CLINICAL EDITOR’S COMMENTS:
day (English et al., 2020). The constant interactions with race-based stress may affect the ways Black children act, communicate, and behave in schools, their homes, and even within the playroom. Play therapists are in an essential position to provide non-judgmental, unconditional positive regard to Black children and their families in and out of the playroom. This begins by honoring the cultural expressions of Black children in their language, moods, hair, and dress through the toys, books, activities, games and art materials we offer to provide a place of inclusivity.
of behavior. Black children are more likely to be reported and removed from their homes for longer periods of time (Palusci & Botash, 2021). In schools, Black students are three times more likely to be suspended differences in delinquent behaviors (Rovner, 2016). Essentially, every system a Black child enters harms them (Grills et al., 2019). However, when that child and their family enter the world of play therapy, their cultural values, beliefs and behaviors are respected and honored through the activation of the therapeutic powers of play.
Honoring Cultural Expressions Through Play The playroom serves as a place of freedom for Black children to authentically express themselves. This can be particularly liberating for Black boys who want to play with more nurturing activities in the playroom (e.g. dolls) but are often discouraged due to a caregiver’s desire to toughen the child for a world that can harm them. The therapeutic powers of play can be activated using seminal play therapy theories including Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), Ecosystemic Play Therapy (EPT), Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT), and Adlerian Play Therapy (AdPT).
The limited research in play therapy with Black children and families speaks to the healing powers of play. Play therapy with Black youth has been found to be effective in increasing self-regulation, attachment, self-esteem, empathy, and responsibility while also decreasing worry and negative intrusive thoughts (Baggerly and Play Therapy (EPT) can be effective in assessing the environments and systems interacting with Black children that may contribute to their emotional and mental health (Duncan, 2024). The advocacy component of EPT can also strengthen the therapeutic relationship between Black children and caregivers as it will communicate to them that the play therapist is willing to go beyond the playroom to support the child. CCPT is sensitive to culturally relevant issues
Play therapy with Black children requires sensitivity to both racial trauma as well as an understanding of their unique cultural heritage and expression.
marginalized children experience while allowing children a place to process stressful life events at their own pace while maintaining their own level of control in the playroom (Patterson, et al., 2018: Post et al., 2019). The use of CBPT can help them process any cognitive distortions or maladaptive thoughts they may experience because of 2014; Stutey et al., 2017) that may be a result of frequent exposure to racial stressors.
Although play therapy seminal theories can be effective tools to support Black children through racial trauma, a strong therapeutic relationship is paramount to that child’s healing. Black children may have some feelings of mistrust at the beginning of the relationship due to previous experiences with systemic and institutional racial stressors. Play therapists must exhibit patience when building the relationship. The use of non-directive approaches with Black youth including gameplay and sand tray can be useful in building rapport. Games familiar in the Black community such as Uno, Double Dutch and Dominoes are recommended, while sand tray prompts like adolescents and teens to express their own values and experiences.
Supporting Behavioral Expressions in Play Researchers have found that suicidal behavior, anxiety, depression and PTSD-like symptoms are correlated with racial trauma in Black children (Arshanapally et al., 2018; Assari et al., 2017; Pachter et al., Black children have a different behavioral presentation for mental health symptoms that are important to identify in the playroom. Studies have found Black youth are more likely to express depression through increased anger, aggression and irritability as opposed to depressed mood, sadness and hopelessness (Choi, 2022). In the playroom, this could show up as aggressive play and/or play themes of anger, mistrust, grief and independence (Duncan, 2024). Black children experiencing racial stressors may exhibit chronic anger, self-esteem, hypersensitivity and hypervigilance (Pickett, 2020). In play, it may be shown in play themes of perfectionism, self-esteem, fear, grief, chaos, protection and safety (Duncan, 2024).
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