FACS 361 Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025-2026 Already Passed
What is our textbook author's definition of play therapy? - Answers an approach to counseling young
children in which the counselor uses toys, art supplies, games and other play media to communicate
with clients using the 'language' of children
Why involve play when counseling children? - Answers Play therapy can be a means for:
-Establishing rapport with children
-Helping counselors understand children and their interactions and relationships
-Helping children reveal feelings that they have not been able to verbalize
-Constructively acting out feelings of anxiety, tension, or hostility
-Teaching socialization skills
-Providing an environment in which children can test limits, gain insight about their own behavior and
motivation, explore alternatives, and learn about consequences
self-expression - Answers Because young children lack the language skills, vocabulary, and abstract
thinking abilities of older children and adults, they may have difficulties expressing themselves with
words. "In play, children are able to express their conscious thoughts and feelings better through play
activities than by words alone.
Because play is the usual model of communication for the child, using play as the therapeutic modality
facilitates the child's capacity for self-expression.
Access the unconscious - Answers Because the toys and play objects in the playroom are chosen vehicles
on which the child can project meaning, they can be used by the child to reveal unconsciousness
material. In the relationship with the play therapist, the child can use the toys to move unconscious
desires and impulses into consciousness and express them symbolically.
Direct and indirect teaching - Answers One method of teaching children social skills, problem-solving
skills, negotiation skills, and assertiveness skills uses toys, art, and play materials to provide them with
direct instruction in a fun way that optimizes their learning. Metaphoric/indirect teaching is a method of
using storytelling and play narratives to expose clients to new insights, perspectives, and coping
strategies without evoking their defensive reactions. It also allows clients to address issues indirectly,
without having to overtly acknowledge situations that feel threatening or overwhelming. By using
stories, playing, and artwork to explore issues and present different ways of looking at situations, the
play therapist can subtly help children examine their cognitive and affective patterns and teach them
new skills and attitudes.
Abreaction - Answers allows children to relive (symbolically) stressful or traumatic events and re-
experience the feeling associated with those events. This releases negative thoughts and emotions
, attached to painful experiences. Reenacting painful experiences help children gain a sense of mastery
over their own negative experiences and interactions, which may assist them with their adjustment to
past traumas.
stress inoculation - Answers Before stressful events, children can reduce their anxiety by playing out the
event as a way to learn what to expect and to get more comfortable with what is going to happen.
Mastering fears and counterconditioning of negative effects - Answers Children experience different
kinds of fears as they are growing up. In play therapy, children can express and sometimes play media in
a way that lets them experience fear and recognize that they have the skills for coping with fear and
taking care of themselves. "Two mutually exclusive internal states are not able to co-exist
simultaneously, such as anxiety and relaxation, depression and playfulness." Thus, play experiences can
create counterconditioning of "negative" affect.
Catharsis - Answers This involves the expression of powerful feelings, resulting in emotional release or
completion of previous denied, restrained, or interrupted affect. Because of the empathy of the
therapist, all emotions are accepted, some positive and negative because both can lead to growth.
Positive emotion - Answers Some clients may not have a safe place to express positive emotions. Time at
play therapy can be that safe place.
Competence and self-control - Answers Some child lack competence and self-esteem. Play therapy can
give children opportunities to prove to themselves that they have the potential to be successful.
Therapists encourage children to play with things they don't usually play with because of fear of failure.
Also not doing things for them that they can do themselves. Also, build up their confidence in
themselves as they are working, not just when they are successful.
Sublimation - Answers Helps to channel unacceptable impulses into activities that would be more
socially acceptable. Redirecting the child or engaging them in activities like pretending to break a toy or
hitting a foam bat on the ground would be more socially acceptable.
Attachment formation - Answers Through play therapy it can help children form connections to people
who may not have many healthy attachments. Role playing and fantasy can build the child's empathy
which will grow into connected feelings with others.
Rapport Building and relationship enhancement - Answers Because play therapists consistently
demonstrate a caring, supportive attitude towards children, they begin to believe that perhaps they are
worthy of love and positive attention. Also, because play therapists are playful and make it fun, this
builds rapport between child and therapist.
Moral Judgment and behavior rehearsal - Answers Playing games allows children to enhance their social
skills, increase communication strategies, and practice rule-governed behavior though behavioral
rehearsal. It also helps the to move beyond the early stages of moral realism.
What is our textbook author's definition of play therapy? - Answers an approach to counseling young
children in which the counselor uses toys, art supplies, games and other play media to communicate
with clients using the 'language' of children
Why involve play when counseling children? - Answers Play therapy can be a means for:
-Establishing rapport with children
-Helping counselors understand children and their interactions and relationships
-Helping children reveal feelings that they have not been able to verbalize
-Constructively acting out feelings of anxiety, tension, or hostility
-Teaching socialization skills
-Providing an environment in which children can test limits, gain insight about their own behavior and
motivation, explore alternatives, and learn about consequences
self-expression - Answers Because young children lack the language skills, vocabulary, and abstract
thinking abilities of older children and adults, they may have difficulties expressing themselves with
words. "In play, children are able to express their conscious thoughts and feelings better through play
activities than by words alone.
Because play is the usual model of communication for the child, using play as the therapeutic modality
facilitates the child's capacity for self-expression.
Access the unconscious - Answers Because the toys and play objects in the playroom are chosen vehicles
on which the child can project meaning, they can be used by the child to reveal unconsciousness
material. In the relationship with the play therapist, the child can use the toys to move unconscious
desires and impulses into consciousness and express them symbolically.
Direct and indirect teaching - Answers One method of teaching children social skills, problem-solving
skills, negotiation skills, and assertiveness skills uses toys, art, and play materials to provide them with
direct instruction in a fun way that optimizes their learning. Metaphoric/indirect teaching is a method of
using storytelling and play narratives to expose clients to new insights, perspectives, and coping
strategies without evoking their defensive reactions. It also allows clients to address issues indirectly,
without having to overtly acknowledge situations that feel threatening or overwhelming. By using
stories, playing, and artwork to explore issues and present different ways of looking at situations, the
play therapist can subtly help children examine their cognitive and affective patterns and teach them
new skills and attitudes.
Abreaction - Answers allows children to relive (symbolically) stressful or traumatic events and re-
experience the feeling associated with those events. This releases negative thoughts and emotions
, attached to painful experiences. Reenacting painful experiences help children gain a sense of mastery
over their own negative experiences and interactions, which may assist them with their adjustment to
past traumas.
stress inoculation - Answers Before stressful events, children can reduce their anxiety by playing out the
event as a way to learn what to expect and to get more comfortable with what is going to happen.
Mastering fears and counterconditioning of negative effects - Answers Children experience different
kinds of fears as they are growing up. In play therapy, children can express and sometimes play media in
a way that lets them experience fear and recognize that they have the skills for coping with fear and
taking care of themselves. "Two mutually exclusive internal states are not able to co-exist
simultaneously, such as anxiety and relaxation, depression and playfulness." Thus, play experiences can
create counterconditioning of "negative" affect.
Catharsis - Answers This involves the expression of powerful feelings, resulting in emotional release or
completion of previous denied, restrained, or interrupted affect. Because of the empathy of the
therapist, all emotions are accepted, some positive and negative because both can lead to growth.
Positive emotion - Answers Some clients may not have a safe place to express positive emotions. Time at
play therapy can be that safe place.
Competence and self-control - Answers Some child lack competence and self-esteem. Play therapy can
give children opportunities to prove to themselves that they have the potential to be successful.
Therapists encourage children to play with things they don't usually play with because of fear of failure.
Also not doing things for them that they can do themselves. Also, build up their confidence in
themselves as they are working, not just when they are successful.
Sublimation - Answers Helps to channel unacceptable impulses into activities that would be more
socially acceptable. Redirecting the child or engaging them in activities like pretending to break a toy or
hitting a foam bat on the ground would be more socially acceptable.
Attachment formation - Answers Through play therapy it can help children form connections to people
who may not have many healthy attachments. Role playing and fantasy can build the child's empathy
which will grow into connected feelings with others.
Rapport Building and relationship enhancement - Answers Because play therapists consistently
demonstrate a caring, supportive attitude towards children, they begin to believe that perhaps they are
worthy of love and positive attention. Also, because play therapists are playful and make it fun, this
builds rapport between child and therapist.
Moral Judgment and behavior rehearsal - Answers Playing games allows children to enhance their social
skills, increase communication strategies, and practice rule-governed behavior though behavioral
rehearsal. It also helps the to move beyond the early stages of moral realism.
