ABSTRACT
The concept of diversity is often narrowed to only those persons of a different ethnicity, gender, and geography from our own. This chapter will encourage the reader to think broadly about the concept of diversity and apply this thinking to how counselors can best provide a therapeutic relationship that ensures that each client’s natural and unique language is present, and accepted, and understood.
Scenarios of children who all experience significant barriers to communication—including cultural differences, behavioral and emotional disabilities, gender identity issues, posttraumatic stress, or a combination of these experiences—are presented to highlight how the language of play, art, and, perhaps more importantly, the opportunity to freely express, can lead to optimum healing and a sense of enhanced human connectedness between counselor and client.
By reading and working through the chapter exercises, the reader will be better able to:
Explain and generate illustrations of four ways that CCPT addresses and encompasses issues of diversity.
Explain the importance of finding ways to overcome four “pitfalls” related to cultural assumptions and ethnocentricity.
Explain and describe how to avoid four common problems of novice play therapists related to cultural differences.
