Play Therapy Today

Play Therapy Today brings together the work of renowned practitioners and academics currently working and researching in therapeutic play and play therapy, and presents a range of ground-breaking methods for practising with groups, individuals, and parents and carers. Providing an overview of new or revitalised topics in play therapy, each chapter presents the relevant theoretical underpinnings and principles of practice, a guide to implementing the method and case study vignettes of the approach in practice. The three sections include chapters on: - the Therapeutic Touchstone model and the development of the therapeutic relationship, an overview of the use of individual play therapy techniques with children in a hospital setting, and an overview of Yasenik and Gardner's Play Therapy Dimensions Model with an in-depth exploration of the dimension of consciousness from both a theoretical and practical, play-based orientation. - Jennings' Embodiment-Project-Role model and its implementation in group work, the practical use of puppets in educational and therapeutic settings, the therapeutic value of working with groups in the outdoors, and the use of play in groups for children with a variety of sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities. - Stagnitti's adaptation of the 'Learn to Play' programme for parent/carer use, Group Theraplay with peer groups and parent/child dyads and how a neurosequential approach supports case conceptualization and play therapy practice with families. The book provides practitioners with up-to-date, effective and practical techniques that they can put into immediate use in their clinical work with children and their families. It is an important resource for trainee, newly qualified and seasoned play therapists, play therapy supervisors and trainers. It will also be of interest to social workers, teachers, psychologists, child psychotherapists and other health professionals.

Eileen Prendiville is a Course Director at the Children's Therapy Centre in Co Westmeath, Ireland. Eileen has worked with children for over thirty-five years and now specialises in the field of play therapy training. She was a founder member of the Children at Risk in Ireland Foundation and was their National Clinical Director until 2004. She is the current Chairperson of the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy. Justine Howard is an Associate Professor and Postgraduate Programme Manager at the Centre for Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing at Swansea University, UK. She is a Chartered Psychologist and specialist in Developmental and Therapeutic Play.

Foreword Dr Athena Drewes Introduction Justine Howard Section 1: Using Play Therapeutically with Individual Clients 1. The Therapeutic Touchstone Eileen Prendiville 2. The Consciousness Dimension in Play Therapy: Sharpening the Play Therapist's Focus and Skills Lorri Yasenik and Ken Gardner 3. Using Play Therapeutically with Children in a Hospital Setting Lisa Morgan and Justine Howard 4. Therapeutic Play as an Intervention for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence Trish Gettins Section 2: Using Play Therapeutically with Groups 5. Applying an Embodiment-Projection-Role Framework in Groupwork with Children Sue Jennings 6. The Use of Puppets in Therapeutic and Educational Settings Siobhán Prendiville 7. Working Therapeutically with Groups in the Outdoors: A Natural Space for Healing Maggie Fearn 8. Group Play Therapy for Children with Multiple Disabilities Eimir Mcgrath Section 3: Using Play Therapeutically with Parents and Carers 9. The Parent Learn To Play Program: Building Relationships Through Play Karen Stagnitti 10. Group Theraplay® Evangeline Munns 11. How Neuroscience Can Inform Play Therapy Practice with Parents and Carers Theresa Fraser