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. PsycCRITIQUES 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 Aggressive children challenge us as therapists and human beings in ways that reach deep into our culture and our psyche. David Crenshaw and John Mordock offer a rare blend of intelligent empathy and practice-grounded wisdom in meeting these challenges. Every practitioner, from the novice to the expert, can learn from them. -- James Garbarino, Ph.D., Maude C. Clarke Chair in Humanistic Psychology at Loyola University Chicago In this companion toUnderstanding and Treating the Aggression of Children, psychologists experienced in providing services to aggressive children and their families present a comprehensive guide to play therapy for professionals to drow on in treating this challenging population. Scitech Book News 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.' These authors are obviously two very gifted, sensitive clinicians who offer many years of experience to therapists who are confronted with the aggressive child. This book is a definite 'must' for all clinicians who work with the aggressive child. -- Lois Carey, MSW, BCD, RPT-S, 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, Astor Home for Children 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. 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. In this client-centred but certainly also therapist-directed therapy, they helpfully discuss how to set boundaries throughout the different phases of therapy and present a helpful array of activities around behaviours and feelings. Psychotherapy:Theory, Research, Training, Practice In this age of brief therapies, Crenshaw and Mordock provide a much needed reminder of the long term work that is needed with severely traumatized children...A Handbook of Play Therapy with Agressive Children is exhaustive enough to be appropriate for a beginning therapist, yet has hidden gems that would appeal to more seasoned therapists who can discover them with a sense of "aha." -- Jeanne Bereiter, M.D. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic: A Journal for the Mental Health Professions, Vol. 71, No. 4 (Fall 2007)
