Psychoanalysis.  2017 Apr;28(2):28-37. 10.18529/psychoanal.2017.28.2.28.

Is it Time to Adopt Information Technology in Play Therapy?

• Lee A
• Oh MA
• Park JC
• Jin SY
• Hwangbo R
• Cho SW
• Bahn GH

• KMID: 2379836
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18529/psychoanal.2017.28.2.28

Abstract

Play therapy, developed by child psychologists, has evolved into a variety of forms. Despite its long history, play therapy is still a valuable therapeutic method for resolving psychosocial challenges. It is used throughout the world and applicable for both youths and infants. Playing itself has both diagnostic and therapeutic values. The toys and patterns of play can manifest the underlying psychological status of children and function as the mediators between therapists and patients. The crucial issue here is that the face-to-face interaction between the therapists and the children is the key to play therapy. Modern society is overloaded with smart technology, such as smartphones, tablet PCs, iPads, and social networking services (SNS). Given the advances in information technology (IT), far beyond what we could have imagined, the current generation is more familiar with iPads or smartphones than with rattle toys or television. Traditional face-to-face interaction has been replaced by SNS communication. This study explores whether the IT environment of computers, smartphones, SNS, or online games can be adapted as a new modality of play therapy and how it could be applied in real treatment settings.

Keyword

Psychotherapy; Information technology; Text message; iPad; Play therapy

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Child
Humans
Infant
Methods
Play and Playthings
Play Therapy*
Psychology
Psychotherapy
Smartphone
Television
Text Messaging