Utilizing dyadic brief gestalt play therapy within an unstable adolescent foster placement

• Main Author: Terrapon, Wendy
• Other Authors: Jacobs, Irving.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Brief Gestalt Therapy; Adolescent; Unstable Foster Placement; Dyadic Communication; Attachment; 362.7330941; Social work with children > Great Britain; Foster home care > Great Britain; Foster home care > Great Britain > Case studies; Child mental health services > Great Britain; Attachment behavior in adolescence > Great Britain; Adolescent psychotherapy > Great Britain; Problem solving in adolescence > Great Britain; Gestalt therapy > Great Britain; Play therapy > Great Britain; Psychic trauma in adolescence > South Africa; Foster children > Great Britain > Case studies; Teenagers > Counseling of > Great Briatin; Foster children > Family relationships > Great Britain; Interpersonal communication in adolescence > Great Britain
• Online Access: Terrapon, Wendy (2008) Utilizing dyadic brief gestalt play therapy within an unstable adolescent foster placement, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2889>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2889

In the experience of being a play therapist and social worker, the researcher became aware of the breakdown of adolescent foster placements. Although there are many causal factors of adolescent foster care breakdown, it was the treatment and sustaining of these placements that the researcher was interested in. The utilization of dyadic brief Gestalt play therapy aims to support the relationship between the carer and adolescent in order to sustain and stabilize the foster placement. The empirical study includes data collection and analysis. The data was gathered through observations and field notes from unstructured interviews, in this case the dyadic therapeutic process with the adolescent and carer. The data was then analyzed, and eleven outcomes were discussed: the building of a therapeutic relationship, the process of dialogue, the gaining of awareness, contact, resistance, the internal working model, polarities, working in the here and now, the utilization of Gestalt experiments and Gestalt play therapeutic techniques. In addition, the implications of the brief Gestalt therapeutic model were identified. These themes are discussed fully in the final chapter encompassing conclusions and recommendations.This study found that it was possible to work effectively with the adolescent and carer in a dyadic brief Gestalt therapeutic way utilizing play therapy techniques. Recommendations regarding the conclusions were made in relation to the outcomes of this study. === Social Work === M.Diac. (Play therapy)