A Practical Guide to Play Therapy in the Outdoors: Working in Nature

A Practical Guide to Play Therapy in the Outdoors A Practical Guide to Play Therapy in the Outdoors responds to the significant and growing interest in the play therapy community of working in nature. Alison Chown provides practical ideas about why we might decide to take play therapy practice into outdoor settings and how we might do this safely and ethically. This book discusses how nature provides a second intermediate playground and can be seen as a co- therapist in play therapy. It explores the relevance of different environments to the play therapy process by considering the elem- ents of earth, air, fire, water and wood. It looks at the way we can connect with nature to find a sense of place and details some activities to do with chil- dren in play therapy to get started. The book provides an important guide for the practitioner and talks them through the crucial guidelines that are necessary for outdoor play therapy and gives a philosophical perspective to working in nature. It will be engaging and essential reading for play therapists in training and practice. Alison Chown is a play therapist and experienced specialist teacher for chil- dren and young people with complex social, emotional and mental health diffi- culties. She is an independent practitioner and director of Phoenix Play, and its sister company Learning Tree Training Limited. She has lectured at Foundation Degree level in Behaviour for Learning, Developing Inclusive Practice and Child Development and was an associate tutor for Worcester and Plymouth Universities. She has been a visiting tutor at the Romanian Institute of Play and Dramatherapy and is the author of Play Therapy in the Outdoors. Alison is also a certified Beach School practitioner. A Practical Guide to Play Therapy in the Outdoors Working in Nature Alison Chown First published 2018 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2018 Alison Chown The right of Alison Chown to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. The purchase of this copyright material confers the right on the purchasing institution to photocopy pages which bear the copyright line at the bottom of the page. No other parts of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Before practising play therapy outdoors, readers should ensure they fulfill all legal, ethical, safeguarding and health and safety requirements and duties. They should also have the appropriate insurance cover and first aid training. Neither the author nor the publisher take any responsibility for the consequences of actions taken as a result of the information and guidance contained in this book. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this title has been requested ISBN: 978- 1- 138- 65661- 1 (hbk) ISBN: 978- 1- 138- 65679- 6 (pbk) ISBN: 978- 1- 315- 54570- 7 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by Out of House Publishing For John, whose love, support and encouragement holds me always. Remembering Martin Jordan As I came towards the final stages of writing this book in January 2017, I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of Martin Jordan. I only really knew him through his writings but met him briefly when he invited me to give a key note speech at Brighton University where he taught. His work has inspired my thinking, particularly his book Nature and Therapy, and he walks within these pages. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. Contents List of figures x Foreword by Professor Sue Jennings xi Disclaimer xii Author’s notes xiii Acknowledgements xiv Introduction 1 1 A brief history of play therapy 8 Early beginnings 8 A client centred non- directive approach 10 Developments in the UK 15 A word about Winnicott 15 Thinking outside the box (of the playroom!) 18 2 Considering the concept and purpose of play 25 Early developmental play 29 What neuroscience tells us 30 The ‘where’ and ‘how’ of play 33 Embodied developmental trauma 34 Lost for words 37 Issues of transference 37 3 Play in a broader context 41 Inclusive play 44 Shifting attitudes 46 Playing out 47 Play as a political football… 49 …kicked out of touch 51 The importance of ‘risky’ play 52 viii Contents 4 Play therapy in nature – meanings and metaphors 57 At one with ourselves 57 Dislocation 58 Working in nature and with nature 60 A relationship with ‘place’ 61 5 Getting started – practical, ethical and philosophical considerations 67 What resources will I need? 68 Where or how do I start? 68 How long do I work with a child before moving outside? 69 Towards a more equal relationship 70 A joint decision 71 Should I expect to work outdoors with every client? 72 How do I decide if I am ready? 74 What is meant by a ‘democratic’ relationship? 76 Transference issues 76 How do I manage interruptions? 77 What if my client invites another child to join us? 78 Is running off a risk? 78 Transitions – using rituals and routines 79 Parental consent 80 …and finally 81 6 Places to go, spaces to use – meeting the elements 83 But… before you step out 85 Are you ready to leave the playroom? 85 Getting to know the place – the ‘sit spot’ 85 ‘Take only pictures, leave only footprints, kill only time’ 87 We can go outside… 87 Shelter spot 88 The ‘nest’ – a secure base 88 Picture ‘map’ books 89 Species identification books 90 A word about litter 91 Halfway houses 91 Water – beaches and inland watercourses 93 On the beach 95 Getting to know the place 96 Health and safety pointers 97 Contents ix Building a nest 97 Activities 99 Streams, rivers and other watercourses 102 Activities 103 Wood – forests, woodlands, copses and clumps 104 Getting to know the place 106 Health and safety pointers 108 Building a nest 108 Activities 109 Earth and air – play parks, school grounds and gardens 111 Getting to know the place 115 Health and safety pointers 115 Building a nest 115 Activities 117 Fire 118 Health and safety pointers 119 Small spaces and other places 121 Appendix 1 The issue of competency 124 Appendix 2 Health and safety – practical considerations 126 Appendix 3 Risk assessment 130 Appendix 4 Resources 132 Appendix 5 Can you spot … hear or smell? 134 Appendix 6 Can you spot … hear … smell … touch? 135 Appendix 7 Checklist for general preparation 136 Appendix 8 Some useful websites 138 Index 139