Title: |
Short-term Play Therapy for Children
|
Editors: |
Heidi Gerard Kaduson and Charles E. Schaefer |
Publisher: |
Guilford Publications, ©2000 |
Guilford Publications Inc.
72 Spring St.
New York NY 10012
Hardcover: $36.95
While there is a relative paucity of research supporting play therapy
as an effective therapeutic modality for children, there is a lot of it
being vended. It may be that this is because it can get paid for
by insurance companies, is relatively easy to do, and may even be
somewhat pleasant for a mental health professional. However, in
the era of managed care, short term play therapy is a desirable venture.
This book provides both descriptions and suggestions about how to do it.
The chapter on cognitive behavioral play therapy has the most basis in
therapy research and leads off the book. It is a good, brief
introduction into short term play therapy. The remaining chapters
include different theoretical approaches, i.e., Gestalt therapy, and
suggested procedures for special circumstances, i.e., grief, trauma,
divorce, etc.
Therapy following these examples is not likely to be harmful to
children unless a therapist takes some of the concepts advanced into a
courtroom and pontificates about the symbolic meaning and interprets play
behavior in settings where people’s lives may be affected.
Therapists who want to know how to do play therapy can benefit from
reading this book. Just don’t go too far and stay aware of the
limitations of play therapy.
Reviewed by Ralph Underwager, Institute for Psychological Therapies.