ABSTRACT
The major focus for this session is preparing parents to be successful in their first 30-minute home play session, including specifics on what to tell their child and procedures for setting up and conducting play sessions. Basic “skill” guidelines for the play sessions, which includes eight “Dos” and “Don’ts” for parents to focus on during play sessions, are introduced and illustrated through demonstration and role-play. Play therapy skills of structuring/setting the stage, allowing the child to lead, and reflective responding are reviewed and practiced. Limit setting is briefly introduced and demonstrated. The partial transcript included at the end of this chapter illustrates many of the same therapist skills focused on in Session 2, including immediacy in presenting teaching points and the use of humor. Session 3 is unique in the amount of content that must be covered; therefore, of primary note is the therapist’s careful balance between encouraging and supporting parents and
200 Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT)
covering the didactic content that is essential in order for parents to be prepared to conduct their first home play sessions.
