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Handbook of Play
Therapy with Aggressive Children
by Dr. David Crenshaw and Dr.
John Mordock
 published by Jason Aronson
Handbook of Play
Therapy with Aggressive Children is the most comprehensive and detailed compilation of
specific and practical techniques available for child and
play therapists to draw on in the treatment of aggressive
children. Written by two authors with a combined experience
of over 50 years in the residential treatment of severely
aggressive and often traumatized children. The book will be
invaluable to new as well as seasoned child practitioners
because of the immense range of the interventions and the
clear theoretical rationale that guides the use of these
interventions. The chapters comprehensively cover the nuts
and bolts of play therapy with this extremely challenging
and taxing clinical population, including the therapeutic
alliance, aims of play therapy with aggressive children,
setting limits on destructive, and obtrusive behaviors,
typical play themes of aggressive children, developing
distancing and displacement through playful actions and
through teaching, modeling, and structuring action play.
Other chapters cover: creating more mature defenses and
calming strategies, the role of interpretation, elementary
and advanced concepts; spontaneous drawings as a bridge to
fantasy play, specific drawing techniques to create access
to the inner world of children, teaching and modeling
pro-social skills with special emphasis on empathy, teaching
the language of feelings, facilitating affect expression and
modulation, facilitating contained re-enactment of trauma,
help children to mourn tangible as well as intangible,
unacknowledged and invisible losses. Later chapters cover:
the therapeutic process and techniques to facilitate
termination. The authors introduce the
Play Therapy Decision Grid
in Chapter 5, which is a creative and original way to guide
the therapist into the levels of therapy best suited for the
child at any given point based on the child's resources and
the anxiety engendered by the therapy. The authors describe
two fluid and dynamic tracks consisting of the Coping and
Invitational Tracks of therapy with the flexibility to shift
within as well as across.
Reviews
"A treasure chest of ideas for healing the
psychic wounds of aggressive, latency-age children. Highly recommended."
Charles E. Schaefer, Ph.D., Director
Emeritus, Association For Play Therapy
"This handbook presents us with a
treasure trove, not only of compassionate and sensitive insights into
the inner life of abused, highly disturbed children but also of a
plethora of specific tools to help violent children. The book belongs on
the shelf of any therapist who is deeply committed to helping heal
children with severe aggression problems. Many of the ideas will serve
as useful strategies for those of us who work with worried or angry
children who have less severe traumas but who still need us to help them
forge more effective defenses and to learn more self-calming and more
reflective techniques in managing their troubles."
Alice Sterling Hoenig, Professor, Syracuse
University, PsycCRITIQUES: The American Psychological
Association Review of Books
“Every page
in this book is a testament to the enormous experience these two
authors have in the treatment of aggressive children in
residential settings. They call these children ‘fauns in gorilla
suits’, which is in line with their client-centered, more
humanistic approach. All aspects of play therapy are covered
chapter by chapter and numerous examples are provided about what
one might say to a child at the various difficult moments,
dividing interpretations as empathic or dynamic. They helpfully
discuss how to set boundaries throughout the different phases of
therapy and present a helpful array of activities around
behaviors and feelings.”
Dr. Joost
Drost,
Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory,
Research and Practice, 79, No. 2 (2006): 304.
Dr.
David Crenshaw and Dr. John Mordock have written an extremely
informative handbook for child and play therapists where anger and
aggression are the major presenting problems. As therapists, we are
seeing more and more children where these dynamics exist. This book is
filled with practical case examples that directly address therapeutic
interactions with these children that the authors have termed 'fawns in
gorilla suits.' I particularly liked the examples of what to say and
what not to say in certain tense situations. These authors are
obviously two very gifted, sensitive clinicians who offer many years of
experience to therapists who are confronted with the aggressive child.
I was also impressed with the careful attention paid to the importance
of whether the child was in the 'coping' stage, or the 'invitational'
stage of therapy – a most important distinction that these authors
handled superbly. In the coping stage, there is a primary reliance on
the use of metaphor, after which the 'invitational' stage can be
implemented and direct interpretations become possible and advisable.
In addition, there are numerous techniques described and illustrated
that range from art examples to clay to games that all therapists can
add to their repertoire. This book is a definite ‘must’ for all
clinicians who work with the aggressive child."
Lois Carey, MSW, BCD, RPT-S;
Past President, New York Association for Play Therapy
"This comprehensive guide is unique for its thorough coverage and
understanding of aggressive and violent children. Play therapists and
child therapists are helped through all the stages of treatment along
with practical techniques and concrete examples of child-therapist
dialogue. It contains a detailed outline for working with a difficult
population. The authors cover setting up the therapeutic alliance,
understanding defenses, limit setting, as well as play themes and
practical techniques, which are all clearly illustrated with visuals and
helpful case examples. A 'must have' addition to any professional or
personal library."
Athena A. Drewes,
Psy.D., RPT-S, Director of Clinical Training, The Astor Home for
Children, and APT Board of Directors
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Dr.
Crenshaw's latest book,
