Running Head: THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY The Lived Experience of Facilitating the Violet Oaklander Model of Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents A dissertation submitted by Blake Brisbois, M.A. To Antioch University Santa Barbara in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology 2016 ____________________________________ RONALD PILATO, PSY.D. Chair ____________________________________ LEE WEISER, PH.D. Second Faculty ____________________________________ VIOLET OAKLANDER, PH.D. External Expert THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY ii Copyright © 2016 By Blake Brisbois ii THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY ii Abstract The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of facilitating the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play Therapy when treating children or adolescents in psychotherapy. Interviews were conducted with clinicians who have received training and use the Oaklander method in their practice of psychotherapy. Transcriptions of the interviews were coded and analyzed, revealing a consistent experience along various themes. Participants reported that this Gestalt method allows a non-linear method of helping clients to unfold according to the needs and challenges of each session. Participants also reported that the end goal of the Oaklander Gestalt model helped young clients express themselves through the use of customized strategies that included consideration of the experiences and physical capabilities of children. The model’s focus on the strength of the clinician-client, clinician-parent, and parent-client relationship facilitated self-awareness and sense of self through effective mind-body interventions. Further exploration by broadening the range, size, and type of sample studied is recommended. The electronic version of the dissertation is accessible at the Ohiolink ETD center http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd. ii 3 Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to all who have guided and supported me through the long and arduous journey of graduate studies. From my professors at Antioch Santa Barbara, to my supervisors at the Maple Counseling Center, Occidental College, Gateways Hospital, and Calabasas Behavioral Health, you have all had great impact on me both personally and professionally. I also dedicate this to my mother, Zulema, who I know would be proud of this accomplishment. I miss you. THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY 4 Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................... ii Dedication ................................................................................................................3 Table of Contents .....................................................................................................4 List of tables.............................................................................................................7 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................8 Background and Rationale for the Study ..........................................................8 Main Research Questions ...............................................................................10 Significance of the Study ................................................................................11 Research Design and Methodology ................................................................12 Summary .........................................................................................................14 Chapter 2: Literature Review .................................................................................15 Introduction.....................................................................................................15 Literature Search Strategy and Presentation of Major Literature Sections ....15 Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy ........................................................16 Relevant Developmental Theories..................................................................20 Psychotherapy Approaches.............................................................................23 Comparison of Psychotherapy Approaches ....................................................27 Play Therapy Approaches ...............................................................................32 Gestalt Therapy...............................................................................................38 Perspectives and Applications of Gestalt Therapy .........................................43 Gestalt Play Therapy: The Oaklander Way ....................................................46 Clinicians’ Practice of Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents..........55 The Literature Gap..........................................................................................58 THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY 5 Summary .........................................................................................................58 Chapter 3: Methods ................................................................................................60 Introduction.....................................................................................................60 Research Questions.........................................................................................60 Description of Research Method and Design .................................................61 Selection of Participants .................................................................................63 Data Collection Procedure ..............................................................................65 Data Processing and Data Analysis Techniques.............................................67 Validity and Reliability...................................................................................70 Ethical Assurances ..........................................................................................72 Methodological Assumptions .........................................................................73 Conclusion ......................................................................................................74 Chapter 4: Analysis and Results ............................................................................76 Introduction.....................................................................................................76 Setting 76 Data Collection and Data Analysis .................................................................77 Listing and Preliminary Grouping ..................................................................79 Reductions and Elimination............................................................................82 Clustering and Thematizing of the Invariant Constituents .............................83 Final Identification of the Invariant Constituents and Themes ......................84 Results 103 Textural-Structural Description ....................................................................103 Evidence of Trustworthiness ........................................................................106 Conclusion ....................................................................................................107 Chapter 5: Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations....................................109 THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY 6 Introduction...................................................................................................109 Interpretation of the Findings .......................................................................111 Implications of the Findings .........................................................................112 Limitations of the Study ...............................................................................113 Recommendations for Further Research ......................................................113 Summary and Conclusion .............................................................................114 References ............................................................................................................115 Appendix A. Letter to the Violet Oaklander Facility ..........................................128 Appendix B. Recruitment Letter ..........................................................................130 Appendix C. Raw Data ........................................................................................131 THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY 7 List of tables Table 1. Emerging codes....................................................................................... 79 Table 2. Emerging categories................................................................................ 83 THE VIOLET OAKLANDER MODEL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY 8 Chapter 1: Introduction Background and Rationale for the Study The focus of this study was the lived experience of psychotherapists who employ the Oaklander method of Gestalt psychotherapy with children and adolescents. Experts in the field of psychotherapy, as well as academics, have long overlooked the issues of children and adolescents (D'Andrea, Ford, Stolbach, Spinazzola, & van der Kolk, 2012). Clinicians who work with children and adolescents often face challenges to their clinical judgment about which treatments would be most effective. The limited research on childhood-specific interventions and the managed care healthcare system or school systems underscores the need for