Q: Of all the three different therapeutic approaches you used in your work with Kevin and Haydee, which one do you think was most effective? Why?
A: Although I believe that all the three therapeutic approaches were useful in helping Kevin adopt a positive attitude towards his feelings of anger, I think that the play therapy was the most effective in creating the breakthrough. Before introducing the play therapy, Kevin was largely unresponsive and unenthusiastic. However, once I gave him the journal and introduced him to the Anger Solution Card Game, I was finally able to forge a positive connection with him. Essentially, the play therapy approach, especially the card game, provided Kevin with a comfortable forum for dealing with his emotions. In this symbolic realm of play, Kevin was willing to verbally express his feelings of frustration. More importantly, he revealed his desire for an alternative and positive life.
Q: If play therapy was the key approach in your work with Kevin, why did you choose to use the solution-focused and narrative therapies in subsequent sessions after your breakthrough?
A: As I had mentioned before, even though play therapy was important in enabling me to connect with Kevin, I think that the other two therapeutic approaches were highly important in transforming Kevin's perspective about his problem and his overall attitude. Once I was able to gain his trust in the relationship through play therapy, I utilized the other two approaches to help him move from a problem-oriented to a solution-focused perspective. By taking an active part in devising solutions to his own problems, Kevin then felt empowered to continue on this new journey of creating alternative positive stories about him. So, to me, play therapy was an important catalyst for the therapeutic relationship. However, the solution-focused and narrative therapeutic approaches were needed to help Kevin shift from the sy
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