Improved |
226 |
77.13% |
|
No change |
39 |
13.31% |
|
Worse |
28 |
9.56% |
|
293 |
100.00% |
The data again shows that the percentage of cases showing a positive
change increases with the severity of the pro-social issues
Bridget Sheehan receiving her award from PTI President Monika Jephcott.
Each year PTI makes an award to recognise an
outstanding effort in advancing play therapy as a profession.
The 2006 recipient is Bridget Sheehan - from Manchester, England.
The citation reads: "This award is
based upon: The introduction of an innovative approach for
alleviating the emotional and behaviour problems of primary school
pupils in the Manchester City area. This approach is both effective
and efficient in utilising existing staff resources in schools to
deliver therapeutic play to high standards and by incorporating
existing suitably trained staff in a clinical supervision role. In addition
it provides career enhancement opportunities for teaching staff.
The use of outcome measures and a phased training programme contributes to
the overall excellence of the programme.
It provides an exemplary, sustainable service delivery model for the
standards set by the British government in The Children Bill and the
National Service Framework for children's mental health and has wide
applicability in the UK and in other counties.
The many obstacles and problems that have had to be overcome in
establishing the service have required considerable determination,
fortitude and professionalism of the highest order."
With 104 pages published in 2006
'Play for Life' beat its own target of 100 pages for the year. This is well ahead of the minimum commitment to provide 64
pages per year for members. Worldwide, it has the highest content of
material for the play therapy practitioner of any journal.
The transfer of the management of the academic
quality of APAC's MA in Practice Based Play Therapy programme from the
University of Chichester to the Canterbury Christ Church University
took place
in January 2006. Following approval of the Dublin and Isle of Wight
centres the University has now approved the rebuilt La Mouline centre in the
South of France.
A few days after the first Summer School ran at La Mouline in August 2005
the centre was struck by lightning and completely burnt down. It has
now been completely rebuilt with a fully air conditioned classroom, extra
shaded terrace space and a full set of equipment (200 musical instruments,
2000 therapy objects, 20 sand trays, art materials) and a reference library.
The rebuilding was completed a day before the students were due to arrive.
40 students attended the 2006 Certificate and Diploma courses at La Mouline. The programme will be repeated in
2007 with Certificate options starting on July 21st and the
Diploma in Play Therapy programme commencing 5th August 2007.
Demand is expected to be very high for places on the 2006 courses and for
accommodation in the attractive Tarn area - so please book as early as
possible.
After an inspection visit by the University team the centre was formally
opened by the Mayor of St Genest de Contest.
New centres in the Bristol, Cambridge and Leeds areas opened in 2006. Edinburgh and Manchester are due open in the Autumn of
2007 to cope with the increased demand
due to the popularity of the programme in producing safe and effective play
therapy practitioners.
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