Therapeutic deep play has the capacity for children to express deep emotions, overcome seemingly insurmountable issues and resolve serious problems. Working with children in this profound way, therapists are able to not only eliminate symptoms, but to change the very structure of how children live with themselves, their defense and belief systems. The contributors to this book all work deeply, allowing children to take risks in a safe environment, and become fully absorbed in physical play. Chapters include play with deep sandboxes, clay, water, and various objects, and look at a range of pertinent case studies to demonstrate the therapeutic techniques in practice, alongside the theoretical concepts in which they are grounded. A new theoretical approach is established that takes from psychoanalysis as well as neuroscience and behaviourism, and offers a depth psychology approach in the treatment of children. This will be a valuable resource for anyone working therapeutically with children through play, including play therapists, psychotherapists, psychologists, arts therapists, counsellors, social workers and family therapists.
Foreword. Shaun McNiff, Provost and Dean, Endicott College. Introduction. Dennis McCarthy, Mental Health Counselor, Director, Metamorfos Institute, New York State. 1. A Deep Story of Deep Play. Dr Sue Jennings, Honorary Fellow of Roehampton University, President of the Romanian Association of Play Therapy and Dramatherapy, Founder Member of the British Association of Dramatherapists. 2. Journeying Within: The Use of Tunnel and Cave Imagery to Access the Inner Imaginative World. Timothy Rodier, Psychotherapist, Kingston, New York. 3. The Keys to the World: Revolution and Epiphany in Deep Sand. Julie Rose, Professional Dancer, Body-centered Psychotherapist, Accord, New York. 4. Behold the Treasure and the Swamp! Digging and Delving, Poking and Pounding, Getting to the Bottom of Things. Michelle Rhodes, Art Therapist, Social Worker, Psychoanalyst and Clay Artist, New York State. 5. Subcutaneous, Subcortical, Subconscious and Subterranean: The Most Toxic Boy in the World's Search for Mum. Tim Woodhouse, Play and Filial Therapist, EMDR Practitioner, Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and Social Worker, Lancashire. 6. Out of the Box and into the Wild. Therese Bimka, Interfaith Minister, Soul Collage Facilitator, Social Worker, Artist, Director, The One Spirit InterSpiritual Counseling Program, New York State. 7. Deep Sand: Body-centered, Imaginative Play. Dennis McCarthy, Mental Health Counselor, Director, Metamorfos Institute, New York State. 8. Emergence: A Tale of Two Boys. Neal Brodsky, Holistic Psychotherapist, Family Therapist and Core Energetics Practitioner, Connecticut. 9. Musings about Deepening Connections in Families. Alan Spivack, Family Therapist, Theraplay Practitioner, New York State. 10. A Case for In-Depth Therapy with Adults. Richmond Greene, Psychotherapist and Jungian Psychoanalyst, New York State. Epilogue. Dennis McCarthy, Mental Health Counselor, Director, Metamorfos Institute, New York State. Index.
I am awestruck by the work of Dennis McCarthy, and the unique contribution of Deep Play to our understanding of fully embodied play's imperative. This wonderful volume teaches how to better support children's need for ""descent"" in claiming their potency and life-force, with support from adults so willing to engage!
