Chess therapy is now used by numerous
psychiatrists and psychotherapists. It has become a popular creative psychotherapy technique in the past 20 years. This therapy has been known to produce
positive results with children who have ADHD, and neurobehavioral
disorders.
Chess therapy is a form used to form bonds
between the psychiatrist and his/her clients. It is an alternate
diagnosis for neurobehavioral and mental issues that a client may suffer
from. Chess therapy helps in cultivating an intentional rapport and connection between the psychotherapist and his patient to help him
through any psychological or emotional problems that he may be facing. Unlike other forms of
therapy, chess therapy does not require the patient to lie down on a
couch and pour his heart out to his therapist. Chess therapy involves
active participation from both parties―the client as well as the therapist―to engage in a game of chess.
Chess therapy was founded as early as AD 852-932 by a certain Dr. Rhazes who was chief physician at Baghdad Hospital. Dr. Rhazes uses chess strategies and tactics as metaphors in real life to help patients think clearer.
Wikepedia reported, "One of the earliest reported cases of chess therapy involves the improvement in an isolated, schizoid, 16-year old youth that took place after he became interested in chess. Chess provided an outlet for his hostile impulses in a non-retaliatory manner. Good use was made of the patient's digressions from the game and his newly acquired ability to speak about his feelings, fantasies and dreams which the particular emotional situation of the game touched off. The report demonstrates how the fact that chess is a game, and not real, enabled the patient to exert some conscious control over his feelings and thus learn to master them to a limited extent."
Findings showed that chess as psychotherapy can lead to better doctor-patient relationships, confirmatory or alternate diagnosis, and total recovery/healing.
