Cultural Issues in Play Therapy

by Gil, Eliana; Drewes, Athena A.

• ISBN13: 9781593850128
• ISBN10: 1593850123
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-10-04
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Helping therapists hone their skills for working with diverse children and families, this unique volume looks at play therapy through a multicultural lens. Experienced practitioners examine how cultural traditions, values, shared experiences, and expectations may influence the ways children express themselves through play, the ideas and feelings they associate with different activities, and the responses of children and parents to particular interventions. Filled with evocative clinical material, chapters highlight specific issues to consider when working with African American, Latino, Native American, and Asian American children. Also provided are suggestions for setting up a therapeutic playroom that is engaging and welcoming to all, including details on where to obtain multicultural toys, games, and art materials.

Author Biography

Eliana Gil, PhD, RPT-S, ATR, is coordinator of the Abused Children's Treatment Services of Inova Kellar Center, in Fairfax, Virginia. She specializes in the treatment of abused children and their families. Dr. Gil is also director of Starbright Training Institute. She is an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Tech, a registered art therapist, a registered play therapy supervisor, and a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, RPT-S, is a licensed psychologist and registered play therapist and supervisor. She is director of Clinical Training and the APA Psychology Doctoral Internship and gives direct service to foster care children and families at the Astor Home for Children in Poughkeepsie, New York. Dr. Drewes has been a play therapist for over 25 years, working with children and adolescents across all types of mental health and school-based settings. She is on the Board of Directors of the Association for Play Therapy, founder and past president of the New York Association for Play Therapy, and Adjunct Professor of Play Therapy at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. Dr. Drewes has written numerous articles on play therapy and is coeditor of a book on school-based play therapy.

Table of Contents

Part I. Background and General Considerations
1. From Sensitivity to Competence in Working across Cultures	3	(23)
Eliana Gil
2. Play in Selected Cultures: Diversity and Universality	26	(46)
Athena A. Drewes
3. Suggestions and Research on Multicultural Play Therapy	72	(24)
Athena A. Drewes
4. The Impact of Culture on Art Therapy with Children	96	(19)
Cathy A. Malchiodi
Part II. Play Therapy with Major Cultural Groups
5. Play Therapy in the African American "Village"	115	(33)
Sonia Hinds
6. Therapeutic Play with Hispanic Clients	148	(20)
Silvina Hopkins, Virginia Huici, and Diana Bermudez
7. Musings on Working with Native American Children in Play Therapy	168	(12)
Geri Glover
8. Play Therapy with Asian Children	180	(15)
Shu-Chen Kao
Appendix. Multicultural Play Therapy Resources	195	(12)
Athena A. Drewes
Index	207