Play Therapy in Middle Childhood
ISBN: 978-1-4338-2083-0Children ages 6–12 undergo major developmental changes. During this period, known as middle childhood, they develop a more advanced sense of self, emotion regulation skills, and self-confidence. They become less dependent on their parents and learn to form connections with peers. They also learn to follow rules and reach achievements through sustained effort. Because of these social, emotional, and cognitive developments, play therapy with these children looks different than with younger children.
This book helps therapists provide developmentally appropriate, effective play therapy for children in middle childhood. It presents a broad range of play interventions, showing how play therapy can be used with school-age children and their parents to address internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders, relational deficits, and autism spectrum disorder.
For each intervention presented, the authors explain the theory and research supporting it and provide an illustrative case example. Readers will learn to choose treatment goals and strategies that are informed by the child's developmental needs.
Contributors
Introduction: Developmentally Appropriate Play Therapy in Middle Childhood
Athena A. Drewes and Charles E. Schaefer
I. Play Interventions for Internalizing Disorders
- Game-Based Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Child Sexual Abuse
Craig I. Springer and Justin R. Misurell - Play Therapy to Help School-Age Children Deal With Natural and Human-Made Disasters
Akiko Ohnogi and Athena A. Drewes - Playful Trauma-Focused Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for School-Age Children
Angela M. Cavett - Use of Pretend Play to Overcome Anxiety in School-Age Children
Sandra W. Russ and Karla K. Fehr
II. Play Interventions for Externalizing Disorders
- Playful Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Children With Sexual Behavior Problems
Diana Garza Louis - Enjoying Theraplay With School-Age Children
David L. Myrow - Using Puppets With Aggressive Children to Externalize the Problem in Narrative Therapy
Jeffrey T. Guterman and Clayton V. Martin - Kids Together: A Group Therapy Program for Children Using Cognitive–Behavioral Play Therapy Interventions
Susan Hansen - Adlerian Play Therapy for Children With Externalizing Behaviors
Kristin K. Meany-Walen and Terry Kottman
III. Play Interventions to Strengthen Relationship Skills
- Child–Parent Relationship Therapy With Preadolescents
Kara Carnes-Holt, Kristin K. Meany-Walen, and Peggy Ceballos - Pair Counseling to Promote Social Competencies Among School-Age Children
Michael J. Karcher, Kristi McClatchy, and Courtney Borsuk
IV. Play Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Play Therapy for School-Age Children With High-Functioning Autism
Karen Stagnitti - Child-Centered Play Therapy for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Maureen C. Kenny, Laura H. Dinehart, and Charles B. Winick - Replays: A Therapeutic Approach for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Karen Levine
Index
About the Editors
Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, MA, RPT-S, is director of clinical training and of the APA-accredited predoctoral internship program at Astor Services for Children & Families, where she also serves as a clinician specializing in complex trauma with foster care children.
Dr. Drewes is a licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist, and registered play therapist supervisor. She is past director of the Association for Play Therapy, founder and past president of the New York branch of the Association for Play Therapy, and renowned national and international speaker and presenter. She is author, editor, and coeditor of 10 play therapy books, as well as numerous journal and magazine articles and presentations. She is currently adjunct professor, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury.
Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S, is professor emeritus of psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack, NJ. He is cofounder and director emeritus of the Association for Play Therapy.
Dr. Schaefer is a renowned author and editor of more than 60 books and 100 research articles. Among his recent play therapy books are The Therapeutic Powers of Play (2nd ed.), Foundations of Play Therapy (2nd ed.), Empirically Based Play Interventions for Children (2nd ed.), and Play Therapy for Preschool Children.
Dr. Schaefer is founder of the International Play Therapy Study Group, which meets regularly in Wroxton, England. He maintains a private practice for children at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Drewes and Shaefer do an excellent job of providing experienced therapists with a well-organized, clearly written overview of developmentally relevant play interventions for elementary school-aged children.
—PsycCRITIQUES
