학대받은 어린이의 치유를 위한 놀이목회상담연구

Abstract

Children are essentially born to be loved. Nevertheless, the long history of mankind stands on child abuse leaving emotional devastation for fragile children with a vicious cycle to continue on existing. In addition, abused children are often neglected and hidden rather than supporting them to heal before reaching adulthood. Now is the time for the church community take charge and have a sense of responsibility and share an active role of professionalism of healing the pain and wounds. Even more, it is easily overlooked and passed over the young children's abuse due to their incapacity to explicitly express their deeply rooted experiences of hurt and pain in a language as adults do. Especially when children who experienced abuse from someone close and grow into adulthood without proper treatments, the pain manifest problems in physical or psychotic symptoms later in life. Christians particularly tend to suppress their psychological wounds behind religious mask and therefore are incapable of properly healing their psychological pain. In a situation where their parents are unable to fully express their grief within the Christian community, it will be a greater challenge for children to express their full emotions in a proper manner, preventing them from healthy healing. Consequently, this study presents the concept of Play Pastoral Counseling as a method to support children face their wounds through Play Therapy. To develop the methodology of Play Pastoral Counseling in theory and practice, the researchers first analyzes the theology for the children to lay the theological foundation of the pastoral counseling play. The next suggestion is to play as the most effective method to treat the abused children and examine for its therapeutic significance and function. Through this process, the existing treatment is an one-to-one based children's play center and to overcome the limitations that should be completed in specialized clinics. This particular play was proposing individual and collective play pastoral counseling methodology applicable in pastoral scene. Moreover, the attitude of pastoral counselors for the healing of children who experienced abuse were reconstructed by the appearance of Jesus Christ caring for children in the New Testament. First, it is important to be initiative to invite the abused children since they cannot think to seek counseling on their own and welcome them into a communal setting as Jesus did with open arms. Most importantly, the goal of pastoral ministers and counselors involved in play therapy is to provide support so the abused children can grow into the next developmental stage in a healthy way and create an environment which they can stand alone to overcome the painful experiences with the guidance of the pastoral counseling. Lastly, it offers individual approaches and community approach to play pastoral counseling for the healing of abused children. For specific methods in play pastoral counseling, this study suggests play tactics such as questioning through the bible, Godly Play. Additional methods that are suggested for play pastoral counseling on a communal level includes, worship as a place of God's playground and worship approachable and tailored for children, as well as group play counseling methods that can be directly applied to ministering within the church community.