International Journal of Play Therapy
Volume 26, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 23-32

Culturally responsive play therapy with Somali refugees (Article)

Killian T.* , Cardona B. , Hudspeth E.F.
  • a Department of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Campus Box 131, Greeley, CO 80639, United States
  • b Department of Applied Psychology and Counselor Education, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Campus Box 131, Greeley, CO 80639, United States
  • c College of Online and Continuing Education, Southern New Hampshire, University, NH, United States

Abstract

The recent influx of Somali refugees to the United States has created a significant need for play therapists to develop culturally sensitive interventions. Client-centered play therapy (CCPT) provides therapists with an accessible and multiculturally sensitive approach that seems a natural fit for working with Somali refugee children. The role of Islam, collectivist views, gender roles, cultural taboos, and toy selection all affect the way clinicians can connect with this population. CCPT's underlying tenets are a potential starting place to begin to address Somali refugee children's specific needs. CCPT offers a foundation from which multiculturally sensitive play therapy can be built. © 2017 Association for Play Therapy.

Author Keywords

Somali refugees child-centered play therapy Multicultural counseling

Index Keywords

play therapy counseling refugee Islam taboo sex role United States human Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85008870935&doi=10.1037%2fpla0000040&partnerID=40&md5=6921ffe76e70885f9a44d38450629863
DOI: 10.1037/pla0000040
ISSN: 15556824
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English