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[Play therapy for a child with separation anxiety disorder]
1Dept. of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Changgeng Yi Xue Za Zhi
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Separation anxiety disorder in children can be treated with psychoanalytically-oriented play therapy. This 17-month case study shows how play therapy helps manage repressed emotions and promotes self-growth.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychoanalytic Therapy
Background:
- Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a condition marked by excessive fear during separation from attachment figures.
- SAD impacts a child's language, emotional, and social development, often presenting as school refusal or somatic complaints.
- Early attachment experiences and prior separation events are critical in SAD development.
Observation:
- A 2-year-8-month-old boy with SAD received psychoanalytically-oriented play therapy over 17 months (54 sessions).
- The therapeutic process was divided into four stages: establishing rapport, expressing emotions, managing transference/attachment/conflict, and self-growth/termination.
- Case formulation and management strategies were analyzed throughout the therapy.
Findings:
- Psychoanalytically-oriented play therapy effectively addressed repressed emotions and transference issues in a child with SAD.
- The phased approach facilitated the child's self-growth and successful termination of therapy.
- This case highlights the importance of attachment dynamics in the manifestation and treatment of separation anxiety.
Implications:
- Play therapy can be a valuable intervention for children suffering from separation anxiety disorder.
- Understanding attachment and transference is crucial for effective psychoanalytic treatment in pediatric cases.
- This study contributes to the literature on therapeutic interventions for early childhood emotional and behavioral disorders.