Karrie Swan

An Exploration of Group and Member Development in Experiential Groups

In this phenomenological study, we explored 52 group members’ development in experiential groups. Specifically, participants completed 10 weekly journal reflections about their experiences as members and also reflected on the group’s overall development. Four overall themes—exploration, transition, working, closure—as well as multiple subthemes emerged. We discuss findings, implications for group counselors and educators, and directions for future research.

Effectiveness of Play Therapy on Problematic Behaviors of Preschool Children with Somatization

Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is an evidence-based intervention for children with a variety of presenting problems and diagnoses. However, the effectiveness of CCPT for young children with somatization has not been explored. Thus, in this study, two preschool children with clinical levels of somatization, as rated by parents or teachers on the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2), participated in 14 sessions of CCPT. The participants’ problematic classroom behaviors were monitored prior to and during participation in play therapy. After participation in play therapy, both children displayed decreased symptoms of somatization and decreased problematic classroom behaviors. The results of this single-case research design are reviewed and implications for counselors are discussed.

Contact work in child-centered play therapy: a case study

In this study, a case study approach (N = 1) was employed to investigate the process of change in child-centered play therapy for a child with an intellectual disability. A task analytic method was used to assess the effects of therapist use of contact reflections on reparation of contact for the client. Process and outcome measures were used to differentiate treatment processes and outcome. Results indicated that the client’s use of contact behaviors and exhibition of behavioral problems were affected by contact work in child-centered play therapy. Possible implications and future research are discussed.