Workaholism: An Outdoor Play Therapy Cure

Abstract

Describes the use of an outdoor play therapy experience in the setting of a six-hour group hike. The setting and the activities associated with the hike, attractive to the Free Child, are presented as significantly effective in the treatment of workaholism. The context is especially productive for the confrontation of the specific behaviors of the workaholic clients which manifest the influence of such internal dynamic processes as discounting, drivers, and Parent and Child contamination. Confrontations focus upon awareness by the client of the particular behavior and its antecedents, and then upon selection of more desireable and useful alternatives and upon redecision by the client to incorporate the alternative(s) chosen. Several case illustrations are included.