The Processes of Monitored Play-Therapy.

This paper describes the processes of Monitored Play-Therapy, a method which seeks to measure the changes which may take place over a number of play therapy sessions. The laboratory is in use at Georgia State College in Atlanta and is designed for boys seven through twelve years of age. The Monitored Playroom Laboratory consists of a control booth and two connected playrooms, one with aggressive toys and games, the other with constructive toys and materials. The control booth contains dials which indicate: (1) the time spent by each child in a room, and (2) the time spent with various toys and materials. The control booth also functions as an observation booth and contains the necessary equipment. The major stages which children in Monitored Play-Therapy seem to progress through are: (1) exploratory, (2) aggressive, and (3) constructive. On the basis of these stages, it is possible to chart the process of Monitored Play-Therapy from session to session. These data can then be analyzed in many ways, including (1) number of shots fired from guns in aggressive room, and (2) change of conversation patterns. The next step will be to analyze therapists notes to determine the frequency of different types of activities from the shelf materials. (KJ)