Techniques of Play Therapy, (DVD)

Nancy Boyd Webb, DSW, LICSW, RPT-S, until her death in 2023, was a leading authority on play therapy with children who have experienced loss and traumatic bereavement. She was University Distinguished Professor Emerita of Social Work in the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University, where she formerly held an endowed Chair in Child Welfare Studies and founded the Post-Master’s Certificate Program in Child and Adolescent Therapy. Dr. Webb taught clinical practice at Fordham for 30 years. She published numerous books on child therapy, trauma, and bereavement, including multiple editions of Play Therapy with Children and Adolescents in Crisis and Social Work Practice with Children. Dr. Webb was a supervisor, consultant, and trainer who presented frequently at conferences in the United States and internationally. She was the recipient of honors including the Day-Garrett Award from the Smith College School for Social Work, the Clinical Practice Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling, and the designation of Distinguished Scholar by the National Academies of Practice in Social Work. Throughout her career, she was committed to preparing social work students to help children and families in need.

I was very impressed with the excellent detailed content of this video. It outlines all of the material covered in a play therapy course. As such, it could be used repeatedly throughout such a course to illustrate phases of play therapy, the variety of child client, and the variety of play modalities available. As she takes the viewer through the opening stages of therapy, establishing alliance, the work of the therapy, and termination and follow-up, Webb illustrates her points with sections of tape showing her interacting with young child clients. Some are receptive, some resistant, some older, some younger, of a variety of races and both genders...On the whole, it's a wonderful video for anyone teaching a graduate course in play therapy and would also be useful in introducing play therapy to parents. --Marla R. Brassard, PhD, University of Massachusetts, AmherstThis video provides a much-needed illustration of play therapy in action by an experienced clinician. It will help unlock the mystery of play therapy for child mental health professionals and students, as well as for parents and teachers. --Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, co-founder, the Association for Play TherapyNancy Boyd Webb's video is particularly valuable as a teaching tool because it presents actual sessions with children as they represent in play and artwork concerns they would have difficulty representing in words. Clinical students, especially those beginning their internships, often want to see first hand how play therapy works. This video provides an excellent demonstration of how the therapist facilitates the child's play and helps put its meanings into words. In addition, Dr. Webb's introductory and summary comments provide an excellent rationale for the practice of play therapy, as well as a clear orientation for viewing the play sessions. I am looking forward to using this video in my clinical courses. --Douglas Davies, MSW, PhD, The University of Michigan -This videotape is an excellent example of the high quality of education that can be delivered through this medium.--Psychiatric Services, 10/24/2006