International Journal of Play Therapy

Special edition: COVID-19.
This editorial introduces a special issue “COVID-19 and Pandemic Consequences.” COVID-19 impacted the entire world for more than 2 years, and the aftereffects continue to influence individual and collective mental health outcomes and delivery systems, somatic health care, and global policy decisions. For many, COVID-19 challenged clinicians technically and ethically to find ways to continue providing quality care while facing a steep learning curve to adapt to new platforms or ways of providing play therapy. The authors in this Special Edition of International Journal of Play Therapy provided qualitative testimony and quantitative data that describe the frustration and exhaustion that many play therapists experienced, as well as how they practiced (or decided not to) during this unprecedented time. These authors also testified to the resilience that clinicians mustered to face challenges that extended above and beyond clients’ presenting questions and concerns. The authors in this issue give us much to think about and further research ideas to explore and enhance our professional development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Moving from in-person play therapy to teleplay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors present results from research on play therapists’ experiences of moving to teleplay, or online play therapy, during the early lockdown stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with four play therapists of varying experience (a supervisor, an experienced practitioner, a novice, and an expert in the field). Interviews explored the methods and strategies participants used to make the shift to teleplay, the challenges and opportunities they encountered, and their ability to maintain the therapeutic alliance in the online space. Thematic analysis yielded three primary themes: therapist skepticism, ensuring a relational focus, and developing and growing. Participants felt challenged and expressed doubt and uncertainty when considering the move to teleplay. However, they also recognized their responsibility to maintain contact with their clients. Maintaining a strong therapeutic relationship was identified as a particular priority for all participants as they made the switch to teleplay, often combating feelings of skepticism. The participants recognized that if they were to remain client focused, they had a responsibility to change from face-to-face to online work in order to support their clients. All participants were able to maintain the therapeutic alliance with some of their existing clients via the use of teleplay. Reflecting on their ability to develop and grow participants used the interview process to reflect on their own assumptions, the changes they made, and the additional support that might aid the transition to online work, including experiential learning, training, and supervision. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
It’s a pandemic in the playborhood: An international perspective of play therapists on the COVID-19 pandemic.
This international digital survey of 490 play therapists across 25 countries explores the knowledge of specialized mental health care providers and their experiences of practicing through the COVID-19 pandemic. The 26-question survey explored playroom changes including but not limited to the addition of pandemic symbols into the playroom, observations of pandemic-featured play behavior during play therapy sessions, pandemic-specific play themes, and the categorization of the pandemic’s mental health impact (i.e., adverse, traumatic, collective trauma). Findings indicate a strong agreement between play therapists on how to classify the pandemic’s impact. Moreover, play therapists’ formulation of play themes from pandemic play provides interesting considerations for how to move toward pandemic recovery and continued mental health support for children. Clinical implications and research implications from this survey are directly addressed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Counseling self-efficacy in family play therapy telemental health services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.
Family play therapy and telemental health are understudied areas (Haslam & Harris, 2011; Smith et al., 2023). However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians across the globe were forced to move their family play therapy sessions from in-person to virtual ones without any prior training or supervision (Mitchell, 2020; Whaibeh et al., 2020). This study explored the feelings of self-efficacy of family play therapists transitioning their in-person sessions to telemental health sessions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a qualitative design and a phenomenological approach. The study consisted of 18 participants who completed an online survey exploring self-efficacy through a qualitative interview questionnaire. This study indicated that years of experience might not determine confidence in applying family play therapy modality in telemental health sessions. This study is a starting point of research for family play therapy for telemental health. This study provides beginning steps to close the current research gaps and lay the groundwork for improving self-efficacy in family play therapy telemental health practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Grasping at straws: Play therapists’ experiences utilizing play therapy for childhood body dissatisfaction.
We explored the lived experiences of registered play therapists who have used play therapy to support the mental health needs of children struggling with body image (i.e., not liking their body shape and size, being bullied for their weight, having a family who makes comments about their food consumption/body shape and size/movement or lack thereof, etc.). Using Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenology, we facilitated semistructured interviews with 12 registered play therapists who self-identify as having used play therapy to help children under 10 years old with body dissatisfaction and their experiences with such. Findings included themes related to the following: (a) playroom materials, (b) interventions, (c) collaborations, and (d) the feeling of grasping at straws. Implications for play therapists are provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy - Vol 33, Iss 4