The use of play for assessment and therapy: the case of a child with selective mutism

The paper discusses the case of a 5½ year-old girl, living in India, who presented with selective mutism in social settings, mainly outside the home. There were also instances of hyperactivity and disruptive behaviours. The presence of marital discord between parents, problems in communication patterns in the family, and the presence of anxiety symptoms in the mother were other characteristics of the girl's overall clinical picture. The aim of the study was to explore with this child the use of play as a means of assessment and therapy, in order to consider the reasons for her muteness and to facilitate self-expression. A client-centred non-directive orientation was adopted and entailed the therapist reflecting back to the child her verbalisations and actions. The paper discusses the major themes that emerged during play and additional elements of the multimodal therapy that were used – including behavioural modification and parental counselling. The paper also discusses issues that arise when the case is...