Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Supervision

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors present a model of trauma-informed play therapy supervision for supervisors working with supervisees who have traumatized clients. First, the authors describe the neuro-physiological impact of trauma. Then, they describe four dynamics often experienced by play therapists who work with clients with trauma symptoms. These dynamics include vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue, countertransference, and parallel process. To mitigate these dynamics, the authors explain play therapy and expressive art supervision techniques, followed by illustrations of these techniques through supervisee vignettes.