Puppet Play Therapy

Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, RPT-S, is a licensed child psychologist, founder, and president emeritus of the New York Association of Play Therapy, as well as a national and international presenter and editor/coeditor on play therapy. Dr. Drewes is also director of clinical training and the APA-accredited doctoral internship at Astor Services for Children and Families, a large multi-service nonprofit mental health agency in New York. Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S, is cofounder and director emeritus of the Association of Play Therapy as well as professor emeritus of psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. He is also a renowned author, editor, and coeditor of over 100 research articles and 60 professional books.

"Puppet Play Therapy offers a thorough overview of the therapeutic powers of play through the use of puppets. This book fills a significant gap in the literature and focuses on practical guidelines for puppet use in play therapy. It highlights assessment, puppet skills, specific theoretical approaches, and special techniques. This book is an essential addition to the play therapy practitioner’s library!"Lorri Yasenik PhD, CPT-S, RPT-S, codirector of Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Candada"Puppets take on a voice of their own (really!), and this book helps you facilitate the development of that voice in your own playrooms. The authors present useful guides for selecting puppets and for using puppets in both directive and non-directive ways (and for integrating both!). Tips for working with several special populations are presented, giving readers the springboard to work with even more diverse clinical needs. Case examples pull the reader in to the clients’ use of puppets, encouraging our desire to do so as well."Linda E. Homeyer, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, professor, Professional Counseling Program, Texas State University "Edited by Drewes and Schaefer, leaders in the play therapy field, Puppet Play Therapy thoroughly explores and expands upon the use of puppets in clinical practice. Certain to be a valuable resource to those who employ puppets in their work, concise chapters provide information that covers theory, basic skills, and applications with special populations. Complete with case examples, readers will obtain a theoretically grounded, clinically sound understanding for ways puppets can help reduce symptoms and address problems. Without a doubt, this will be a standard reference for professionals using puppets in play therapy practice."Sueann G. Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S, president, Play Therapy Corner, Inc."This book is a wonderful resource for play therapists. Puppets, central figures in any playroom, have appeared in numerous case studies and clinical discussions. Schaefer and Drewes at last give them top billing in this landmark volume. Cutting across orientations, and delving deeply into clinical and theoretical discussions, the chapters in this book offer an opportunity to fully appreciate the way we are able to use puppets to facilitate therapy and assessment in our work with children and their families."Henry Kronengold, PhD, clinical supervisor, Clinical Psychology Program, City University of New York, and adjunct assistant professor of psychology and education, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Preface Editors Contributors Section I: Introduction 1. Fundamental Concepts and Practices of Puppet Play Therapy Schaefer & Drewes 2. Puppet Play Therapy with Children of All Ages Irwin Section II: Puppet Assessment Techniques 3. The Berkeley Puppet Interview for Child Assessment Measelle & Ablow 4. The Family Puppet Interview Sori 5. Puppet Sentence Completion Task (PCST) Knell Section III: Theoretical Approaches 6. The Child-Centered Approach to Puppet Play with Children Hartwig 7. The Use of Puppets in Psychodynamic Child Therapy Crenshaw & Kelly 8. Puppet Play in Adlerian Therapy Meany-Walen 9. Puppet Play in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Leggett Section IV: Puppet Therapy Techniques 10. The Use of Puppets to Externalize a Child's "Problem" Turns & Eddy 11. "Mr. Fox is Sad:" Puppets as Symbolic Clients in the Playroom Carter 12. Teaching Children to Problem-Solve Through Puppet Play Interactions Webster-Stratton & Reid 13. Storytelling Through Puppets: The Turtle Technique Dyson 14. Finger Puppets in Play Therapy Cook 15. Puppet Play Therapy Techniques for Childhood Sexual Abuse Trauma Drewes Section V: Populations and Settings 16. Puppets in Family Therapy with a Case of Trauma and Sexual Abuse Gil & Smelser 17. The Wonder Continues: Captivating and Engaging Adults Through Therapeutic Puppet Play and Puppet Therapy Vizzini 18. Puppet Play in Medical Settings Parson 19. The Application of Therapeutic Puppet Play in the Schools Prendiville Index