Helping Abused and Traumatized Children Integrating Directive and Nondirective Approaches

Presenting an integrative model for treating traumatized children, this book combines play, art, and other expressive therapies with ideas and strategies drawn from cognitive-behavioral and family therapy. Eliana Gil demonstrates how to tailor treatment to the needs of each child by using both directive and nondirective approaches. Throughout, practical clinical examples illustrate ways to target trauma-related symptomatology while also helping children process painful feelings and memories that are difficult to verbalize. The book concludes with four in-depth cases that bring to life the unique situation of each child and family, the decision making process of the therapist, and the applications of developmentally informed, creative, and flexible interventions.

Eliana Gil, PhD, is Clinical and Educational Specialist for Childhelp, Inc., in Fairfax, Virginia. She is also a partner in a private group practice, the Gil Center for Healing and Play, which provides mental health services to children and families for a variety of emotional, behavioral, and social problems, where she specializes in the treatment of traumatized children and their families. She is an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Tech's Family Therapy Department, a registered play therapy supervisor, a registered art therapist, and a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor. A well-known author, lecturer, and clinician, Dr. Gil has worked in the field of child abuse prevention and treatment for more than 35 years. She has published numerous books and videotapes on child abuse and related topics, has served on the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and the National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse, and is a former President of the Association for Play Therapy. Originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, Dr. Gil is bilingual and bicultural. She consults and trains across the country and currently conducts intensive 3-day trainings through the Starbright Training Institute for Child and Family Play Therapy in northern Virginia.

I. The Context for Clinical Work 1. Basic Principles in Working with Abused and Traumatized Children 2. Guidelines for Integrated Assessments 3. Guidelines for Integrated Treatment 4. Expressive Therapies 5. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy 6. Family Therapy and Family Play Therapy 7. Special Issues: Posttraumatic Play and Problems of Dissociation II. Four Case Illustrations 8. Scotty, the Castle, and the Princess Guard 9. Carla's Search for Her Lost Mother 10. Danger in the Backyard 11. The Witch, the Baby, and the Bug, Sarah Stoudt Briggs Epilogue