Play Therapy with Abused Children

This second edition of Ann Cattanach's highly commended book explores the use of play therapy with abused children as a way of helping them heal their distress and make sense of their experiences through expanding their own creativity in play.

The book provides practical ways of starting play therapy with abused children and explains how the child can use this process for healing. Models of intervention are described with consideration given to the particular needs of the child and the work setting of the therapist. Suggestions include short and medium term interventions, individual/group and sibling work. This edition provides new case study material, up-to-date information on relevant legislation on children's rights and welfare and recent developments in research in the field.

This book is essential reading for professionals working with abused children, as well as those interested in the use of creative therapies.

Table of Contents

1. The Rights of Children and the Abused Child.
• The Rights of Children.
• The Needs of Children.
• The Abused Child is the Invisible Child.
• Definitions of Child Abuse.
• The Trauma of Abuse.
• The Effects of Abuse on the Child's Future Development.
• The Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children.
• What Children Say about Their Abuse.
2. Play Therapy as a Healing Process for Abused Children.
• The Meaning of Play.
• What is Play.
• Play as a Cultural Phenomena.
• History of the Study of Play.
• Child Development Theories and Play.
• Representing the Social World in Play.
• Play and Dramatic Play.
• Play as Therapy.
• Non-Directive Play Therapy.
• Play and Healing
3. Starting Play Therapy:
• Settings, Materials, Boundaries.
• Play Therapy to Heal the Hurt Child.
• The Therapist.
• Supervision.
• Assessing the Need for Therapy.
• Timing the Intervention.
• Information about the Child.
• Investigations and Therapy.
• Starting Play Therapy.
• Finding a Safe Place for the Child.
• Material for Play.
• Play with Toys
4. The Play Therapy Process for the Abused Child.
• The Play Therapy Process for the Abused Child.
• The Role of the Therapist.
• Preparation for Play.
• Starting Play.
• In the Middle Lies the Monster.
• Am I a Monster?
• Losing the Monster.
• The Final Stages of Play.
• Becoming Visible
5. Case History: The Physically Abused Child.
6. Case History: The Emotionally Abused Child.;
7. Case History: The Sexually Abused Child.

Index.