2010

A broad set of theoretical elements help to perpetuate play therapy procedures. For example, a counselor may seek to work from their identified theoretical basis (i.e., psychoanalytic, Gestalt, Adlerian) through their practice of play therapy. Each of these theoretical components can be incorporated into three primary means of the play therapy environment. Although the most well-known is a non-directive, or child-centered approach, counselors may also use a more directive technique in selecting materials and facilitating the play therapy process, or may choose a prescribed approach that allows for counselors to select from both child-centered and directive techniques to best facilitate growth dependent upon the child‟s developmental, physical, and cognitive needs. For a complete description of theoretical basis of play therapy, please see Carmichael (2006).