Play Therapy Technique: Miniature World To Make with Play Therapy Clients: My World Under the Sea

by Play Therapy Student

When I started this play therapy assignment I was not quite sure about the end product, but as Dr. Stangline would always say, “The miniatures will pick to you.” The first thing picture I selected was Ariel from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. I then selected schools of fish, dolphins, whales, star fish, and other sea dwellers. I added a bead of black jewels to represent buried treasure.

I decided to create my play therapy world in a triarama. As I assembled the world I added a picture of Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology at the top. I then added Ariel, who in the Disney movie was the only child of Poseidon.

As I looked at the play therapy world I created as a therapist, I realized that the majority of the pictures I selected were families. The few that were alone in their pictures like the frogs, octopus, and others were grouped close to each other. Quoting Dr. S again, I kept asking myself why these miniatures, what is the significance to me, what is this world saying to or about me?

I realized that family is extremely important to me and I love spending time with my family. I enjoy being with good friends, but I also enjoy my independence. The individual pictures remind me of my courage and confidence to pursue future endeavors. The jewels at the base of the sea floor help me to realize I am quite optimistic. No matter how challenging things may look like on the surface, there is always treasure underneath.

I grew up in a blended family, but prior to that, I was an only child. Despite my parents’ marriage not lasting as long as I would have liked, I always knew that my father loved and adored me. He made no secret of that and when he passed away several years ago, many of his friends, co-workers, and family kept telling me how much he loved me. They always knew whenever he spoke to me because he would be happy the entire day.

Even though I did not know what my play therapy world would look like in the beginning, in trusting the process I discovered some new things about myself. Once again, Dr. Stangline was right about trusting the process!


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