Adlerian play therapy: A tool for school counselors.

Adlerian play therapy combines the rationale, media, and strategies of play therapy with the concepts and techniques of Adlerian psychology (Kottman & Warlick, 1989, 1990). In applying Adlerian play therapy to school counseling, counselors use toys and play media as the basis of communicating with the child and building a relationship. They gather information about the child and use the premises of Adlerian psychology to provide a conceptual framework for understanding the child's personality and relationships. School counselors can use this strategy to (a) build relationships with children; (b) explore the way children view themselves, others, and the world; (c) help children understand the ways they gain significance in their families and in school; and (d) help them explore new ways of gaining significance and interacting with others. Adlerian play therapy also gives school counselors a model for consulting with teachers and parents about children experiencing emotional, behavioral, and academic difficulties.