Just Playing?

Taking an occupational therapy perspective, this book provides a resource for practitioners from many disciplines working with children who have experienced complex trauma. An essential for any therapist working in the field of children’s mental health, this book provides readers with an effective approach in their clinical work.

Taking an occupational therapy perspective, this book provides a resource for practitioners from many disciplines working with children who have experienced complex trauma. Readers are reminded of the damage which has happened to these children and the challenges faced by professionals when communicating with them. Play is one way in, and the overriding message is that children’s play needs to be taken very seriously both for healthy development and as a therapeutic medium to support children’s wellbeing.

Written in accessible language and supported throughout by examples of children’s play and artwork, chapters provide a bedrock of well‑explained theory with links to practice. Topics explored include:

• Recognising and understanding complex trauma
• Using play as a means of communication
• Child‑led assessment and play based occupational therapy
• Exploration about what happens in the therapy room
• Occupational therapists as part of the multidisciplinary team
• The necessary support structures for therapists

An essential text for any therapist working in the field of children’s mental health, this book provides readers with an effective approach in their clinical work with children and their families, bringing together an understanding of trauma, psychodynamic theory and play.