Child Play Therapy from a Transactional Analysis Perspective

Abstract

Play therapy as described by Virginia Axline (1947/1989,1964/1990) is a powerful method for stimulating personal growth in young children. Using this method, it became evident to the author of the present article that the response and growth of young children in treatment closely followed transactional analysis script theory. Using transactional analysis concepts to analyze and chart the way these children responded proved extremely useful. Clinical examples are provided of the types of intuitive interaction that occur in this form of therapy, especially around script drivers and injunctions, and two child cases are described. Since there is a sparcity of literature relating child play therapy to transactional analysis concepts, some suggestions for research are offered.

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References

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