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This practical, user-friendly manual shows mental health professionals how to implement play therapy with adolescents and adults and how to conceptualize client struggles using a wealth of creative approaches.
Creative Play Therapy with Adolescents and Adults follows an accessible seven-stage process for professionals to address clients' core needs and establish an empathic therapeutic relationship. The book charts the stages of play therapy and explores a range of expressive arts including art, drama, dance, writing and sand play and the key materials needed for each. It also considers additional aspects of play therapy including resistance, spirituality and self-care. Filled with techniques, skills and case studies to help demystify complex client work, the book outlines an easy-to-follow treatment protocol for healing and resolution.
This book will be of interest to a wide range of mental health professionals working with adults and adolescents as it encourages a more creative career and lasting, tangible progress in clients.
List of contents
Part I. 1. What is Creative Play Therapy? 2. What Materials Are Needed for Creative Play Therapy? 3. Why Is Talking Only Part of the Process? 4. What Are Core Needs? 5. How Does Understanding Development Grow Empathy? Part II. 6. Warm Up 7. Creation 8. Emotional Expression 9. Somatic Expression 10. Meaning Making 11. Healing 12. Ending Part III. 13. Reevaluating Resistance 14. Exploring Spirituality 15. Creative Play Therapy and Self-Care
About the author
Denis’ A. Thomas, PhD, NCC, is an associate professor at Lipscomb University. She is the lead faculty for the play therapy specialization and faculty director of the Lipscomb University Center for Play Therapy and Expressive Arts. She is a host of the podcast Play Therapy Across the Lifespan, the author of 20 journal and magazine articles and a regular presenter at national and international conferences.
Melanie H. Morris, PhD, is an associate professor at Lipscomb University and a licenced psychologist and health service provider in Tennessee. Melanie serves as the clinical director for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Summary
This practical, user-friendly manual shows mental health professionals how to implement play therapy with adolescents and adults and how to conceptualize client struggles using a wealth of creative approaches.
