Written for use in play therapy and child counseling courses, this extraordinarily practical text provides a detailed examination of basic and advanced play therapy concepts and skills and guidance on when and how to use them. Kottmans multitheoretical approach and wealth of explicit techniques are also helpful for clinicians who want to gain greater insight into childrens minds and enhance therapeutic communication through the power of play.
After a discussion of the basic concepts and logistical aspects of play therapy, Kottman illustrates commonly used play therapy skills and more advanced skills. Introduced in this edition is a new chapter on working with parents and teachers to increase the effectiveness of play therapy. Practice exercises and Questions to Ponder throughout the text facilitate the skill-building and self-examination process.
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Acknowledgments xi
Preface xiii
About the Author xvii
PART 1 Basic Concepts
Chapter 1 Introduction to Play Therapy 3
Therapeutic Powers of Play 4
Personal Qualities of a Play Therapist 15
Appropriate Clients for Play Therapy 15
Paradigm Shift From Talk to Play 22
Play Therapy Dimensions Model 23
Practice Exercises 26
Questions to Ponder 26
Chapter 2 History of Play Therapy 29
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Play Therapy 29
Structured Play Therapy 30
Relationship Play Therapy 31
Nondirective, Child-Centered Play Therapy 32
Limit-Setting Therapy 33
Theories Designed for Working With Children Who Have Attachment Issues 33
Play Therapy Approaches Based on Theories Originally Developed for Working With Adults 34
Play Therapy Approaches Based on Integrating Several Different Theories 36
Short-Term, Time-Limited Play Therapy 37
Prescriptive Play Therapy 38
Questions to Ponder 38
Chapter 3 Theoretical Approaches to Play Therapy 41
Adlerian Play Therapy 42
Child-Centered Play Therapy 47
CognitiveBehavioral Play Therapy 52
Ecosystemic Play Therapy 56
Gestalt Play Therapy 62
Jungian Analytical Play Therapy 67
Psychodynamic Play Therapy 71
Theraplay 75
Prescriptive Play Therapy 79
Questions to Ponder 82
PART 2 Basic Skills
Chapter 4 Logistical Aspects of Play Therapy 87
Setting Up a Space for Therapy 87
Choosing and Arranging Toys 89
Explaining the Play Therapy Process 92
The Initial Session 98
Ending a Session 100
Assessing Patterns in the Childs Play 102
Writing Session Reports 108
Termination 109
Questions to Ponder 111
Chapter 5 Tracking 113
How to Track 113
Monitoring Children's Reactions to Tracking 114
Applications in Different Theoretical Orientations 116
Examples of Tracking 116
Practice Exercises 117
Questions to Ponder 118
Chapter 6 Restating Content 121
How to Restate Content 121
Focus of Restatements 122
Influencing Children by Using Restatement of Content 122
Monitoring Childrens Reactions to Restating Content 123
Applications in Different Theoretical Orientations 124
Examples of Restating Content 124
Practice Exercises 126
Questions to Ponder 128
Chapter 7 Reflecting Feelings 129
How to Reflect Feelings 129
What to Reflect 130
Monitoring Childrens Responses to Reflection of Feelings 135
Expanding Feeling Concepts and Vocabulary 136
Applications in Different Theoretical Orientations 137
Examples of Refl ecting Feelings 137
Practice Exercises 139
Questions to Ponder 140
Chapter 8 Setting Limits 143
What to Limit 145
When to Limit 151
Practical Considerations in Limiting 152
Styles of Limiting 154
Examples of Limit Setting 157
Practice Exercises 159
Questions to Ponder 161
Chapter 9 Returning Responsibility to the Child 163
When to Return Responsibility to the Child 164
How to Return Responsibility to the Child 164
When Not to Return Responsibility to the Child 167
Applications in Different Theoretical Orientations 169
Examples of Returning Responsibility to the Child 170
Practice Exercises 174
Questions to Ponder 175
Chapter 10 Dealing With Questions 177
The Nature of Childrens Questions in Play Therapy 177
Types of Responses (With Examples) 180
Practice Exercises 187
Questions to Ponder 188
Chapter 11 Integration of Basic Skills: The Art of Play Therapy 189
Deciding When to Use a Skill 189
Integrating and Infusing Skills (With Examples) 193
Practice Exercises 198
Questions to Ponder 200
PART 3 Advanced Skills and Concepts
Chapter 12 Recognizing and Communicating Through Metaphors 203
Recognizing Metaphors 204
Understanding the Meaning of Metaphors in Play Therapy 204
Using the Child's Metaphor to Communicate With the Child 207
Monitoring the Childs Reaction to Using the Metaphor 208
Examples of Using the Child's Metaphor to Communicate 209
Practice Exercises 212
Questions to Ponder 214
Chapter 13 Advanced Play Therapy Skills 215
Metacommunication 215
Therapeutic Metaphors 221
Mutual Storytelling 227
Role-Playing/Engaging in Play With the Child 234
Practice Exercises 238
Questions to Ponder 243
Chapter 14 Working With Parents and Teachers 245
Filial Therapy 248
Kinder Training 250
ParentChild Interaction Therapy 251
Adlerian Parent and Teacher Consultation 253
Personal Application 255
Practice Exercises 256
Questions to Ponder 257
Chapter 15 Professional Issues in Play Therapy 259
Research Support for Play Therapy 259
Legal and Ethical Issues 264
Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity 267
Inclusion of Aggressive Toys in the Playroom 271
Public Awareness of Play Therapy and Professional Identity of Play Therapists 273
Advice to Beginning Play Therapists 274
Practice Exercises 277
Questions to Ponder 279
Appendix A Selected References on Different Theoretical Orientations to Play Therapy 281
Appendix B An Explanation of Play Therapy: Handout for Parents 289
Appendix C Selected Resources Related to Play Therapy With Culturally Diverse Children 291
Appendix D Play Therapy Certifi cation/Registration 297
References 303
Index 329
