Play in Clinical Practice Evidence-Based Approaches

This innovative book goes beyond traditional play therapy to present a range of evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches that incorporate play as a key element. It is grounded in the latest knowledge about the importance of play in child development. Leading experts describe effective strategies for addressing a wide variety of clinical concerns, including behavioral difficulties, anxiety, parent'child relationship issues, trauma, and autism. The empirical support for each approach is summarized and clinical techniques are illustrated. The book also discusses school-based prevention programs that utilize play to support children's learning and social-emotional functioning.This book will be important reading for child psychologists, play and art therapists, social workers, counselors, family therapists, psychiatrists, and school psychologists; early childhood professionals; developmental psychologists. It may also serve as a supplemental text in graduate-level courses.

Sandra W. Russ, PhD, a child clinical psychologist, is Professor of Psychology at Case Western Reserve University. Her research and publications focus on pretend play, creativity, and adaptive functioning in children. Dr. Russ has served as President of the Society for Personality Assessment; the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (APA Division 53); and the Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts (APA Division 10). She is the developer of the Affect in Play Scale. Larissa N. Niec, PhD, is Professor of Psychology in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Central Michigan University (CMU) and Director of the CMU Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Clinic. Dr. Niec conducts basic and applied research on play, child maltreatment, and parent-child interaction therapy. The overarching goal of her research program is to reduce barriers to evidence-based treatment for children and families. She is involved in national efforts to increase the effectiveness of treatment dissemination to community therapists.

I. Play in Child Development 1. Cognitive and Affective Processes in Play, Sandra W. Russ, Julie Fiorelli, and Sara Cain Spannagel 2. Play and Interpersonal Processes Jason F. Jent, Larissa N. Niec, and Sarah E. Baker II. Play in Evidence-Based Assessment 3. Assessment and Pretend Play, Astrida Seja Kaugars 4. Measuring Parent-Child Interactions through Play, Elizabeth Brestan Knight and Christie A. Salamone 5. Play, Playfulness, and Creativity in Therapeutic Assessment with Children, Deborah J. Tharinger, Gina B. Christopher, and May Matson III. Play in Evidence-Based Intervention 6. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: The Role of Play in the Behavioral Treatment of Childhood Conduct Problems, Larissa N. Niec, Cheryl Gering, and Emily Abbenante 7. The Use of Play in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Kristin M. Briggs, Melissa K. Runyon, and Esther Deblinger 8. Play Interventions for Children with Autism, Connie Kasari, Linh Huynh, and Amanda C. Gulrud 9. Integrating Play into Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Child Anxiety Disorders, Donna B. Pincus, Rhea M. Chase, Candice Chow, Courtney L. Weiner, and Jessica Pian 10. Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy, Sue M. Knell and Meena Dasari 11. The Importance of Play in Both the Assessment and Treatment of Young Children, Elizabeth J. Short, Maia Noeder, Suzanne Gorovoy, Michael J. Manos, and Barbara Lewis IV. Play in Evidence-Based Prevention Programs in School Settings 12. Play and Head Start, Sandra J. Bishop-Josef and Edward F. Zigler 13. Play Intervention and Prevention Programs in School Settings, Sandra W. Russ and Beth L. Pearson 14. Conclusions and Implications for the Use of Play in Intervention and Prevention Programs, Sandra W. Russ and Larissa N. Niec