Anton was referred to a play therapist by school staff, citing their primary areas of concern being his attention deficit and uncontrolled aggression. Behaviours of particular concern included, but were not limited to: failing to concentrate and follow direction, lacking guilt in breaking the rules or hurting his peers, frequent arguing with teachers, a defiant attitude, a low frustration tolerance and sudden emotional outbursts. The play therapy adhered closely to the model taught through the National Institute for Relationship Enhancement (Guerney, 1983, 2001; Nordling, 2009) and was provided in school twice weekly during the nine-school weeks of treatment. Furthermore, the play therapy was child-centred, meaning that there was limited interference …show more content…
For example, the therapist recalls Anton quietly playing with a tiger plush toy, only to then lunge the tiger at her face as if it was attacking her. The therapist would respond by gently asserting to Anton that he was not aloud to “let the tiger get her”, which often upset him. Moreover, in Anton’s engagements with the therapist, he would have her take on roles in dramatic play. He often casted himself as the struggling hero in troubling scenarios, with the therapist as a supporting character who was never quite able to help save Anton. This essentially served as a means for Anton to express his feelings of abandonment and struggle, which was duly noted by the therapist. Additionally, Anton would set up competitive games, such as cards, in which he made sure that he would win in order to gloat in the therapist’s defeat. The therapist acknowledged that she understood Antons need to win; to feel capable and proud. The therapist 's acknowledgment of the feelings Anton was projecting through his play had profound influence going forward in his treatment. He started to become increasingly connected to his therapist, shifting from testing his limits with her to including her in gentle games. Mocking remarks such as “I hate you”, were replaced with those of concern as to whether she was contentedly engaged in his play; progress was noticeably being