Advanced Play Therapy Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice

Current play therapy resources offer details on how to conduct play therapy, but are limited in addressing the challenges that develop when therapists conduct play therapy with real-life clients. Using the Child-Centered Play Therapy Approach, Ray has written the first book to address these complex play therapy subjects. Topics covered include: integrating field knowledge of play, development, and theory into the advanced play therapist?s knowledge base; working with difficult situations, such as limit-setting, aggression, and parents; addressing modern work concerns like measuring progress, data accountability, and treatment planning; differentiating play therapy practice in school and community settings; and addressing complicated skills, such as theme work, group play therapy, and supervision. Ray also includes her Child Centered Play Therapy Treatment Manual, an invaluable tool for any play therapist accountable for evidence-based practice. This manual can also be found on the accompanying downloadable resources, along with treatment plan, session summary, and progress-tracking worksheets.

History, Rationale and Purpose of Play. A Primer on Child Development. A Philosophy of Working with Children: The Child-centered Way. The Person, Knowledge, and Skills of the Play Therapist. Basics of Play Therapy. Limit Setting. Themes in Play Therapy. Progress and Termination. Parent Consultation. Aggression In and Out of the Playroom. Group Play Therapy. Play Therapy in the Schools. Play Therapy in Community Agencies and Private Practice. Supervision of Play Therapy. Evidentiary Research in Child-centered Play Therapy. Appendix: Child-centered Play Therapy Treatment Manual.

Dee C. Ray, PhD, LCP-S, NCC, is Associate Professor in the Counseling Program and Director of the Child and Family Resource Clinic at the University of North Texas, USA.