Welcome to
JB Play Therapy
Counselling Children and Adolescents Through
Play Therpay
What is Gestalt Play Therapy?
Gestalt theory is a theoretical framework that maintains there is no meaningful way to consider any living organism apart from interactions with its environment. This means that children and adolescents are never considered in isolation to their multiple personal components (cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual), their relationships with others, and their various experiences. Violet Oaklander is considered the founder of Gestalt play therapy as she incorporated Gestalt theory into play therapy.
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Gestalt play therapy can thus be defined as a psychotherapeutic technique that uses the principles and techniques of Gestalt therapy during play therapy with the child. By developing a therapeutic relationship and contact, and according to a specific process, children are given the opportunity to confirm their sense of self, express their feelings verbally and non-verbally, express their thoughts in a safe environment, nurture themselves, and experiment with new and socially-acceptable behaviour. It is assumed that the child will play out his or her problems in a symbolic manner, will learn to know and channel his or her own emotions more effectively, will learn to enter into a relationship of trust with another person, and that devious behaviour will consequently be normalised.
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- Rinda Blom, 2006, The Handbook of Gestalt Play Therapy. Practical Guidelines for Child Therapists.
Awareness
Awareness can be obtained by a variety of experiences and experiments during the Gestalt play therapy process. This is important because awareness brings individuals into contact with their own needs and emotions and they thus learn to accept responsiility for who they are and what they do. As children become more aware of themselves in the therapeutic process, they also become more aware of the way they express emotions and satisfy their needs.
Self-support
Children mature when they learn to accept more responsibility for themselves and to expect less support from the environment. The Gestalt play therapy process will establish how children support themselves in solving problems and will facilitate problem solving by means of self-regulation and self-support. Self-acceptance and the ability to exercise choices are also important skills to master regarding their emotional intelligence.
Integration
Integration is the completion of unfinished business in order to form a new (and healthier) entity. Emphasis is placed during the Gestalt play therapy process to help children (as a holisitc entity) to integrate their cognition, emotions, body and senses in order to complete unfinished business. Unfinished business from the past are unfulfilled needs, unexpressed feelings or uncompleted (suppressed) situations. This requires attention as it may affect the child's present functioning.
Therapeutic Processes
The therapeutic process consist of various phases, however, it is tailored to each child's unique process, needs and goals. During the phase of emotional expression, Gestalt play therapy relies on the premise of projection. Through projection, children are able to expose their problems without any threat to themselves. Play therapy also involves working closely with parents and caregivers to ensure that the child receives the best possible care and support.
Meet the Play Therapy Practioner
Hi there! My name is Jenilee Boshoff, and my vision was set on a career in Play Therapy since before matriculating. However, it was after my service year for Christ with the organisation "TiCs" that my passion for youth work was truly cemented. Determined and inspired, I completed my bachelors and honours degree in social work at the University of Pretoria, and then finally had the opportunity to do my masters degree in play-based intervention.
​Before opening my own practice in February of 2024, I worked with many children individually and within groups in the school context. My passion and love for children, and for what I do, grows by the day, and with every precious soul I get the privilege to work with.
​I have three beautiful children of my own and a fantastic husband, with his own background in psychology and brain profiling, who does not waver in his support of me and my dream. I hope to always be approachable, relatable and a safe place for all members of a family. I aspire to keep learning and keep loving with every passing season. My commitment to you is to always do my best to provide you and your dependent(s) with the support you need, and to treat every person big or small with the utmost respect.
Thank you.
