Mindfulness Based Play Family Therapy Theory And Practice

Incorporating mindfulness and family therapy into play-family sessions. When a child is offered a space to relax the “busy mind,” his experience is comparable to mindfulness meditation. Therapists can help children remain in this calm state—in the state of the present moment—if they have the right tools and techniques to do so. During this stillness, a child can reach a level of consciousness that is parallel to the deepened awareness that occurs during mindfulness meditation. Conducting play sessions in this stage allows for healing and progress. Not only can the symptoms of children’s pain be reduced in intensity and duration, but their self-esteem can be enhanced. This book presents a new and comprehensive framework for helping children through play therapy within the context of the family and incorporating ideas from the practice of mindfulness. This experience-based therapeutic model respectfully derives from the best roots of traditional family therapy and play therapy modalities. Additionally, it draws from child development theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and mindfulness. Either spontaneous play or directed play can be used according to the need.

This book reviews the research and philosophical foundations for using mindfulness, acceptance, and Buddhist psychology in couple and family therapy. It also provides a detailed and practical approach for putting these ideas into action in the therapy room, including a mindful approach to therapeutic relationships, case conceptualization, treatment planning, teaching meditation, and intervention.

* Covers major approaches followed by integration of the major theories around a specific case.

Doug Sprenkle - Awarded the American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) 2010 Award for Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research and Practice! Grounded in theory, research, and extensive clinical experience, this pragmatic book addresses critical questions of how change occurs in couple and family therapy and how to help clients achieve better results. The authors show that regardless of a clinician's orientation or favored techniques, there are particular therapist attributes, relationship variables, and other factors that make therapy specifically, therapy with couples and families more or less effective. The book explains these common factors in depth and provides hands-on guidance for capitalizing on them in clinical practice and training. User-friendly features include numerous case examples and a reproducible common factors checklist.

Maximizes treatment of childhood trauma by combining two powerful modalities This pioneering guidebook fully integrates the theoretical foundations and practical applications of play therapy and EMDR in order to maximize healing in in children with trauma. By highlighting the work of innovative EMDR therapists and play and expressive art therapists and their pioneering clinical work, the authors provide a fully integrated approach to using EMDR in a play therapy context while being faithful to both play therapy principles and the 8 phases of the EMDR standard protocol. This book provides in-depth discussions on how leading innovators integrate their modalities—TraumaPlay, sand tray, art therapy, Synergetic Play therapy, Child-centered and Developmental Play Therapy—with EMDR and includes real life examples of assessment, parent and child preparation, developing emotional resources for reprocessing trauma using EMDR in play or expressive therapy, and a comprehensive look at complications of dissociation in trauma processing and how to manage these. Corresponding to the eight EMDR phases are twelve interventions, comprised of a brief rationale, step-by-step directions, materials needed, case examples, and supporting visual materials. Key Features: Integrates EMDR and play therapy to create a powerful method for treating children suffering from trauma Includes contributions from dually credentialled EMDR clinicians and registered play therapists, art therapists, and sand tray practitioners Offers a fully integrated approach to EMDR and play therapy faithful to the eight phases of standard EMDR protocol and play therapy principles Includes a chapter on culturally sensitive EMDR and play using Latinx culture as the lens Describes how traditional play therapy creates an emotionally safe space for trauma work for children Provides hands-on play therapy interventions for each EMDR phase in quick reference format Delivers multiple interventions with rationale, step-by-step directions, materials required, case examples, and visual aids Foreward by Ana Gomez, leading author on the use of EMDR with children

A number of books have explored the ways psychotherapy clients can benefit from learning and practicing mindfulness. This is the first volume to focus specifically on how mindfulness can deepen the therapeutic relationship. Grounded in research, chapters demonstrate how therapists' own mindfulness practice can help them to listen more attentively and be more fully present. Leading proponents of different treatment approaches—including behavioral, psychodynamic, and family systems perspectives—illustrate a variety of ways that mindfulness principles can complement standard techniques and improve outcomes by strengthening the connection between therapist and client. Also presented are practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into clinical training.

Nature-Based Play and Expressive Therapies addresses a wide range of healing modalities and case studies that can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments. Each chapter includes vignettes to support the interventions and approaches presented. Readers will find a diverse array of helpful handouts and topics explored, including tips for creating outdoor healing gardens and labyrinths, guidelines for using nature to address trauma, working with sandplay and storytelling in nature, adapting nature-based interventions via telehealth, and much more. Chapters focus on work with young children and teens in individual settings as well as work with families and groups, making this book an important read for a wide range of mental health professionals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. Treatment Planning. 2. Structural Family Therapy. 3. Strategic Therapy. 4. Milan Systemic Approach. 5. MRI Approach. 6. Satir's Communication Approach. 7. Symbolic-Experiential Family Therapy. 8. Intergenerational Family Therapy. 9. Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy. 10. Solution-Focused Therapy. 11. Narrative Therapy. 12. Collaborative Therapies. Internet and Video Resources. Index.

The fourth edition of the bestselling An Introduction to Family Therapy provides an overview of the core concepts informing family therapy and systemic practice, covering the development of this innovative field from the 1950s to the present day. The book considers both British and International perspectives and includes the latest developments in current practice, regulation and innovation, looking at these developments within a wider political, cultural and geographical context. The fully revised fourth edition also contains new material on: EXPANDED Chapter 4 'Ideas that keep knocking on the door'-updated with applications of attachment & narrative therapy, linking these ideas to issues of developing the therapeutic alliance with families EXPANDED Chapter 5 'Systemic Formulation'- updated with a view of formulation as a core skill in many therapeutic models, and an alternative to diagnosis EXPANDED Chapter 6 '21st Century Practice Development'- updated to include cutting edge innovations in the field, such as integrative practice EXPANDED Chapter 7 'Couple Therapy'- updated to include the more recent process and outcome research in the models, making link with current systemic practice and using more illustrative examples and highlighting how Relate has changed EXPANDED Chapter 8 'Research and Evaluation'- updated with a greater range or research methods and contemporary emphasis on evidence based practice Greater focus on key family therapy skills throughout the book in the updated 'Formats of Exploration' feature in each chapter Expanded lists of key texts and diagrams, suggested reading organized by topic, and new practical examples and exercises are also used in order to encourage the reader to explore and experiment with the ideas in their own practice. This book is key reading for students and practitioners of family therapy and systemic practice as well as those from the fields of counselling, psychology, social work and the helping professions who deal with family issues.