If You Turned Into a Monster: Transformation Through Play: A Body-Centred Approach to Play Therapy

by Dennis McCarthy

"Draw me a picture of what you would look like if you turned into a monster." Dennis McCarthy's work with distressed or traumatized children begins with an exercise that is simple but very effective: he invites the child to communicate with him in their own way, through the non-verbal language of play. Using case studies from his clinical experience and with numerous children's monster drawings, McCarthy lets the meaningful self-expression of the child take centre stage. He demonstrates that being allowed to play, move and draw impulsively and creatively in the supportive presence of the therapist is in fact the beginning of the therapeutic process. These activities are shown to be more therapeutic for the child in practical terms than the interpretation of the clues it provides about the child's state of mind. This very accessible book will be inspiring reading for play therapists and other professionals working therapeutically with young children and their families.

162 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2007

About the author

Librarian note: This is a collection of works clearly written by different people under the same name. Please feel free to clean up.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book served as a great introduction to play therapy as McCarthy has practiced it. The case studies are so illuminating. Because McCarthy is also a dance/movement therapist (as am I), I really appreciate all the points at which dance therapy theories apply. A short book, but very dense. Anyone who works with children should read this!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tiny book took me about three months to read--I think because reading about traumatized children was so hard. But what made it worth it was really seeing all the ways in which children heal themselves; how they know instinctively what they need; and how sand, clay, toys, symbols and art can all be used by children in almost a magical way to create change and healing.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

will elaborate later, but it was very good. common problems in books of this kind, but worth a read.