Play Therapy for Children Exposed to Natural Disasters

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1, 47 - 60, 31.03.2025

Gökçen Dalkılınç , Selin Okumuş , Berna Güloğlu

https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1431472

Öz

Natural disasters occur with increasing frequency every year in our country and around the world. The largest forest fires, in recorded history, occurred in Türkiye in 2021, and the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, called the disaster of the century, occurred in 2023. Between these dates, our country has struggled with disasters such as avalanches and floods, as well as earthquakes and fires. Due to their unexpected nature and devastating impact on individuals' lives, natural disasters can also have shocking effects on individuals' mental health. Undoubtedly, many people have been affected by these disasters. However, children are a risky group among those affected by natural disasters because their coping skills are limited and they have not yet achieved their independence. In addition, it is known that traumatic experiences in the first years of life negatively affect the individual's development. Therefore, it is thought that the psychological support provided to children after a natural disaster is important. In this sense, play therapy appears as one of the effective intervention methods in the psychological support service provided after natural disasters. The aim of this study was to enable mental health professionals working with children exposed to disaster to understand possible psychopathologies and to create a framework for the role of play therapy in intervening.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Natural disaster, effects of natural disaster, play therapy

Doğal Afetlere Maruz Kalan Çocuklarda Oyun Terapisi

Öz

Ülkemizde ve dünyada meydana gelme sıklığı her geçen yıl giderek artan doğal afetler gerçekleşmektedir. Türkiye’de 2021 yılında, kayıtlara geçen tarihin en büyük orman yangınları meydana gelmiş ve 2023 yılında yüz yılın afeti olarak adlandırılan Kahramanmaraş depremleri yaşanmıştır. Bu tarihler arasında ülkemizde, deprem ve yangınların yanı sıra, çığ ve sel gibi afetlerle de mücadele edilmiştir. Beklenmedik yapısı ve bireylerin yaşamındaki yıkıcı etkisi nedeniyle doğal afetler, bireylerin ruh sağlığı üzerinde de sarsıcı etkilere neden olabilmektedir. Şüphesiz, birçok insan bu afetlerden etkilenmiştir. Ancak baş etme becerilerinin kısıtlı olması ve henüz kendi bağımsızlıklarını elde edememiş olmaları nedeniyle çocuklar, doğal afetlerden etkilenen kişiler arasında riskli bir gruptur. Ayrıca, yaşamın ilk yıllarında yaşanan travmatik deneyimlerin bireyi gelişimsel açıdan da olumsuz etkilediği bilinmektedir. Dolayısıyla, doğal afet sonrası çocuklara sunulacak psikolojik desteğin önemli bir yeri olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu anlamda oyun terapisi, doğal afet sonrası sunulan psikolojik destek hizmetinde etkili müdahale yöntemlerinden biri olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, afete maruz kalmış çocuklarla çalışan ruh sağlığı uzmanlarının olası psikopatolojileri anlamalarını sağlamak ve müdahale etme konusunda oyun terapisinin rolüne ilişkin bir çerçeve oluşturmaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Doğal afet, afetin etkileri, oyun terapisi

Kaynakça

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