Kevin J. O’Connor & Charles E. Schaefer 
Handbook of Play Therapy 

A complete, comprehensive play therapy resource for mental
health professionals

Handbook of Play Therapy is the one-stop resource for
play therapists with coverage of all major aspects written by
experts in the field. This edition consolidates the coverage of
both previous volumes into one book, updated to reflect the newest
findings and practices of the field.

Useful for new and experienced practitioners alike, this guide
provides a comprehensive introduction and overview of play therapy
including, theory and technique, special populations,
nontraditional settings, professional and contemporary issues.
Edited by the founders of the field, each chapter is written by
well-known and respected academics and practitioners in each topic
area and includes research, assessment, strategies, and clinical
application. This guide covers all areas required for credentialing
from the Association for Play Therapy, making it uniquely qualified
as the one resource for certification preparation.

* Learn the core theories and techniques of play therapy

* Apply play therapy to special populations and in nontraditional
settings

* Understand the history and emerging issues in the field

* Explore the research and evidence base, clinical applications,
and more

Psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists,
social workers, and psychiatric nurses regularly utilize play
therapy techniques to facilitate more productive sessions and
promote better outcomes for patients. Handbook of Play
Therapy provides the deep, practical understanding needed to
incorporate these techniques into practice.

Table of Content

Preface xi

About the Editors xiii

Contributors xv

Part 1: Introduction

1 An Introduction to the Field of Play Therapy 3
John W. Seymour

2 The History of Play Therapy 17
Jane L. Johnson

3 The Therapeutic Powers of Play 35
Athena A. Drewes and Charles E. Schaefer

Part 2: Core Theories

4 Psychoanalytic and Jungian Play Therapy 63
Audrey F. Punnett

5 Child-Centered Play Therapy 93
Geri Glover and Garry L. Landreth

6 Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy 119
Susan M. Knell

7 Filial Therapy 135
Risë Van Fleet and Glade L. Topham

8 Theraplay®: Creating Secure and Joyful Attachment Relationships 165
Phyllis B. Booth and Marlo L.-R. Winstead

9 Ecosystemic Play Therapy 195
Kevin J. O’Connor

10 Prescriptive Play Therapy 227
Charles E. Schaefer and Athena A. Drewes

Part 3: Core Techniques

11 Sandtray/Sandplay Therapy 243
Linda E. Homeyer

12 Metaphors and Stories in Play Therapy 259
Pat Pernicano

13 Expressive Arts in Play Therapy 277
Julia Gentleman Byers

14 Using Drama in Play Therapy 289
Steve Harvey

15 Board Games in Play Therapy 309
Jessica Stone

Part 4: Applications for Special Populations

16 Play Therapy Across the Life Span: Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Adults 327
Heidi Gerard Kaduson

17 Parent-Child Interaction Therapy With Children With Disruptive Behavior Disorders 343
Lauren Borduin Quetsch, Nancy Wallace, Meredith Norman, Ria Travers, and Cheryl Mc Neil

18 DIR®/Floortime(TM): A Developmental/Relational Play Therapy Approach Toward the Treatment of Children With Developmental Delays, Including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Sensory Processing Challenges 357
Esther B. Hess

19 Play Therapy With Children With Attachment Problems 381
Sarah C. Patton and Helen E. Benedict

20 Play Therapy With Children With Disabilities 397
Karla D. Carmichael

21 Play Therapy With Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma: Overcoming Abuse and Crime 417
Charles Edwin Myers

22 Play Therapy With Children Experiencing Medical Illness and Trauma 437
Laura Nabors and Jessica Kichler

23 Play Therapy and Crisis Intervention With Children Experiencing Disasters 455
Jennifer N. Baggerly

Part 5: Play Therapy in Nontraditional Settings

24 Play Therapy in Medical Settings 473
Kristin S. Bemis

25 Play Therapy in Schools 485
Kristi L. Perryman

26 Play Therapy and the Legal System 505
Daniel S. Sweeney

Part 6: Professional Issues

27 Ethics in Play Therapy 523
Cynthia A. Reynolds

28 Limit-Setting in Play Therapy 539
Allan M. Gonsher

29 Play Therapy Supervision 549
Jodi Ann Mullen

Part 7: Contemporary Issues

30 Play Therapy Research: Issues for 21st Century Progress 563
Janine Shelby, Ruth Ellingsen, and Charles E. Schaefer

31 Neuroscience and Play Therapy: The Neurobiologically-Informed Play Therapist 583
Edward F. Hudspeth and Kimberly Matthews

32 Issues of Culture and Diversity in Play Therapy 599
Eliana Gil and Lexie Pfeifer

33 Technology in the Playroom 613
Kevin B. Hull

Part 8: Research

34 Methodologies Suited to the Study of Play Therapy 631
Dee C. Ray and Hayley L. Stulmaker

35 The Empirical Support for Play Therapy: Strengths and Limitations 651
Sue C. Bratton

Author Index 669

Subject Index 681

About the author

KEVIN J. O’CONNOR, PHD, RPT-S, is a Clinical Psychologist and Distinguished Professor in Clinical Psy D and Ph D programs at the California School of Professional Psychology. Along with Charles E. Schaefer, he cofounded the Association for Play.

CHARLES E. SCHAEFER, PHD, RPT-S, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Fairleigh Dickson University. Dr. Schaefer has written or edited over 55 professional books, many on the topic of play therapy.

LISA D. BRAVERMAN, PHD, is a pediatric psychologist who specializes in the areas of oncology, child abuse, and trauma. She also treats children, adolescents, and their families.