1st Edition
Implementing Play Therapy with Groups Contemporary Issues in Practice
Implementing Play Therapy with Groups is a new and innovative edited book bringing together experts from across the field of play therapy to explore how to facilitate group play therapy across challenging settings, diagnoses, and practice environments.
Applying theoretical and empirical information to address treatment challenges, each chapter focuses on a specific treatment issue and explores ways the reader can implement group work within their play therapy work. Chapters also provide contemporary evidence-based clinical information in providing group therapy with specific populations such as working with children who have been exposed to violence, trauma, adoption, foster care, those who are chronically medically fragile, and more.
This book will bring awareness to, and provide easily implemented play therapy knowledge and interventions for, child and family therapists who work in a range of settings including schools, hospitals, residential treatment centers, and community mental health settings.
Foreword
Athena A. Drewes
Introduction and Foundation of Group Play Therapy
Clair Mellenthin & Holly Willard
Part I: Group Play Therapy Practice Models
Chapter 1: Constructing Together: Therapeutic Applications of LEGO® Serious Play®
Mary Anne Peabody
Chapter 2: Humanistic Sandtray with Preadolescent Groups
Steven A. Armstrong, Ryan D. Foster, & Donna L. Hickman
Chapter 3: The Caped Crusaders: Using Superheroes in a Play Therapy Group for Adolescents
Sophia Ansari
Chapter 4: AutPlay® Therapy Play Groups for High Needs Autistic Children
Tracy Turner-Bumberry & Robert Jason Grant
Chapter 5: Digital Group Play Therapy
Jessica Stone & Michael Ehrig
Chapter 6: Camp Nurture: An Immersion in Key Components of TraumaPlay®
Paris Goodyear-Brown, Kate Worley, & Jennifer Rubens
Chapter 7: Our Village Play Therapy Groups: An Integrative Design for Both In-Person and Telehealth Settings
Monica Adimari Fyfe
Part II: Clinical Settings
Chapter 8: Group Play Therapy in Schools
Timothy "T.J." Schoonover & Kristi Perryman
Chapter 9: Group Play in Hospitals: Child Life Playrooms
Joan Turner & Jessika Boles
Chapter 10: Group Play Therapy in Therapeutic Residential Care
David A. Crenshaw & Domonique Garrett
Chapter 11: Group Play Therapy in Outpatient Settings
Clair Mellenthin
Part III: Special Populations
Chapter 12: Group Play Therapy with Military Connected Children and Families
Anne L.Stewart & Lennis G. Echterling
Chapter 13: Early Play-Based Interventions for Children Following Disastrous Events: From Principles to Practice
Janine Shelby
Chapter 14: Play Therapy Groups with Children of Divorce: A Jungian Approach
Eric J. Green & Karen Herdzik
Chapter 15: Play Therapy Group Work with Sexually Abused Children
Sueann Kenney-Noziska
Chapter 16: Play Based Group Retreat for Adoptive Families
Theresa Fraser
Chapter 17: Play Therapy Groups with Neurodiverse Children
Cary McAdams Hamilton & Sarah M. Moran
Chapter 18: Play Therapy Group Supervision
Jennifer Taylor
Conclusion
Jessica Stone
Index
Biography
Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S, is an international speaker, author, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Clair is the author of the bestselling book Attachment Centered Play Therapy. She is the director of Child & Adolescent Services at Wasatch Family Therapy in Utah.
Jessica Stone, PhD, is an international speaker, clinical supervisor, and registered play therapist. She is the co-creator of The Virtual Sandtray®© and the developer of Digital Play Therapy.TM
Robert Jason Grant, EdD, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Advanced Certified Autism Specialist, and is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Play Therapy and is an accomplished author, advocate, and trainer.
"Most people love the feelings of belonging and acceptance that come with being a member of a group. What a better approach to help people of all ages make connections with others and learn more about themselves in the process! This timely book emphasizes the importance of group play therapy and the power of working together. The various authors present a wide variety of experiential group activities that serve a multitude of populations. You’re sure to find activities to enhance your practice and learn more about Group Play Therapy!"
Scott Riviere, MS, LPC, RPT-S, owner K.I.D.Z. Inc."Wow! This book you have in your hands covers so much information about group play therapy. The book provides information about the basics of group play therapy: who, why, where, and how, along with an overview of important ethical considerations. AND there’s more…the editors have gathered well-grounded authors who have demonstrated expertise in a plethora of approaches to group play therapy, and these authors have written fascinating chapters about a variety of applications of group play therapy, across a rich collection of settings and populations. If you want to work with clients using the modality of group play therapy, you need this book."
Terry Kottman, PhD, RPT-S, LMHC, founder and director, League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists
