Drewes Athena A. Schaefer Charles E. - School-Based Play Therapy

Table of Contents

This book is dedicated to
Scott Richard Drewes Bridges and Seth Andrew Bridges
and
Irene and Eric Schaefer

IF EVER WE needed play therapy in the schools, it is now! With the rapid increase in school violence, bullying, homeless children and families, angry and aggressive children, and children exposed to chronic trauma situations, both human-made and by nature, play therapy is needed more than ever in the schools. Schools are the place where children spend a majority of their day, learning, socializing, and having their self-esteem shaped. It makes sense that in this environment, school clinicians would be able to have a significant impact in helping to heal children and adolescents suffering from emotional and behavioral difficulties. The healing powers of play as a treatment modality and play in therapy or counseling can significantly help children and adolescents decrease their emotional and behavioral difficulties. With the growth of play therapy as a respected modality, many school counselors, psychologists, teachers, and social workers have been searching for techniques that could be incorporated into their school settings.

This second edition is born out of our desire to help meet school clinicians needs. The invited authors in this text have many years of expertise working in school settings, both in the public and private sectors, and have a broad range of experience with the age groups that they serve. They bring a wealth of knowledge on how to use play therapy to work with children and adolescents in individual and group settings and with a variety of tools.

Two-thirds of the chapters in this volume are new chapters focusing on up-to-date approaches. The remaining one-third are chapters from the first edition that we felt were important to include. These chapters have been updated to include recent developments over the last ten years. This volume is divided into six parts. Part I addresses the therapeutic power of play and offers a review of the outcome research of school-based play therapy. Part II gives the school clinician practical information on how to incorporate play therapy in the schools, along with the concomittant challenges and barriers that are encountered. Part III addresses play-based assessments for the primary years and for elementary and intermediate school settings. Part IV addresses play-based prevention programs using paraprofessionals and teachers. Part V focuses on individual and group play therapy approaches that specifically target children with autism, anger management difficulties, ADHD, and trauma. Part VI addresses special populations and special issues encountered when using play therapy in the school setting, such as parental alcoholism, selective mutism, homelessness, and bereavement issues. All chapters are meant to be applicable to the school or classroom setting. There are clear descriptions of each approach with suggestions as to how they might be implemented.

We hope that school clinicians and teachers will find this second edition a useful resource for helping the children and adolescents they serve.

Athena A. Drewes
Charles E. Schaefer
November, 2009

Brittney Bixby, EdS candidate
University of Denver
Morgridge College of Education
Denver, Colorado

Sue C. Bratton, PhD, LPC, RPT-S
Associate Professor
Director, Center for Play Therapy
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas

Judy Doran, MS, LPC, RPT
Elementary School Counselor
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Missouri

Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, RPT-S
Director of Clinical Training and
APA-Accredited Doctoral
Internship
Astor Services for Children &
Families
Poughkeepsie, New York
Adjunct Professor
Marist College, Poughkeepsie,
NY
Sage College, Albany, NY

James G. Emshoff, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Barbara Fischetti, DEd, NCSP,
ABPP, RPT
Diplomate in School Psychology
Coordinator of Psychological
Services
Westport Public Schools
Westport, Connecticut

Ruthellen Griffin, MEd, MA,
ADTR
Friends of Hospice, Litchfield and
New Milford
Visiting Nursing Association,
New Milford
Visiting Nurses Services of
Connecticut
Torrington, West Cornwall,
Connecticut

Wendy Pretz Helker, PhD, LPC-S,
NCC, RPT
Professional Counseling
Program
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

A. Dirk Hightower, PhD
Childrens Institute
Rochester, New York

Laura L. Jacobus-Kantor, PhD
Assistant Research Professor
Center for Integrated Behavioral
Health Policy
George Washington University
Medical Center
Washington, DC

Deborah Johnson
Childrens Institute
Rochester, New York

Theresa Kestly, PhD
Director, Program Development
and Training
Sand Tray Training Institute of
New Mexico
Corrales, New Mexico

G.W. Krauss, MA
Widener University
Department of Psychology
Chester, Pennsylvania

Daniel B. LeGoff, PhD, LP
Director of Neuropsychology
Adjunct Associate Professor
The Center for Neurological and
Neurodevelopmental Health
Voorhees, New Jersey

Sarah Allen Levin, MA
Drexel University
Department of Psychology
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Toni Linder, EdD
Professor
Child, Family, and School
Psychology
University of Denver
Morgridge College of Education
Denver, Colorado

David E. McIntosh, PhD
Department of Special Education
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Mary O. Morrison, PhD, LPC-S,
NCC, RPT-S
Assistant Professor
Professional Counseling Program
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Mary Anne Peabody, LCSW,
RPT-S
Interim Director of National
Services
Childrens Institute
Rochester, New York

Kristi L. Perryman, PhD, LPC,
RPT
Assistant Professor
Counseling Program
Internship Coordinator
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri

Dee C. Ray, PhD, LPC-S, NCC,
RPTS
Associate Professor, Counseling
Program
Director, Child and Family
Resource Clinic
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas

Linda A. Reddy, PhD
Associate Professor
Rutgers University
Director, Child and Adolescent
ADHD-Related Disorders Clinic
The Graduate School of Applied
and Professional Psychology
Piscataway, New Jersey

Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S
Professor Emeritus
Director Emeritus of the
Association for Play Therapy
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Teaneck, New Jersey

Mary May Schmidt, MS, MA,
LMHC, RPT-S
Nationally Certified Counselor
Registered Play Therapist
Supervisor
American Board of School
Neuropsychology, Diplomate
Monticello, New York

Yih-Jiun Shen, DEd, NCC, CSC
Assistant Professor
Department of Educational
Psychology
The University of Texas-Pan
American
Edinburg, Texas