Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship

Play Therapy, Second Edition, is a thorough update to the 1991 first edition best-selling book, the most widely used text for play therapy courses. It refreshes the history and development in play therapy including results of research done in the past 10 years. A new chapter is included on current issues and special populations relevant to the development of play therapy. The author presents very readable descriptions of play and the history of play therapy; child and therapist characteristics; play room set-up and materials; working with parents; and a number of helpful and interesting case descriptions.

Table of Contents:
Preface. About Me. The Meaning of Play. History and the Development of Play Therapy. A View of Children. Child-centered Play Therapy. The Play Therapist. The Playroom and Materials. The Parent’s Part in the Process. Beginning the Relationship: The Child’s Hour. Objectives of the Relationship. Making Contact with the Child. Characteristics of the Therapist to Play a Guessing Game. Therapeutic Limit Setting. Typical Problems in Play Therapy and What to Do If... Issues in Play Therapy. Intensive and Short-term Play Therapy. Children in Play Therapy. Determining Therapeutic Process and Termination. Filial Therapy: Child-Parent-Relationship.

Review :
'Dr. Garry Landreth has made yet another significant contribution to the field of play therapy with the revised and expanded second edition of his landmark, award-winning text, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. This book is rare in its scope, including a historical, theoretical, and practical-how to approach to play therapy; in addition to providing invaluable insights into the child's world and the therapeutic power of play within the context of the child-therapist relationship. This is the essential text for an introductory play therapy course and a must read for all child therapists.' - Sue C. Bratton, Ph.D., University of North Texas, President, Association for Play Therapy 2001-2002 'The first edition was a classic and this second edition builds upon that groundbreaking work with the addition of chapters dealing with intensive and short-term play and an expansion of Filial Therapy. A major strength of the text is the inclusion of current play therapy research, much of which comes from the work of Landreth and his students. There is no other text in print that is as comprehensive.this text will continue to set the standard for training and practice.' - Joanna F. White, Professor and Chair, Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, Georgia State University, President-elect, Association for Play Therapy