Slow and Steady at the GRCM

I have spent the majority of my time today researching play therapy and how it impacts children who have undergone traumatic experiences. I am finding a lot of really heartbreaking reports on this subject, and while they outline the success of the treatment, I am having a hard time finding the specific whys and hows. Does the child let their guard down more? Are they more open to play therapy? Is it easier to express themselves through play rather than verbalizing everything? I would assume the answer is yes to most of those questions, but I need some serious evidence to back it all up.

As a result, I decided to take a chance and start e-mailing some of these researchers, hoping that they would at least offer some blurbs, if nothing else. Thanks to the ridiculous number of cover letters that I have been sending out, I still have the official tone ingrained my correspondences. Someone once told me that, as students, we have a lot of power. People are more willing to help you out if you use that moniker. Hopefully he was right.

I find that if I break down this project and focus on one super specific aspect of the research, I can maintain much better focus. On Tuesday I focused all of my energy on the ways that play helps children develop their sense of self regulation, a term I wasn’t entirely familiar with before this project started.

In the most recent reading response I mentioned that I am concerned my work is just going to turn into talking points. I still feel that way, and it contributes to my frustration. It is hard to give 100% when you know that your work isn’t really going to be read in context. Also, I feel as though I could write long papers on each individual topic, but this isn’t meant to be a dissertation. It is kind of meant to be a quick guide, so to speak. I am having a hard time figuring out what is too specific, and what is too broad. I suppose I should schedule another sit-down with the director.

Also, on a completely unrelated note, if you find yourselves hungry and wandering down Monroe, you should probably stop in Grand Central Market. Amazing sandwiches. Amazing.