The Therapeutic Powers of Play: Comparing Theories and Practice

There is no current, up-to-date single text that offers beginners and seasoned clinicians a clear direction in how to conceptualize and interweave the therapeutic powers of play through the lens of a specific seminal theory using a single case study uniformly across chapters.

This book looks to fill the gap by offering an up-to-date edition for use by university professors of child and play therapists, training directors, agency and clinic supervisors, as well as private practice supervisors and supervisees wishing to obtain a clear and deeper understanding of the therapeutic powers of play and its relationship to seminal theories. It is a much-needed book that synthesizes the Therapeutic Powers of Play and Play Therapy theories on a level not seen before.

This edited book will be a combination of chapters written by the co-editors and invited chapter authors who are renowned in the field of play therapy. Each chapter author will be given one specific case study, for uniformity across all chapters, for comparison. The chapter author will address in detail how their specific theoretical approach would view and integrate the therapeutic powers of play within treatment. This edition is unique in its inclusion of timely chapters addressing the foundations and the seminal theoretical approaches used in play therapy and the nuts and bolts of integration of the therapeutic powers of play for a treatment approach. Readers will have the opportunity to compare across the seminal theories the commonalities and differences of conceptualization and practice implementation.