Play Therapy Final Exam Student #10-The Dollhouse Experience


(Play Therapy Student for Play Therapy Class)

Play Therapy Final Exam Student #10-The Dollhouse Experience

Play Therapy Final Exam Student #10-The Dollhouse Experience

Constructing the play therapy dollhouse was challenging in many ways. After thoroughly researching dollhouses online, I decided to create one on my own using materials from warehouse clubs. I was also perplexed because my family has a townhouse that I had to try and construct. I did not create the townhouse as if actually looked but chose to focus on the main aspects of the townhouse and my family's dysfunctionality instead.
I was purposeful with choosing the color green to paint my dollhouse because I grew up envying others homes because I was made to feel as if something was wrong with where I lived by some of my classmates in middle school. I continued to carry shame about my home well into high school. My classmates lived in huge two story homes and I lived in a two bedroom one bathroom condo.
Now that I am adult I wonder about why I did not have enough confidence to defend my home after all I had a family that loved me and the things that they focused on were so shallow but I am more concerned with why I held on to such shame for so long.
I did not know how to create a separate room for the bathroom with the materials I selected so I have to bathroom behind my parents room to acknowledge it. I choose the wallpaper based on the emotional state of those in the household through the years. The kitchen, family room, and living room, and bathroom have neutral colors whereas the bedrooms have blue and colors more indicative of the emotional state of our family during some of my childhood.
The clutter in the play therapy doll house living room and family room is indicative of the chaos and clutter that actually existed and still exists because of my family's stuff-physical and emotional. My dad, t-rex, is surrounded by coins-money-and various things that represent my dad's love for stuff and focus on the cost and value of items. The cookie and cupcakes are indicative of his love for junk food. The raised up chair is my dad's chair that he refers to as the throne where he spends a lot of his time.
Creating this play therapy dollhouse reminded me of my insecurities about myself and family and allowed me to realize that I still carry some of these feelings. Processing the dollhouse in class brought up a lot of emotion about my relationships with my dad and family and communication that I desire to have with my dad about his health choices and potential consequences. The "counselor" in class hit the nail on the head that resulted in me crying about my dad in class.
The dollhouse is powerful tool that brought out a lot for me and a tool I intend to use in therapy. I appreciate this experience and the power that it has in therapy.

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Submit Your Creative Counseling Ideas / Lessons with Other Professionals / Publish Your Ideas Here!.

Disclaimer: This website and its content is intended for trained licensed mental health professionals and school certified mental health professionals to use for their clients / students at their own discretion.

*If you ignore the disclaimer above are using these techniques on yourself and you feel any discomfort or upset it is highly suggested that you seek out a licensed  mental health professional immediately.

"Beyond Art Therapy" is the concept from Dr. Stangline that combines all creative fields in therapy. It is not the traditional "art therapy" but goes beyond to include sand tray therapy, play therapy, mindfulness, meditation, color therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a vast majority of other therapies.

For any other type of mental health emergency call your local 911 / Police Number immediately.

Dr. Stangline does not offer advice / suggestions to anyone who is not a professional mental health provider, or a student who is studying this field and has questions about mental health programs of study.

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

See our Exciting Selection of eBooks:

Award Winning:

Creative Counseling 101 eBook 
Our Best Seller!

Step By Step Therapy:

Learn how to be a more Creative Therapist with the Book that started it all!

- Graduate School Counseling book used by hundreds of graduate counseling students!

- Includes full color reproducible worksheets with most activities.

- Winner of the Counselor Writer of the Year Award, 2011, Georgia Regional Award

Download Your Copy Today Only $39.95: 

See Creative Counseling 101 eBook Information Here:

Get the Set
of all four  

eBooks for only $98.95:
An incredible collection of how to do therapy eBooks!
A $159.80 Value,
You Save Over $60!

Get your complete set of the Creative Counseling 101.com eBooks by Dr. Michelle Stangline for only $98.95, that's less than $25.00 per eBook (Regular Price is $39.95 for each eBook.).

Your complete set includes:

- Creative Counseling 101

- Creative Group Counseling 101

- Creative Play Therapy 101

- Creative Sand Tray 101

For more information click the link below:

See Complete Set of eBooks For Sale Here:

New!!! "Beyond Art Therapy" 101 eBook

Over 300 pages of Beyond Art Therapy activities and techniques. Learn what I teach graduate counseling students!

See the link below for more information.

Only $39.95

Art Therapy 101 eBook for Sale Link

See More Invividual eBooks For Sale:

Sand Tray Therapy 101 eBook:

Learn how to do Sand Tray Therapy or enhance your skills.

Sand Tray Therapy eBook for Sale Link

Play Therapy 101 eBook

Learn how to do play therapy or enhance your skills.

Play Therapy eBook For Sale Link

Small Group Counseling eBook For Sale:

Learn how to do creative group therapy and enhance your skills.

Creative Group Therapy eBook For Sale Link

School Counselor Guidance Lesson & Social Stories eBook for sale:

Get a year's worth of school counselor guidance lessons with "Creative Warm & Fuzzy Classroom Guidance Lessons eBook". Introduce your students to the "Warm & Fuzzy Way". Click the link below for more information:

Warm & Fuzzy School Counselor Guidance Lessons eBook