1- About Me, Garry Landreth

Chapter 1: (pp. 1-5)

Correct Answer: B. To help readers understand his writing more clearly

Explanation: Landreth believes that understanding the author helps readers grasp the meaning behind the words, especially when discussing something as profound as children and play therapy.

Why does Garry Landreth believe it is important to share personal information about himself in the book?

A. To highlight his academic qualifications
B. To help readers understand his writing more clearly
C. To compare his childhood with that of other children
D. To entertain readers with personal stories

Correct Answer: D. He attended a rural one-room school taught by his mother.

Explanation: Landreth describes attending a rural, one-room elementary school for all eight grades, which was taught by his mother.

What early educational experience did Landreth have?

A. He was homeschooled by private tutors.
B. He attended a large urban school with many resources.
C. He studied abroad as a child.
D. He attended a rural one-room school taught by his mother.

Correct Answer: C. That he only understood children intellectually, not emotionally

Explanation: He explains that although he studied child development intellectually, he had not connected with children emotionally or experientially.

What realization did Landreth come to during his undergraduate years and early teaching?

A. That he was exceptionally gifted with children
B. That he fully understood child psychology
C. That he only understood children intellectually, not emotionally
D. That he disliked working with adolescents

Correct Answer: C. Being mistaken for a high school student

Explanation: Landreth felt the need to be mature and responsible because he looked younger than his age and was often mistaken for a student during his first teaching job.

What personal challenge influenced Landreth’s early identity development?

A. His failure in graduate school
B. Being pressured to act immaturely
C. Being mistaken for a high school student
D. Not being allowed to interact with other children

Correct Answer: C. Encouragement from a perceptive supervisor at a university counseling center

Explanation: A professor and play therapist at the University of New Mexico recognized qualities in Landreth and encouraged him to explore play therapy.

What transformative experience led Landreth toward play therapy?

A. His experience teaching elementary school
B. A course he took in graduate school
C. Encouragement from a perceptive supervisor at a university counseling center
D. A therapy session he had as a client

Correct Answer: B. He believes printed words are inadequate to convey such meaningful experiences

Explanation: Landreth states that words are limited in expressing the depth of his emotional and professional experiences with children.

According to Landreth, what makes it difficult to describe his experiences with children?

A. He prefers to keep emotions private
B. He believes printed words are inadequate to convey such meaningful experiences
C. He lacks confidence in writing
D. He has never had strong emotional experiences with children

Correct Answer: D. As unconditional and nonjudgmental

Explanation: He emphasizes the profound experience of being accepted unconditionally by children just as he was in the moment.

How did Landreth describe children’s acceptance of him in therapy sessions?

A. As distant and indifferent
B. As critical of his adult behavior
C. As conditional and evaluative
D. As unconditional and nonjudgmental

Correct Answer: D. It became more effective and responsive

Explanation: Landreth observed that his sessions with adults and adolescents improved as he became more attuned to subtle emotional cues, a skill honed through working with children.

What impact did working with children have on Landreth’s counseling with adolescents and adults?

A. It became less effective
B. It had no noticeable effect
C. It became more mechanical
D. It became more effective and responsive

Correct Answer: C. Personal presence and authenticity

Explanation: He states that who he is as a person is more important than what he knows when he's with children.

What does Landreth identify as more important than knowledge when working with children?

A. Academic credentials
B. Years of experience
C. Personal presence and authenticity
D. Psychological testing tools

Correct Answer: C. Children can help adults rediscover joy, simplicity, and emotional growth

Explanation: Peccei’s quote expresses gratitude to children for reminding adults of life’s emotional richness, wonder, and the value of human connection.

What central idea is expressed in the quote from Peccei (1979–1980) that Landreth includes?

A. Children are too naive to teach adults
B. Adults should protect children from experiencing pain
C. Children can help adults rediscover joy, simplicity, and emotional growth
D. Therapy should focus solely on behavioral correction

Correct Answer: C. He had never emotionally connected with children

Explanation: Landreth states that he had only known children intellectually—not emotionally or experientially—which made him uncomfortable in their world.

According to Landreth, why was he initially uncomfortable around children?

A. He had no siblings
B. He had traumatic experiences with children
C. He had never emotionally connected with children
D. He disliked their energy levels

Correct Answer: C. Life can only be experienced and appreciated

Explanation: He reflects that life cannot be described adequately in words—it must be experienced and lived.

What does Landreth say about life and its ability to be described?

A. Life is easily summarized in therapy
B. Life can be described objectively through analysis
C. Life can only be experienced and appreciated
D. Life is best understood through books

Correct Answer: C. The unfolding of vibrant colors

Explanation: Landreth writes about “the unfolding of the vibrant colors of their emotional inner worlds,” highlighting the richness and complexity of children’s emotions.

What metaphor does Landreth use to describe children’s emotional expression in play therapy?

A. A carefully written story
B. The sharpness of a blade
C. The unfolding of vibrant colors
D. A cracked mirror

Correct Answer: C. He was trying to overcome feelings of inadequacy due to looking younger

Explanation: His need to be mature was partly to compensate for being mistaken as younger than his age and feelings of inadequacy.

Why did Landreth strive to appear mature as a young adult?

A. He wanted to be accepted by his college professors
B. He was afraid of being ridiculed for being childish
C. He was trying to overcome feelings of inadequacy due to looking younger
D. He wanted to impress the children he worked with

Correct Answer: C. As evidence of being human

Explanation: He says his mistakes are a declaration of his humanity and fallibility—a part of being human.

How does Landreth describe mistakes in the context of self-understanding?

A. As failures that must be avoided
B. As signs of incompetence
C. As evidence of being human
D. As things to be ashamed of

Correct Answer: D. It was where he was introduced to play therapy as a graduate assistant

Explanation: Landreth credits the Manzanita Counseling Center at the University of New Mexico as the place where he was first encouraged to explore play therapy.

What role did the Manzanita Counseling Center play in Landreth’s career?

A. It was where he taught his first play therapy course
B. It was the location of his undergraduate practicum
C. It was where he first observed children in a school setting
D. It was where he was introduced to play therapy as a graduate assistant

Correct Answer: C. By awakening his appreciation for life’s process and his own humanity

Explanation: His work with children helped him embrace being more fully himself and to appreciate life as a process, not a task to be perfected.

How did children help Landreth rediscover aspects of himself?

A. By challenging his authority
B. By reminding him of the pressure of childhood
C. By awakening his appreciation for life’s process and his own humanity
D. By making him realize the importance of discipline

Correct Answer: C. As a gradual and experiential unfolding

Explanation: He emphasizes that it was not a single discovery, but a process that slowly unfolded through experience and awareness.

How does Landreth describe the process of self-discovery?

A. As a sudden epiphany
B. As a painful confrontation
C. As a gradual and experiential unfolding
D. As a direct result of studying psychology

Correct Answer: D. They accept one another without evaluation

Explanation: He notes that children seldom evaluate each other’s lives—they simply accept each other as enough.

What does Landreth say about the nature of children’s interactions with one another?

A. They tend to compare and judge each other’s lives
B. They often form cliques based on shared interests
C. They engage in constant competition
D. They accept one another without evaluation

Correct Answer: C. Because it allows the child part of him to emerge

Explanation: He says that teaching play therapy lets his own inner child emerge during role-play, which balances his serious side.

Why does Landreth enjoy teaching play therapy?

A. Because it earns him recognition in academia
B. Because he prefers working with adults over children
C. Because it allows the child part of him to emerge
D. Because it's less emotionally demanding than clinical work