An Analysis of Therapeutic ‘Sensitivity’ in Child Counseling: In the Context of Theraplay
AUTHOR : 윤미원,신현정
INFORMATION : page. 199~225 / 2012 Vol.19 No.4
ABSTRACT
This study aims to explore the issue of therapeutic ‘sensitivity’ based on Theraplay, one child counseling
methodology, by looking into the interaction between the child, (especially younger children and infants),
and the therapist. According to the results, conducted from the phenomenological perspective, therapeutic
‘sensitivity’ is comprised of ‘consistency’, ‘immersion’, and ‘trust’. First, ‘consistency’ is described as
below. The therapist interacts with the child by means of ‘principle consistency’ as to the child's own
‘multiple layer principle’ through the unchangeable principle in a variety of different situations. The child
then makes his(her) way from ‘reassurance consistency’, to ‘transitional consistency’, to ‘constitutive
consistency’. Another factor inherent to therapeutic ‘sensitivity’ is ‘immersion’. Sometimes ‘immersion’
resembles ‘indifference’ as well as ‘consideration’ that involving also ‘empathy’, and sometimes this also
leads to the ‘transformational opportunity’ of another interaction. Moreover therapeutic ‘sensitivity’ also
contains ‘trust’ that comes from the ontological belief in a child who can be everything, otherwise known
as ‘potentiality’. Furthermore, this study shows what therapeutic mechanisms may enable therapists to
interact with children. One such mechanism is the harmony between ‘principle’ and ‘content’. Another is
an ‘open-ended attitude to diversity’. Even though the therapist acts on these principles, he or she
interacts with a child using a suitable action in very different situations. In order to replicate this, not
only do therapists need training in skillful techniques and constant practice to adapt themselves to many
diverse situations, but they also need the ability to self-reflect as therapists.