Play Therapy with Vulnerable Populations

Eric J. Green, PhD, RPT-S, is associate professor of counseling at the University of North Texas at Dallas and a faculty associate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education in Baltimore, Maryland. He is author of The Handbook of Jungian Play Therapy.Amie C. Myrick, MS, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor whose clinical experienceincludes working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

Green and Myrick advocate evidence-based play therapy in conjunction with a range of different problems. Recognizing that there is often a need for integrated therapies targeted at particular needs, the editors have assembled a range of authorities who explore a variety of techniques. Each essay reviews the particular problem children may have and describes the research and the appropriateness of each type of play therapy, culminating in a case history that demonstrates the impact of the particular approach. Children on the autism spectrum, those with physical disabilities, and those with obsessive compulsive disorder are among the populations discussed. Individuals recovering from trauma—be it a specific occurrence, such as a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina, or complex chronic trauma from multiple causes, such as sexual abuse or dysfunctional family situations—are examined and the most appropriate treatment is described. The various examples offer much useful information. Even more valuable is the emphasis on recognizing that the treatment must be appropriate to the particular individual and the specific problem he or she faces, and should include working with the children’s families. A valuable resource. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, professionals.

• Foreword Nancy Boyd-WebbIntroduction Eric J. Green and Amie C. MyrickPart 1: FoundationsChapter 1Integrating Play Therapy and Evidence-Informed Interventions with Vulnerable Populations: An Overview Anne L. Stewart and Eric J. GreenChapter 2The Evidence and Filial Therapy: Effectively Integrating Parents Into Child Psychotherapy Glade Topham and Cynthia C. SniscakPart 2: Clinical Applications for Traumatized Populations Chapter 3Simple Interventions for Complex Trauma: Play-Based Safety and Affect Regulation Strategies for Child Survivors Janine Shelby, Brenda Aranda, Lisa Asbill, and Jenny A. GallagherChapter 4Healing Young Children Affected by Sexual Abuse: The Therapeutic TouchstoneEileen PrendivilleChapter 5Animal Assisted Play Therapy to Empower Vulnerable ChildrenRisë VanFleet and Tracie Faa-ThompsonChapter 6Disaster Response Play Therapy with Vulnerable Children Jennifer N. Baggerly and Marshia Allen-AugustonChapter 7Holistic Mental Health Care and Play Therapy for Hospitalized, Chronically Ill ChildrenJudith A. ParsonPart 3: Clinical Applications for Psychosocial and Developmental IssuesChapter 8The Use of Psychometric Play-Based Assessment to Inform Research-Supported Treatment of Children with AutismKaren StagnittiChapter 9Play Therapy with Children Affected by Obsessive Compulsive DisorderAmie C. Myrick and Eric J. GreenChapter 10Adlerian Play Therapy with Children Affected by Externalizing Behavioral DisordersKristin K. Meany-Walen and Terry KottmanChapter 11Group Activity Therapy for Physically Disabled Preadolescents Affected by BullyingAmie C. Myrick, Julia A. Mitchell, and Kelsey A. StephensonChapter 12Integrating Expressive Arts and Research-Supported Play-Based Interventions with LGBTQI AdolescentsLinda GoldmanAbout the Authors