This indispensable workbook successfully combines the foundational content needed to orient play therapists to the child-centered approach with an engaging series of reflective and experiential activities designed to help develop therapeutic competence. The many activities included here allow readers to engage in an interactive process to learn the philosophy and skills of child-centered play therapy: seeing the world through the child’s eyes, empathizing, tracking, setting limits, recognizing childhood as culture, identifying themes and stages of therapy, and more. Throughout, the authors provide a personal backdrop for learning and living the child-centered play therapy philosophy, based on their many years conducting and supervising play therapy sessions. Both budding and seasoned play and child therapists stand to gain richly from their insights. Contents: Introduction Part 1: Why Empathy? Reflecting Feelings • Empathizing Versus Giving Solutions Part 2: The Child-Centered Approach Child-Centered Play Therapy Versus Other Approaches • The Eight Basic Principles • Childhood as Culture • Blending the Culture of Childhood and the Eight Basic Principles Part 3: Skills and Guidelines Tracking • Responding to Children’s Questions and Directions • Setting Limits • Closing the Play Therapy Session • No-Nos • Toys and Settings Part 4: Ready for Practice (and Play) Structuring the Play Therapy Session • Themes • Firsts • Stages of Therapy • Ready for Termination? • Commonly Asked Questions • Evaluating the Therapist’s Responses • Treatment Goals • The Gift of Child-Centered Play Therapy Part 5: What the Future Will Bring What Do You Believe? • A Letter to Play Therapy Appendixes Sample Answers • Forms and Checklists • Pathways to Advanced Training and Credentialing |