An exploration of games in therapy

Pete Brown Chess for me is not a game, but an art “ Alexander Alekhine, World Chess Champion, 1921 ” This article describes how games of chess played a large part in the therapeutic work with a 10-year-old boy, who lived with his carer and then entered care during the course of the work. I hope readers who play chess, as well as those who don’t, will fi nd this article equally interesting. There is a stereotype of chess and chess players as nerdy calculating machines. However, as Kasparov (2007) states, chess also involves the power of imagination and fantasy. To catch your opponent off -guard, you often have to do something unexpected. I hope to show how the development of chess games, using a mix of planning, tactics, energy and creativity, helped Kieran to become more comfortable in his skin and gradually more confi dent in himself. The introduction of chess happened by chance. There was a and pieces in a cupboard in one of the rooms, and Kieran started setting it up. He had learnt some basic moves from his carer. I learnt chess as a child, but had not played for many years. Both of us knew enough to get by. Kieran was referred to CAMHS because his carer (an ex- friend of Kieran’s mother) complained about his oppositional behaviour, hyperactivity and enuresis. The family were at fi rst seen together, but then Kieran’s carer pressed for him to be seen individually, so the work was divided between the child and the carer. beaten and punished. This article is about the chess games, but Through the course of the work, it became clear, for a number of very it’s worth highlighting that both aspects of the sessions were serious reasons, that Kieran would need to become looked after. important components of the therapy as a whole. When we started playing chess, all sorts of mixed emotions came Phase 1: Openings – child directed chess alive in the games. Kieran usually ordered me to set up the pieces; On the face of it, one would not think a rule-based, intensely com- he always chose white (and hence started the game) and he had to petitive game of wit and skill would work when working with a deprived win every game. I positioned myself to allow him to win, either easily, child showing many signs of neglect. However, in phase one of our series or gradually, by playing a vigorous game and then making some of chess games, the rules were adapted to encompass child-directed mistake, where he could then pounce and fi nish me off . This strategy play. This basically meant Kieran could, for example, alter the way pieces of ‘throwing a game’ would sound shocking to any serious chess moved or take two turns at a time. The need, or even necessity, to be in player but, in this phase, I tactically lost games in order to give Kieran of chess games in therapyAn exploration control and boss me around in these early games eventually gave way to a greater sense of accomplishment and agency. Occasionally, I would a calmer approach. However, these early games, especially when Kieran win a game to see how Kieran could manage this. Usually, he would was taken into care, were fraught with issues, as many dilemmas from accuse me of cheating, or throw the pieces and the board across the the outside world were expressed in the therapy room. room, becoming enraged. Kieran’s mood was inevitably infl uenced Kieran lived in a world where he had little infl uence over decisions. by the outside context of his very complex real-life dilemmas. When he lived with his carer, he led a life full of instructions, reprimands I like to use humour in therapy. I had to take extra care with Kieran, and constant punishments. An added complication was that he was not as he often felt persecuted by any playful teasing. For example, in contact with his birth mother due to a rift between her and his carer, sometimes, I would playfully and very obviously cheat by moving my some years earlier. He frequently called himself “The worst child in the piece illegally, and this was usually met with a torrent of verbal abuse world”. When he entered the care system, he was angry and confused and name-calling. However, the other side of this was that Kieran could and, through defi ant behaviour, often tried to wrestle control back from suddenly collapse into a heap of sorrow. As the work progressed, I could a world where so many decisions were imposed upon him. judge Kieran’s mood through his ability to regulate his emotions in In the weekly sessions, at least half of the session involved the chess games. For example, towards the end of our work together, playing chess, while the other half involved free play, usually with Kieran would tolerate losing and would also appreciate a good battle Kieran playing with the doll’s house and enacting all sorts of family on the chessboard, concentrating for long periods, as well as showing disputes that frequently included me as a doll who was regularly glimpses of humour. More about these tense chess battles later!

Context 145, June 2016 17 that Kieran’s key worker had to knock on the door as we were running Example of a session in phase 1 of the chess therapy nearly 15 minutes over the session, losing all track of time! As Fadul Dorothy (key worker) brought Kieran into the room and then left & Canlas (2009) state, “Changes in the client’s games often indicate a aft er fi ve minutes. Kieran ordered me to set up the chess. I asked him paradigm shift or a better grasp of a metaphor of the chess game in life”. In how he was and he responded by saying, “Shut up and get on with it”. I this respect, chess was not only an engagement tool but a therapeutic said that perhaps he feels upset, as nothing has happened about seeing tool to help Kieran manage himself better in life. Yvonne (birth mother). He said, “I hate her”, to which I said “I think she has been unwell”. Kieran did not comment. We played mostly in silence. Managing the system He changed the moves of some of his pieces; not oft en, but enough to Chess is a game of tactics and strategy. I learnt to apply tactics seek an advantage. If I ventured to talk, he said, “Shut up and play”. outside the games in order to navigate the system around the He spilt his cup of water over the board and, for a couple of minutes, child. Even before Kieran entered care, the games were seen as ‘just seemed devastated, saying “I’m sorry” over and over. He recovered as we playing’ by Kieran’s carer. This view spread into the wider system wiped the board down together. Kieran regained composure and soon as I heard the social worker also asking about the role of chess in captured my , followed swift ly by . I congratulated him the therapy. I could understand this concern about ‘not addressing and he accepted the praise today. I asked about Julie (his former carer). the issues’, especially as the case moved into court proceedings. I Kieran said, “She hates you”. Dorothy knocked on the door and then employed the following tactics to help manage this dilemma: came in and saw Kieran’s win. I wanted to take a photo. At fi rst, Kieran • Each report on Kieran’s progress included at least a paragraph on refused, but then agreed with some gentle persuasion. the role of chess, also clarifying that a portion of the time was spent playing chess. • I asked the key worker to join us at the beginning and end of the games. This served to witness Kieran’s wins, spread news Phase 2: the middle game or the tutor meets his match about what he was learning from the games, as well as building a As Kieran’s external circumstances settled, so the chess games relationship with the care workers. gradually became more competitive. During one memorable • In the CAMHS court report, I emphasised the qualities chess was match, Kieran ordered me to set up the pieces and wrote this teaching – such as developing emotional self-regulation; patience note: “Good luck trying to survive!” I also found out that Kieran was while waiting to take a turn and perhaps, above all, learning to regularly practising chess with one of his key workers, a keen player. win and lose with grace. This gave him a chance to experience the game outside of therapy I can write about this calmly now but, at the time, I recall feeling and to practice losing, as well as winning. like I was caught in a sandwich. On the one hand, I was trying to In this phase, our chess styles also emerged more clearly. manage Kieran’s intense feelings within the room, whilst on the It can be said that perhaps two broad styles exist in chess: the other, also ‘educating’ the wider system so as to protect our work cool and calculating positional player who slowly and patiently together. In fact, I remember feeling quite surprised as I had never improves his or her position and the sharp, energetic attacker, expected such strong feelings to be aroused outside the room in moving pieces all over the board in dynamic, exciting moves. the network, both within CAMHS and social care. I think we both preferred the second approach but, of course, An aspect that was managed very well was Kieran being able this can leave one’s defences open as we become carried away to stay working with me in the main team with a planned delayed with the moment, slackening attention, leading to a fatal blow transfer to the CAMHS looked-after-children team. It was agreed (usually taking the queen, soon followed by checkmate). that, with a change of carer and change of social worker, it would In this stage, if Kieran got too carried away attacking and leaving be helpful not to disrupt further attachments at the same time. This defences vulnerable, I would often warn him, to see if he wanted to meant we could have some time to work towards an ending and, of make that move before he actually made the move. This way, he had course, continue playing chess. the chance to refl ect on his position, looking again at his options. In one memorable game, we exchanged queen for queen early on Memorable moments in the games in the game (an unusual choice in our games). This forced our play Paper Chess: I cannot recall why but one day the board was not in to encompass greater use of the other pieces in a more long range the room. I naively printed off paper pieces and a board. Kieran came manoeuvring game, rather than the faster combative style. in and, when he saw them, blew them away with one mighty puff .

Phase 3: endgames Extract from CAMHS care plan fi led to the court in care In the fi nal phase, Kieran became a very profi cient chess player. proceedings He played regularly with staff in the care home, and evoked tactics For a portion of the time in therapy, Kieran and I play a that began to surpass my game. I no longer needed to ‘throw’ game of chess. As this is a somewhat unusual therapeutic tool, games; indeed, it was not possible to do so as Kieran’s game steadily I will briefl y explain this process. Th e game involves abiding improved. In this phase there were real neck-to-neck battles, mostly by a set of rules, turning-taking, tolerating winning and losing won by Kieran but sometimes by me. Kieran’s reaction was usually to and, as Kieran recently said to his key worker, ‘patience’. In the shake my hand to show a graceful acceptance of defeat. games Kieran shows many feelings and, overall, I think this In my work, I try to keep to the ‘therapeutic hour’ and manage this endeavour is contributing to Kieran learning to regulate his An exploration of chess games in therapy An exploration of chess games in therapy most of the time. However, during one session, we were in an intense emotions more successfully. Kieran’s ability to concentrate battle of the ‘50 moves to checkmate or a draw’, and there was such during a game has got bett er and is now impressive. intense concentration on both sides, with attack and counter-attack, 18 Context 145, June 2016 The move before inevitable checkmate: black can only move to the corner square. Then the white will move to place the in checkmate from the white queen.

White moves to place black king in checkmate.

Checkmate from white queen, second white queen (upside down rook) to black king. These are the only four remaining pieces on the board.

His comment was “That’s what I’d like to do to you for being so stupid”. Circular Chess: I introduced this as a variation as I recalled being Two rooks force black king into checkmate. Black king cannot move out of captivated by this when I was a child. Kieran was very interested in check. The white is protected by the . this chess variation and the circular board. This was also intriguing because of playing two sides at the same time. Kieran picked up the a both/and perspective. Connecting via an activity is perhaps a rules quickly and took to the game enthusiastically. common form of male-to-male relationship. I was also mindful that : Four examples from our actual games are shown in Kieran lacked a consistent father fi gure, and perhaps this need was of chess games in therapyAn exploration the pictures above (Kieran usually let me take a photo at the end of met to some extent in the therapeutic work. each match): In our fi nal session, I gave Kieran a beautifully carved wooden chess set that I had carefully looked for in the preceding months. Refl ections This was to show appreciation of our journey together and for Kieran played chess with me before going into care and after re-introducing me to the intriguing world of chess. At this time, in going into care. I think the weekly routine of the therapy and chess a more settled long-term placement, Kieran was also able to show games were important to help provide continuity in his life. His appreciation of this gift as both of us were visibly moved to tears general demeanour and wellbeing improved whilst in care, although in this last meeting. It was an intimate moment. I also gave Kieran a there were some disruptions due to staff turnover. Although his ‘chess story book’ based on how social workers make life story books, mother was not able to look after him, monthly predictable contact which chronicled all the pictures of our chess games and the journey was set up and maintained. When the care order was granted, his during these two years of work together. carer cut off contact and this seemed both hurtful whilst, in other References ways, perhaps paved the way forward to resume contact with his Fadul, J. & Canlas, R. (2009) Chess Therapy. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Press mother, with less divided loyalties. Kasparov, G. (2007) How Life Imitates Chess. London: Arrow. In my view, the chess as therapy, or ‘therapeutic chess’ was both a useful distancing technique and a means of connection – from Contact: [email protected] Context 145, June 2016 19