Play therapists called to New York to help children, families

A group of 12 graduate students from the UNT Center for Play Therapy reported to the New York Emergency Crisis Center recently to work with children and families directly affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Misty Solt, assistant director for the center and a doctoral student in play therapy, helped organize the group's efforts.

"We received a call Sept. 28 from the New York Association of Play Therapists and the national United Way office asking us to send as many play therapists as possible," Solt says. "We immediately began making arrangements and gathering supplies, which was an incredible team effort with everyone who went taking care of something."

The students spent the week of Oct. 8 at the Emergency Crisis Center set up near the World Trade Center site. They were called because the UNT center is the largest training facility in the world for play therapists and is recognized worldwide as an authority on the subject.

Garry Landreth, Regents Professor and center director, founded the center almost 30 years ago as an outgrowth of his classes in order to provide training for the use of play in child counseling.

"If we want to talk to children about their emotions, we have to understand their play, because children can't really talk about their emotions in the same way adults do. Play is their natural language and it is how they express their emotions," he says.

The UNT students took toys and art supplies with them to the crisis center to use during their sessions with the children, who are just now beginning to show signs of the trauma of losing a parent or other loved one or their homes, Landreth says.

"It is typical for people of all ages who are directly affected by something this traumatic to operate in shock for a while," he says. "But now that some time has passed, the reality of the losses are beginning to settle in, and a number of people, especially children, need help."

In addition to working directly with the children, the therapists taught surviving parents or guardians how to communicate with their children through play so they can work through their losses together over time.

And because the need for therapy will be long term, Landreth is leading a team of play therapy experts to teach mental health professionals in New York how to use play therapy and work more effectively with children.

"There are a number of very talented professionals in place who can help the adults through this trauma but who are not necessarily well versed in play therapy and will need to be able to work with the children over time," he says.

BY KELLEY REESE kreese@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT regents OK negotiations for purchase of TI property in Denton
• Lecture touts importance of saving forests
• UNT radio station receives 'Best of Dallas' award
• Conference explores music history, celebrates UNT doctoral program
• Guest column: Don't overlook SECC charities
• UNT web site adds 19th-century Texas laws
• Staff awarded at annual convocation
• Sculpture honors UNT alumnus' 90th birthday
• Hurley recognized for 16 years of service on the North Texas Commission

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