Highly practical and user friendly, this book presents 58 play therapy techniques that belong in every child clinician's toolbox. The expert authors draw from multiple theoretical orientations to showcase powerful, well-established approaches applicable to a broad range of childhood problems. Activities, needed materials, and variations of each technique are succinctly described. Of critical importance for today's evidence-based practitioner, each chapter also includes a historical perspective on the technique at hand, a rationale explaining its therapeutic power, and a review of relevant empirical findings. The book enables readers to determine which strategies are appropriate for a particular child or group and rapidly incorporate them into practice.

The second edition of Play Therapy Techniques includes seven new chapters in addition to the original twenty-four. These lively chapters expand the comprehensive scope of the book by describing issues involved in beginning and ending therapy, using metaphors, playing music and ball, and applying the renowned "Color Your Life" technique. The extensive selection of play techniques described in this book will add to the clinical repertoire of students and practitioners of child therapy and counseling. When used in combination with formal education and clinical supervision, Play Therapy Techniques, Second Edition, can be especially useful for developing treatment plans to address the specific needs of various clinical populations. Students and practitioners of child therapy and counseling, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and child life specialists will find this second of Play Therapy Techniques informative and clinically useful.

The purpose of this text is to present a resource to students and practitioners of play therapy that addresses topics beyond the training level. It provides advanced knowledge on the three main areas of play, child development, and play therapy and integrates them to help the play therapist gain a holistic understanding of how play therapy works.

Highly practical, instructive, and authoritative, this book vividly describes how to conduct child-centered play therapy. The authors are master clinicians who explain core therapeutic principles and techniques, using rich case material to illustrate treatment of a wide range of difficulties. The focus is on nondirective interventions that allow children to freely express their feelings and take the lead in solving their own problems. Flexible yet systematic guidelines are provided for setting up a playroom; structuring sessions; understanding and responding empathically to children's play themes, including how to handle challenging behaviors; and collaborating effectively with parents.

A thorough revision of the essential guide to using play therapy in schools Fully updated and revised, School-Based Play Therapy, Second Edition presents an A-to-Z guide for using play therapy in preschool and elementary school settings. Coedited by noted experts in the field, Athena Drewes and Charles Schaefer, the Second Edition offers school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and teachers the latest techniques in developing creative approaches to utilize the therapeutic powers of play in schools. The Second Edition includes coverage on how to implement a play therapy program in school settings; play-based prevention programs; individual play therapy approaches as well as group play; and play therapywith special populations, such as selectively mute, homeless, and autistic children. In addition, nine new chapters have been added with new material covering: Cognitive-behavioral play therapy Trauma-focused group work Training teachers to use play therapy Filled with illustrative case studies and ready-to-use practical techniques and suggestions, School-Based Play Therapy, Second Edition is an essential resource for all mental health professionals working in schools.

The Bestselling Text on the Theory and Practice of Play Therapy Completely Updated and Revised Play Therapy Theory and Practice: Comparing Theories and Techniques, Second Edition provides a forum for the direct comparison of the major theoretical models of play therapy and their implications for treatment. Co-edited by Kevin O'Connor, one of the foremost authorities on play therapy, and Lisa Braverman, an experienced child psychologist, the new edition contains the most recent coverage of diagnostic approaches and treatment modalities in child psychology as they relate to integrating play therapy in practice. This edition also covers new topics such as bipolar and ADHD diagnosis and treatment. Thorough, yet extraordinarily practical, the editors use two case studies throughout the text to demonstrate the application of each play therapy technique and treatment approach, allowing the reader to compare each major model of play therapy and assess its utility to their own particular client needs and practice orientation. After the cases are presented in the introduction, ten chapters follow, each written by a renowned expert(s) in play therapy introducing a major model of play therapy and applying it to the opening cases. This consistent format enables professionals to gain a practical, hands-on understanding of how current approaches to play therapy work, as well as the underlying principles upon which they are based. Written for mental health professionals at all levels of training and experience, Play Therapy Theory and Practice: Comparing Theories and Techniques, Second Edition covers: Psychoanalytic Play Therapy Jungian Analytical Play Therapy Child-Centered Play Therapy Filial Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy Adlerian Play Therapy Gestalt Play Therapy Theraplay Ecosystemic Play Therapy Prescriptive Play Therapy Informative, thought provoking, and clinically useful, Play Therapy Theory and Practice: Comparing Theories and Techniques, Second Edition is a valuable resource for practitioners in the field of child psychotherapy, setting the standard for training and practice.

Linking Parents to Play Therapy is a practical guide containing essential information for play therapists. It includes coverage of legal and medical issues, pragmatic assignments for parents, guidelines for working with angry and resistant parents, a listing of state protective and advocacy agencies, and tips for working with managed care. Combining theoretical understanding with a variety of techniques, this book makes working with parents possible, practical, and productive.

Bringing together an array of highly creative contributors, this comprehensive resource presents a unique collection of assessment and treatment techniques. Contributors illustrate how play, art, drama, and other approaches can effectively engage families and help them resolve complex problems. Practitioners from divergent theoretical orientations, work settings, or client specialisations will find a plethora of stimulating and useable clinical interventions in this book.

Solution-Focused Play Therapy is an essential text that blends the process of play therapy with solution-focused therapy. With a focus on child strengths and resources, this book identifies key concepts and principles in solution-focused play therapy (SFPT). The author provides neurobiological and developmental support for SFPT and guidance on how practitioners can transition from using a non-directive approach to a more directive and activity-based approach based on the developmental needs of the child. Chapters describe the 12 basic skills needed for employing this approach with children of all ages and their families. Harnessing a strengths-oriented approach, the author presents expressive ways to use key SFPT techniques, including the miracle question, scaling, finding exceptions, and end-of-session feedback. Clinicians will come away from the book with a suite of interventions, strategies, handouts, and forms that can be employed with children of all ages and their families, from strength-based assessment and treatment planning to the final celebration session.

Child abuse cases and problems created by breakdowns in family relationships have highlighted the need for sound techniques for communicating with children. As a result, there is renewed interest in the therapeutic use of play to help prevent or repair emotional damage in both children and their families. The Handbook of Play Therapy is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of play therapy. It provides a practical guide to the basic skills necessary to begin tapping the healing potential of play and gives many examples of good practice.