Play therapy theory and practice
Jason is seven years old and in the second grade. He does well in school and interacts well with other children, although he prefers playing with children who are slightly younger than he is. Jason's parents have been divorced for two years, but he is close to both of them. Lately he has been given to fits of explosive anger. He is unresponsive to attempts at discipline by either his mother or his teacher. He often seems to withdraw into himself. Recently, he and another boy were arrested for starting a trash fire. Jason was referred to treatment by Child Protective Services following a report to CPS from Jason's teacher that there was reason to believe that his mother was physically abusing him. Based on these and other details provided in "The Case of Jason L." - including objective and projective test results - how would you characterize Jason's problem, and how would you apply your particular brand of play therapy in a clinical intervention with Jason? This, in essence, was the question Kevin O'Connor and Lisa Mages Braverman posed to notable play therapists from across North America. The chapters in this book record their detailed responses. In each chapter, an author (or authors) describes a particular theoretical model of play therapy and explains how he or she would apply it to Jason's case. Among the schools of thought represented are client-centered, psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, Jungian, filial, developmental, Gestalt, family therapy, ecosystemic, Ericksonian, Adlerian, dynamic, and strategic family. In orchestrating Play Therapy Theory and Practice, Dr. O'Connor's and Dr. Braverman's goal was to provide readers with an opportunity to gain a practical, hands-on understanding of how current approaches to play therapy work, as well as the underlying principles upon which they are based. Considering the dramatic proliferation of new approaches to play therapy and the corresponding increase in the volume of published material, this book comes not a moment too soon. Play Therapy Theory and Practice is required reading for clinical child psychologists, child psychiatrists, counselors, school psychologists, and all mental health practitioners who work with children.
