Play Therapy for Preschool Children

Play Therapy for Preschool Children is a comprehensive sourcebook of play interventions for preventing and resolving the most common disorder of children ages 3 to 5 years. Leading clinicians and researchers present both the research background and recent advances in play therapy adapted for use with children who exhibit a variety of internalizing, externalizing, and developmental disorders as well as prevention programs for at-risk children. Case illustrations are used to demonstrate interventions for children with mild to moderate behavior problems, preschool children with insecure attachment and children with posttraumatic issues. Contributions demonstrate how to use play therapy in conjunction with parent psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, discuss interventions for autistic and developmentally delayed children, and illustrate the use of play interventions in classroom and parent-child settings. Throughout, chapter authors provide practical guidance for the full implementation of clinical ideas, from intake through termination. Clearly written and comprehensive in scope, this book is a must-have for any student or mental health professional who seeks a full understanding of the latest theory and practice of play therapy with this uniquely vulnerable and often misunderstood population.

Play Therapy for Preschool Children is a comprehensive sourcebook of play interventions for preventing and resolving the most common disorder of children ages 3 to 5 years. Leading clinicians and researchers present both the research background and recent advances in play therapy adapted for use with children who exhibit a variety of internalizing, externalizing, and developmental disorders as well as prevention programs for at-risk children. Case illustrations are used to demonstrate interventions for children with mild to moderate behavior problems, preschool children with insecure attachment and children with posttraumatic issues. Contributions demonstrate how to use play therapy in conjunction with parent psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, discuss interventions for autistic and developmentally delayed children, and illustrate the use of play interventions in classroom and parent-child settings. Throughout, chapter authors provide practical guidance for the full implementation of clinical ideas, from intake through termination. Clearly written and comprehensive in scope, this book is a must-have for any student or mental health professional who seeks a full understanding of the latest theory and practice of play therapy with this uniquely vulnerable and often misunderstood population.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Michael S. Goldsby, PhD(Zeno Corporation)
Description:The ever-changing, dynamic field of play therapy has experienced rapid and significant advances in therapeutic modalities in recent years. This book is an extraordinary resource for both mental health professionals and lay people who wish to stay up to date with these changes and have a comprehensive source of information pertaining to the most current and effective play therapy interventions. Through chapter contributions of renowned experts, this book defines the current state of research knowledge and clinical practice for the fast growing field of play therapy.
Purpose:As expressed by the author, the purpose is to present current play interventions for preventing and resolving the most common psychological disorders of preschool children. It is intended as a practical resource for beginning and experienced child therapists.
Audience:This book would be helpful to mental health practitioners in both clinical and academic settings, particularly those in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and social work. Graduate students in psychology and other related disciplines who wish to better understand the theory and real-world application of therapies that work for preschool children would also find this enlightening. Parents and teachers also may extract useful information from each chapter for working with children ages 3 to 5 in classroom or parent-child settings.
Features:The focus throughout the book's four parts and 14 chapters is the clinical practice of play therapy with preschool children. One of the key features in each of the chapters is the vast array of efficacious play therapies, all designed to meet the developmental needs, tasks, and abilities of preschool children. Each of the various play therapy modalities are described from a research and practical application perspective and are further explained through real-life case illustrations. These case illustrations allow readers to better understand the underlying principles and basic rationale behind each therapeutic approach. Featured topics include play-based prevention programs as well as play interventions for internalizing, externalizing, and developmental disorders.
Assessment:This timely book advances the growing field of play therapy by offering a comprehensive review of current play interventions for preventing and resolving the most common psychological disorders of preschool children. This is the most current and complete go-to reference for professionals who are working with this vulnerable population, as well as anyone else who might be interested in entering this dynamic and challenging field. I highly recommend this book as required reading for graduate courses in clinical and counseling psychology as well as for institutions that offer continuing education to clinical practitioners.