The integration of gestalt play therapy in occupational therapy: a needs assessment

Abstract

Many fields of interest, of which Pediatrics is one, exist in Occupational Therapy. In the field of Pediatrics there are also diversity fields of interest. Many diagnostic groups are treated in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy. The traditional Pediatric Occupational Therapy process aims at treating the child holistically with regards to his cognitive, perceptual, motor and emotional areas of development. It seems that there is a tendency to focus on the more tangible aspects of development rather than the less visible elements such as emotional needs and problems. The question that might be asked is whether Pediatric Occupational Therapists are in fact equipped to deal with emotional needs and problems.

Due to the nature of their work, there is a strong possibility that Pediatric Occupational Therapists can encounter children who suffer from emotional problems. These children are more often than not seen by Occupational Therapists although the therapists might prefer to rather work on the more tangibly aspects of development.

This research study was aimed at assessing the need amongst Pediatric Occupational Therapists to deal with emotional problems. After completing the study it was possible to make valuable conclusions and recommendations. Gestalt Play Therapy was also proposed as a possible approach in dealing with children's emotional needs and problems in the course of their Occupational Therapy intervention.

OPSOMMING

Arbeidsterapie omsluit `n breë spektrum van spesialiteitsrigtings, waarvan Pediatrie een is. Binne die veld van Pediatrie blyk daar egter verdere diversiteit te wees met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat binne hierdie veld hanteer word. Die tradisionele Pediatriese Arbeidsterapie proses het ten doel om die kind holisties te benader met verwysing na die kognitief -perseptuele, motoriese en emosionele ontwikkelingsareas van die kind. Dit blyk egter dat daar `n geneigdheid is, en moontlik ook groter gemak bestaan om eerder aan die meer sigbare aspekte soos byvoorbeeld perseptuele en motoriese ontwikkeling te werk. Die vraag kan dus gevra word of Arbeidsterapeute genoegaam toegerus is om ook aan die emosionele behoeftes en probeleme van die kind aandag te kan gee.

Die moontlikheid dat Arbeidsterapeute vanwee die diversiteit met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat ter sprake is in kontak kan kom met kinders wat ook emosionele behoeftes en probleme het bestaan. Alhoewel hierdie kinders opgeneem word in die Arbeidsterapie proses, is behandeling dikwels net op die tasbare ontwikkelings areas gerig.

Die navorsing was spesifiek daarop gerig om te bepaal of daar wel `n behoefte bestaan onder Arbeidsterapeute om kinders se emosionele behoeftes aan te spreek. Na afloop van die studie, en nadat alle toepaslike inligting geïntegreer is, is daar waardevolle afleidings gemaak en is hierdie behoefte onder Arbeidsterapeute bevestig. Gestalt Spelterapie is ook voorgestel as `n moontlike benadering wat geïntegreer kan word ten einde die Arbeidsterapeut instaat te stel om meer effektief te werk te gaan met die kind se emosionele behoeftes en probleme.