Culturally responsive play therapy with military-connected children and families: Opportunities for rigorous research.

Abstract

Military-connected children represent intersectional identities and demonstrate unique vulnerabilities and strengths. Indeed, the wellbeing of military families is complex given stressors related to frequent separations and geographic relocations, coupled with the high-risk nature of careers in the armed forces. However, military families also demonstrate several strengths, such as resilience, that may be overlooked in the mental health interventions offered to the military community's youngest members. Previous researchers have illuminated the limitations of interventions provided to military-connected children, as well as methodological flaws that inhibit the development of exemplary practices for this population. In the article, the authors present several ways in which play therapy is responsive to the cultural values and mental health needs of military families. Additionally, the authors provide concrete strategies for play therapists and researchers to improve the rigor of play therapy research and support the efficacy of play therapy with military-connected children.

Military Spouse Mental Health Outcomes After Receiving Short-Term Counseling Services

“…It may be that counselors need to develop clinical interventions attuned to spouses, rather than as adjacent to the evidence-based practices for service members. This assertation aligns with previous researchers who reported that more attention is needed to develop culturally and developmentally responsive services for military spouses (Burgin & Prosek, 2021;NASEM, 2019).…”

“…For example, Mooney (2019) purported that depression and anxiety among military spouses served as risk factors to their resilience. In military communities, resilience is a core element of military ethos and is considered a significant protective factor for both service members and their families (Burgin & Prosek, 2021).…”

“…Although, elevated distress remains among many spouses with 39% of military spouses accessing mental health care at least once in their service member's career (OPA, 2020). Researchers summarized that accessibility to evidence-based, culturally-responsive counseling services remains an area of need among military spouse populations (Burgin & Prosek, 2021); therefore, the current study explored clinical outcomes of spouses receiving counseling services, considering both mental health symptoms and resilience as a promising protective factor.…”

Healing from adverse childhood experiences through therapeutic powers of play: “I can do it with my hands”.

“…Considering the impact therapeutic powers of play have on mitigating the negative consequences of early childhood trauma, replication studies could provide additional evidentiary support for social systems to fund and provide children access to play outlets to mitigate ACEs within more diverse and marginalized populations (e.g., Deaf, immigrant, impoverished, multiracial, refugee, and religious minority). Consistent with current play therapy literature, the authors recommend recruiting adults from diverse and marginalized populations to further examine the therapeutic powers of play through the lens of intersectionality, similar to what other play therapy researchers have done (e.g., Agarwal & Meany-Walen, 2019; Burgin & Prosek, 2021; Casey et al, 2021; Ceballos et al, 2020; Chase & Opiola, 2021; Killian et al, 2017; Kwon & Lee, 2018; Tapia-Fuselier & Ray, 2019). Specifically focusing on the therapeutic powers of play within these populations would increase play therapists’ understanding of the healing nature of multicultural play experiences.…”

Introduction to the 30th Anniversary Special Issue on play therapy with military families.

“…The current special issue offers two more articles focused on play therapy with military families: “Culturally Responsive Play Therapy With Military-Connected Children and Families: Opportunities for Rigorous Research” (Burgin & Prosek, 2021) and “Serving Together: Play Therapy to Foster Attachment for Grieving Military Families” (Villarreal-Davis et al, 2021). These four manuscripts, over a 30-year period, demonstrate the need for more research and writing exploring play therapy applications with children of servicemembers and veterans as well as their families.…”