This study is a single case study for a child suffering from attachment trauma caused by his parents' emotional ignorance and physical abuse. The Gestalt play therapy called the Oaklander Way was applied as a psychotherapeutic approach. The subject of...
This study is a single case study for a child suffering from attachment trauma caused by his parents' emotional ignorance and physical abuse. The Gestalt play therapy called the Oaklander Way was applied as a psychotherapeutic approach. The subject of this case study is a boy in the 6th grade of a local elementary school, whose mother and father work together for a living. Gestalt Play therapy for the child contributed to mental and emotional development. And also Family play at home increased opportunities for expressing emotions, positive interaction between family members, and communication experience led to improvement of family relationship. The process of the play therapy was analyzed and estimated, and the findings provide 5 therapeutic elements: listening closely and empathy, therapeutic relationship, awareness of positive change and making hope, acquiring skills by modeling, dynamism and interest of play. This case study shows the adaptation of Gestalt play therapy for a child with attachment trauma. However this study has general limitation of a single case study. It doesn't have consideration of other variables when the Gestalt therapy is adapted at home with family. And this study advises the Gestalt family play therapy model and program considering various variables for family to be developed in the future.