Helping Abused and Traumatized Children: Integrating Directive and Nondirective Approaches

by Eliana Gil, John Briere (Foreword)

Presenting an integrative model for treating traumatized children, this book combines play, art, and other expressive therapies with ideas and strategies drawn from cognitive-behavioral and family therapy. Eliana Gil demonstrates how to tailor treatment to the needs of each child by using both directive and nondirective approaches. Throughout, practical clinical examples illustrate ways to target trauma-related symptomatology while also helping children process painful feelings and memories that are difficult to verbalize. The book concludes with four in-depth cases that bring to life the unique situation of each child and family, the decision making process of the therapist, and the applications of developmentally informed, creative, and flexible interventions.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Textbooks

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Analie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource. While Paris Goodyear-Brown's Play Therapy with Traumatized Children contains more interventions, this book is a worthy adjunct. For the new clinician, Gil is refreshingly transparent, describing times she was stumped and how she found solutions. I particularly appreciated her tips for working with sexually abused children and their nonoffending parents through family therapy.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Gil describes the treatment program she uses to help traumatized children. Due to her work experience and training she is able to combine several approaches to therapy and she emphasizes that the methods used depend on the client and what would work best with them. In the first part of the book she describes different methods, and in four case studies she shows her approach to therapy.

This title is definitely intended for therapists and others who deal with abuse and trauma on a professional level. Gil uses specialist literature to explain her approach, which she does in a clear and concise way, usually accompanied by references of the literature she used for a given chapter.
The reference section is vast, and full of trustworthy titles. The newest ones Gil uses are from 2005. The book was published in 2006.

The case studies Gil uses are interesting, detailed and to the point. They explain the methods she introduces in the first part of the book and also shows how she combines different methods. So, for those professionally specialising in helping abused and traumatised children this book could be very useful.
5 out of 5 stars

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming into this book was a bit of a challenge, as the writing style is far more academic than the accessible writing of Joe Kort, whose book I read previously. However, inside is a treasure trove of information regarding play therapy, and how to treat traumatized children through it. It is fascinating to read about Gil's journey with every one of her clients, and it helped me understand the role of play in the development of a child. As a child psychologist who's now getting into play therapy, this book taught me a lot that I certainly plan to use.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as helpful as I hoped it would be.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for therapists with practical interventions. Great discussion of expressive therapies (i.e. sand, play, art).