Justine Howard – författare

A unique companion to professional play practice! All play professionals are united in their belief that play is important for children’s development – and there are inherent characteristics of play that underpin professional play practice across contexts. Providing an overarching concept of play, drawing together the evidence base across disciplines and linking theory to practice, The Essence of Play is the ideal handbook for all those working with children. Play acts as a natural resource for children to meet physical, intellectual and emotional challenges and this book, unusually, considers play from the perspectives of children rather than adults. It provides a baseline of shared knowledge for all play professionals, exploring the fundamental value of play rather than a ‘how to’ approach to practice. It considers: the therapeutic potential inherent in play; how play reflects and promotes physical, emotional, intellectual, linguistic and social abilities; the emergence of different types of play skills and why these are important; cross-cultural patterns in play, gender, atypicality and adversity, highlighting the relevance of these issues to professional play practice; the benefits of utilising play for assessment and other professional practice issues such as ethical play practice, balancing risk with health and safety and the creation and management of boundaries. This text is designed for students and practitioners working with children across the helping professions, including early years education, play therapy, playwork, childcare, social care, nursing and allied health. Each chapter provides directed reading and small reflective tasks to encourage readers to digest key issues.

A unique companion to professional play practice! All play professionals are united in their belief that play is important for children’s development – and there are inherent characteristics of play that underpin professional play practice across contexts. Providing an overarching concept of play, drawing together the evidence base across disciplines and linking theory to practice, The Essence of Play is the ideal handbook for all those working with children. Play acts as a natural resource for children to meet physical, intellectual and emotional challenges and this book, unusually, considers play from the perspectives of children rather than adults. It provides a baseline of shared knowledge for all play professionals, exploring the fundamental value of play rather than a ‘how to’ approach to practice. It considers: the therapeutic potential inherent in play; how play reflects and promotes physical, emotional, intellectual, linguistic and social abilities; the emergence of different types of play skills and why these are important; cross-cultural patterns in play, gender, atypicality and adversity, highlighting the relevance of these issues to professional play practice; the benefits of utilising play for assessment and other professional practice issues such as ethical play practice, balancing risk with health and safety and the creation and management of boundaries. This text is designed for students and practitioners working with children across the helping professions, including early years education, play therapy, playwork, childcare, social care, nursing and allied health. Each chapter provides directed reading and small reflective tasks to encourage readers to digest key issues.

Play Therapy Today brings together the work of renowned practitioners and academics currently working and researching in therapeutic play and play therapy, and presents a range of ground-breaking methods for practising with groups, individuals, and parents and carers.Providing an overview of new or revitalised topics in play therapy, each chapter presents the relevant theoretical underpinnings and principles of practice, a guide to implementing the method and case study vignettes of the approach in practice. The three sections include chapters on: the Therapeutic Touchstone model and the development of the therapeutic relationship, an overview of the use of individual play therapy techniques with children in a hospital setting, and an overview of Yasenik and Gardner’s Play Therapy Dimensions Model with an in-depth exploration of the dimension of consciousness from both a theoretical and practical, play-based orientation. Jennings’ Embodiment-Project-Role model and its implementation in group work, the practical use of puppets in educational and therapeutic settings, the therapeutic value of working with groups in the outdoors, and the use of play in groups for children with a variety of sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities. Stagnitti’s adaptation of the ‘Learn to Play’ programme for parent/carer use, Group Theraplay with peer groups and parent/child dyads and how a neurosequential approach supports case conceptualization and play therapy practice with families. The book provides practitioners with up-to-date, effective and practical techniques that they can put into immediate use in their clinical work with children and their families. It is an important resource for trainee, newly qualified and seasoned play therapists, play therapy supervisors and trainers. It will also be of interest to social workers, teachers, psychologists, child psychotherapists and other health professionals.

Play Therapy Today brings together the work of renowned practitioners and academics currently working and researching in therapeutic play and play therapy, and presents a range of ground-breaking methods for practising with groups, individuals, and parents and carers.Providing an overview of new or revitalised topics in play therapy, each chapter presents the relevant theoretical underpinnings and principles of practice, a guide to implementing the method and case study vignettes of the approach in practice. The three sections include chapters on: the Therapeutic Touchstone model and the development of the therapeutic relationship, an overview of the use of individual play therapy techniques with children in a hospital setting, and an overview of Yasenik and Gardner’s Play Therapy Dimensions Model with an in-depth exploration of the dimension of consciousness from both a theoretical and practical, play-based orientation. Jennings’ Embodiment-Project-Role model and its implementation in group work, the practical use of puppets in educational and therapeutic settings, the therapeutic value of working with groups in the outdoors, and the use of play in groups for children with a variety of sensory, intellectual and physical disabilities. Stagnitti’s adaptation of the ‘Learn to Play’ programme for parent/carer use, Group Theraplay with peer groups and parent/child dyads and how a neurosequential approach supports case conceptualization and play therapy practice with families. The book provides practitioners with up-to-date, effective and practical techniques that they can put into immediate use in their clinical work with children and their families. It is an important resource for trainee, newly qualified and seasoned play therapists, play therapy supervisors and trainers. It will also be of interest to social workers, teachers, psychologists, child psychotherapists and other health professionals.

This new and fully updated second edition of Creative Psychotherapy provides accessible and practical guidance for therapists working with children, adolescents and adults who wish to introduce or expand their use of play and creative media in their practice. This book first synthesises key research about brain development, the neurological impact of trauma and the development of play, then demonstrates how practitioners may apply this to practice through developmentally appropriate play and expressive arts-based approaches with clients across the lifespan.Bringing together the expertise of an international team of authors and clinicians, topics explored include, but are not limited to:- Applying the principles of neurobiology to play and expressive arts-based practice- Working with the brainstem and midbrain through rhythm, music, movement, touch and sensory play- Working with the limbic and cortical systems including use of Thera-building® with LEGO®, images, touchstone, sandtray and storytelling.Practical guidance is supported by case studies and exemplar intervention plans throughout, providing immediately actionable steps for integrating creative approaches into clinical work.Creative Psychotherapy is an essential clinically oriented resource for practitioners and students of psychotherapy, and other related mental health disciplines, who are interested in learning about play and expressive arts approaches to practice. It will also be a particularly compelling read for play and arts therapists, counsellors, family therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and teachers.

This new and fully updated second edition of Creative Psychotherapy provides accessible and practical guidance for therapists working with children, adolescents and adults who wish to introduce or expand their use of play and creative media in their practice. This book first synthesises key research about brain development, the neurological impact of trauma and the development of play, then demonstrates how practitioners may apply this to practice through developmentally appropriate play and expressive arts-based approaches with clients across the lifespan.Bringing together the expertise of an international team of authors and clinicians, topics explored include, but are not limited to:- Applying the principles of neurobiology to play and expressive arts-based practice- Working with the brainstem and midbrain through rhythm, music, movement, touch and sensory play- Working with the limbic and cortical systems including use of Thera-building® with LEGO®, images, touchstone, sandtray and storytelling.Practical guidance is supported by case studies and exemplar intervention plans throughout, providing immediately actionable steps for integrating creative approaches into clinical work.Creative Psychotherapy is an essential clinically oriented resource for practitioners and students of psychotherapy, and other related mental health disciplines, who are interested in learning about play and expressive arts approaches to practice. It will also be a particularly compelling read for play and arts therapists, counsellors, family therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and teachers.

Mary D. Sheridan’s Play in Early Childhood is a classic introductory text to play and development – key topics for all those who work with young children. Drawing on the most up-to-date evidence, it explains how children’s play develops and how they develop as they play. With over 100 illustrations and observations of play from birth to six years, this new edition presents classical and contemporary literature, making clear links between play and all areas of children’s development. It includes updated activities to consolidate thinking and suggestions for further reading throughout. This text considers: the development, value and characteristics of play issues relating to culture, adversity, gender, attachment and brain development play from recreational, therapeutic and educational perspectives the role of parents/caregivers and professionals in supporting play how to develop observation and reflection skills for use in your own practiceSuitable both for those new to the area and for more experienced workers wanting a quick reference guide, this easy-to-follow book meets the needs of students and professionals from a wide range of health, education and social care backgrounds, including early years professionals, playworkers, children’s nurses, play therapists and social workers.

Mary D. Sheridan’s Play in Early Childhood is a classic introductory text to play and development – key topics for all those who work with young children. Drawing on the most up-to-date evidence, it explains how children’s play develops and how they develop as they play. With over 100 illustrations and observations of play from birth to six years, this new edition presents classical and contemporary literature, making clear links between play and all areas of children’s development. It includes updated activities to consolidate thinking and suggestions for further reading throughout. This text considers: the development, value and characteristics of play issues relating to culture, adversity, gender, attachment and brain development play from recreational, therapeutic and educational perspectives the role of parents/caregivers and professionals in supporting play how to develop observation and reflection skills for use in your own practiceSuitable both for those new to the area and for more experienced workers wanting a quick reference guide, this easy-to-follow book meets the needs of students and professionals from a wide range of health, education and social care backgrounds, including early years professionals, playworkers, children’s nurses, play therapists and social workers.

Creative Psychotherapy brings together the expertise of leading authors and clinicians from around the world to synthesise what we understand about how the brain develops, the neurological impact of trauma and the development of play. The authors explain how to use this information to plan developmentally appropriate interventions and guide creative counselling across the lifespan. The book includes a theoretical rationale for various creative media associated with particular stages of neural development, and examines how creative approaches can be used with all client groups suffering from trauma. Using case studies and exemplar intervention plans, the book presents ways in which creative activities can be used sequentially to support healing and development in young children, adolescents and adults. Creative Psychotherapy will be of interest to mental health professionals working with children, adolescents and adults, including play and arts therapists, counsellors, family therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and teachers. It will also be a valuable resource for clinically oriented postgraduate students, and therapists who work with victims of interpersonal trauma.

Creative Psychotherapy brings together the expertise of leading authors and clinicians from around the world to synthesise what we understand about how the brain develops, the neurological impact of trauma and the development of play. The authors explain how to use this information to plan developmentally appropriate interventions and guide creative counselling across the lifespan. The book includes a theoretical rationale for various creative media associated with particular stages of neural development, and examines how creative approaches can be used with all client groups suffering from trauma. Using case studies and exemplar intervention plans, the book presents ways in which creative activities can be used sequentially to support healing and development in young children, adolescents and adults. Creative Psychotherapy will be of interest to mental health professionals working with children, adolescents and adults, including play and arts therapists, counsellors, family therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and teachers. It will also be a valuable resource for clinically oriented postgraduate students, and therapists who work with victims of interpersonal trauma.

Providing high quality play experiences is an essential part of good early years education, but this can pose a challenge for practitioners who face pressure from a more didactic primary curriculum, and from parents worried that their children will fail to acquire essential skills and knowledge.

By helping the reader to develop their understanding of the complex relationships between play and learning, this book examines current theoretical perspectives on play, alongside examples of recent and innovative play research from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. With contributions from leading play scholars, it brings together theory, research, policy and practice in relation to play and learning in early years settings. The emphasis is on the relationship between play and learning, and play and pedagogy, and the need to understand these dimensions more substantially in order to teach with confidence.

Included are chapters on:

- the influence of play on thinking, problem-solving and creativity

- cooperative play and learning

- play, risk and outdoor learning

- learning to play in cultural context

There are chapter objectives, reflective points, reflective tasks and suggestions for further reading throughout, to facilitate critical thinking and encourage independent study. Suitable for early years practitioners, early childhood students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and all those who work with and care for young children, this is an exciting and thought-provoking book.