Essential Play Therapy Techniques Time-Tested Approaches

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.

Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is cofounder and director emeritus of the Association for Play Therapy, which recognized him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Schaefer's more than 60 books include Short-Term Play Therapy for Children, Third Edition, The Therapeutic Powers of Play, Foundations of Play Therapy, and Play Therapy with Adolescents. He maintains a private practice in child psychotherapy in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Donna Cangelosi, PsyD, RPT-S, maintains a private practice with children, adolescents, and adults in Wayne, New Jersey, where she practices psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and parent education. She is coeditor of Play Therapy Techniques and The Playing Cure and author of Saying Goodbye in Child Psychotherapy. Dr. Cangelosi has authored a number of professional articles and chapters on the theory and application of psychodynamic play therapy.

I. Toy and Object Play Techniques
1. Ball Play
2. Plush Doll Play
3. Medical Play
4. Baby Doll Play
5. Baby Bottle Play
6. Toy Telephone Play
7. Magic Wand Play
8. Bubble Play
9. Block Play
10. Balloon Play
11. Bop Bag Play
12. Sensory Play
II. Metaphors and Storytelling Techniques
13. Concrete Play Metaphors
14. Turtle Technique
15. Emotion Thermometer 
16. Storytelling
17. Externalization Play
18. Bibliotherapy
III. Role-Play Techniques
19. Role Play
20. Costume Play
21. Mask Play
22. Superhero Play
23. Puppet Play
IV. Creative Arts Techniques
24. Color Your Life   
25. Clay Play
26. Free Drawings
27. Trauma Drawings
28. Mandala Drawings
29. Serial Drawings
30. Collage
31. Painting
32. Dance/Movement Play
33. Draw a Family
34. Family Sculpting
35. Musical Play
V. Imagery and Fantasy Techniques
36. Guided Imagery
37. The World Technique
38. Dollhouse Play
39. Adaptive Doll Play
40. Rosebush Fantasy Technique
41. Family Relations Technique
42. Worry Dolls
43. Tea Party Play
VI. Game Play Techniques
44. Communication Games
45. Self-Control Games
46. Strategy Games
47. Cooperative Games
48. Chance Games
49. Squiggle Game
VII. Other Techniques
50. Desensitization Play
51. Laughter Play
52. Stress Inoculation Play
53. Reenactment Play
54. Hide-and-Seek Play
55. Magic Tricks
56. Feeling Faces
57. Suitcase Playroom
58. Play Therapy Rituals