Abstract
Domestic violence is a relatively common problem that has serious, negative consequences for preschoolers' emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal functioning. Many children who witness domestic violence also experience the loss of a caregiver, which can exacerbate difficulties. Unfortunately, only a small number of preschoolers receive treatment for these problems, possibly because there are few well-developed programs for this age group. This paper describes a group play therapy for preschoolers exposed to domestic violence and other traumas. The group is designed for 14 sessions, each lasting 60 minutes, and takes place in a Head Start preschool. Individual sessions follow a consistent format; the group begins with a warm-up exercise about feelings, followed by structured activities, and ends with unstructured free play and clean-up. General techniques used in the group and their therapeutic uses are described. Recommendations for future groups and future research on the efficacy of groups are also discussed.
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Huth-Bocks, A., Schettini, A. & Shebroe, V. Group Play Therapy for Preschoolers Exposed to Domestic Violence. Journal of Child and Adolescent Group Therapy 11, 19–34 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016693726180
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016693726180