Working definitions of play and playtherapy; developmental play; play as transition; play as rehearsal; play as resolution; playtherapy in practice; playtherapy as a journey from vulnerability to strength; the play of the therapist.
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Description
This book is aimed at anyone with an interest in the symbolic and problem-solving value of children's play and as such it offers a comprehensive guide to playtherapy as well as suggestions for further reading. But it is more than that. Jennings is a practitioner, teacher and author. She focuses on the child and the therapist rather than trying to impress the reader with jargon. Her potted guides to different models of child development and methodologies (including her own) are particularly useful and she is not afraid to highlight the strengths and weaknesses she sees in each. What comes through repeatedly is that there can be no rigid recipes for interpretation. She suggests that we need to view children through a wide-angled lens, seeing what they are doing rather than imposing our thoughts on them. This makes her an ideal introduction for playworkers seeking an introduction to playrtherapy.