Linnet McMahon is a retired Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Reading, where she tutored and for some years led the MA in Therapeutic Child Care course. She has been a play therapist and supervisor, and now provides training and consultancy in therapeutic work with children.

"This book is pervaded by a sense of hope and an overriding belief in the 'healing power of play.' I was moved by the case examples and by McMahon's sense of compassion and empathy for the children whose stories are recorded in this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering play therapy as a career or to those already practicing." - Jackie Townsend, Counselling Children and Young People, September 2009praise for the first edition:"…essential reading for all those who purport to practice play therapy." – British Journal of Occupational Therapy"A Handbook like this is an excellent idea for other workers who want to help disturbed children but don’t know where to start." – Nicholas Tucker, The Times Educational Supplement

• Introduction: The State of Play. The Development of Play. Approaches to Therapeutic Play. The Process of Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy. Therapeutic Play in the Early Years. Play in Helping Troubled Families. Therapeutic Play for Children with Disabilities and Illness. Therapeutic Play for Children Experiencing Separation, Loss and Bereavement in Their Families. Therapeutic Play with Children who have Experienced Continual Trauma and Loss. Therapeutic Play in Daily Living with Abused and Traumatized Children. Play in Therapeutic Work with Children Moving to New Families.

Linnet McMahon is a retired Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Reading, where she tutored and for some years led the MA in Therapeutic Child Care course. She has been a play therapist and supervisor, and now provides training and consultancy in therapeutic work with children.

"This book is pervaded by a sense of hope and an overriding belief in the 'healing power of play.' I was moved by the case examples and by McMahon's sense of compassion and empathy for the children whose stories are recorded in this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering play therapy as a career or to those already practicing." - Jackie Townsend, Counselling Children and Young People, September 2009praise for the first edition:"…essential reading for all those who purport to practice play therapy." – British Journal of Occupational Therapy"A Handbook like this is an excellent idea for other workers who want to help disturbed children but don’t know where to start." – Nicholas Tucker, The Times Educational Supplement

• Introduction: The State of Play. The Development of Play. Approaches to Therapeutic Play. The Process of Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy. Therapeutic Play in the Early Years. Play in Helping Troubled Families. Therapeutic Play for Children with Disabilities and Illness. Therapeutic Play for Children Experiencing Separation, Loss and Bereavement in Their Families. Therapeutic Play with Children who have Experienced Continual Trauma and Loss. Therapeutic Play in Daily Living with Abused and Traumatized Children. Play in Therapeutic Work with Children Moving to New Families.