School-Based

Play Therapy
Second Edition
School-Based
Play Therapy
Second Edition

Edited by
Athena A. Drewes
Charles E. Schaefer

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This book is printed on acid-free paper. 
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
School-based play therapy/Athena A. Drewes, Charles E. Schaefer [editors]. 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-37140-4 (cloth)
1. School psychologyUnited States. 2. Play therapyUnited States.
I. Drewes, Athena A., 1948- II. Schaefer, Charles E.
LB1027.55.S34 2010
155.418dc22 2009020117
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
 This book is dedicated to
Scott Richard Drewes Bridges and Seth Andrew Bridges
and
Irene and Eric Schaefer
 Contents

Preface xi
Contributors xiii

PART I PLAY THERAPY: ITS THERAPEUTIC POWER

AND RESEARCH EFFECTS
1 The Therapeutic Powers of Play and Play Therapy 3
Charles E. Schaefer and Athena A. Drewes
2 Meeting the Early Mental Health Needs of Children
Through School-Based Play Therapy: A Review of
Outcome Research 17
Sue C. Bratton

PART II IMPLEMENTING PLAY THERAPY

IN THE SCHOOLS
3 Guidelines for Incorporating Play Therapy in
the Schools 61
Kristi Perryman and Judy Doran
4 Challenges and Barriers to Implementing Play
Therapy in Schools 87
Dee C. Ray

PART III PLAY-BASED ASSESSMENTS

5 Using Play Therapy Assessment in an Elementary and
Intermediate School Setting 107
Mary May Schmidt
6 Transdisciplinary Play-Based Assessment and
Intervention in the Primary Years 123
Toni Linder and Brittney Bixby

vii
viii CONTENTS

PART IV PLAY-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMS WITH

PARAPROFESSIONALS AND TEACHERS
7 Helping Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
Foster Play in the Classroom 145
Karen Stagnitti
8 Primary Project: An Evidenced-Based Approach 163
Mary Anne Peabody, Deborah Johnson, and
A. Dirk Hightower
9 ChildTeacher Relationship Training: Using the
Power of the ChildTeacher Relationship as a
School-Based Mental Health Intervention 181
Mary O. Morrison and Wendy Pretz Helker
10 Treating Disruptive Classroom Behaviors of
Preschoolers through TeacherChild
Interaction Therapy 197
David McIntosh

PART V INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PLAY THERAPY

APPROACHES
11 LEGO1-Based Play Therapy for Autistic
Spectrum Children 221
Daniel B. LeGoff, G. W. Krauss, and Sarah Allen Levin
12 Trauma-Focused Group Play Therapy in the Schools 237
Yih-Jiun Shen
13 Group Sandplay in Elementary Schools 257
Theresa Kestly
14 Play Therapy for Anger Management in
the Schools 283
Barbara A. Fischetti
15 Group Play Interventions for Children with Attention
Decit/Hyperactivity Disorder 307
Linda A. Reddy

PART VI SPECIAL POPULATIONS AND

SPECIAL ISSUES
16 Play Therapy for Children of Alcoholics 333
Laura Jacobus-Kantor and James G. Emshoff
 Contents ix

17 Understanding and Generalizing Communication

Patterns in Children with Selective Mutism 359
Laurie Zelinger
18 Play, Create, Express, Understand: Bereavement
Groups in Schools 379
Ruthellen Griffin
19 Redrawing the Front Line: A Play Therapy Service for
Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Children and
Families in School 407
Geraldine Thomas
20 The Nanas Model: School-Based Play Therapy with
Children Who Are Homeless or Severely Impoverished 435
Ana Maria Sutton
21 Better Playtimes: A School-Based Therapeutic Play
Intervention for Staff and Children 467
Alison Woolf
Author Index 485
Subject Index 499
 Preface

I
F EVER WE needed play therapy in the schools, it is now! With the
rapid increase in school violence, bullying, homeless children and
families, angry and aggressive children, and children exposed to
chronic trauma situations, both human-made and by nature, play ther-
apy is needed more than ever in the schools. Schools are the place
where children spend a majority of their day, learning, socializing,
and having their self-esteem shaped. It makes sense that in this envi-
ronment, school clinicians would be able to have a signicant impact
in helping to heal children and adolescents suffering from emotional
and behavioral difculties. The healing powers of play as a treatment
modality and play in therapy or counseling can signicantly help chil-
dren and adolescents decrease their emotional and behavioral difcul-
ties. With the growth of play therapy as a respected modality, many
school counselors, psychologists, teachers, and social workers have
been searching for techniques that could be incorporated into their
school settings.
This second edition is born out of our desire to help meet school
clinicians needs. The invited authors in this text have many years of
expertise working in school settings, both in the public and private
sectors, and have a broad range of experience with the age groups that
they serve. They bring a wealth of knowledge on how to use play ther-
apy to work with children and adolescents in individual and group
settings and with a variety of tools.
Two-thirds of the chapters in this volume are new chapters focusing
on up-to-date approaches. The remaining one-third are chapters from
the rst edition that we felt were important to include. These chapters
have been updated to include recent developments over the last ten
years. This volume is divided into six parts. Part I addresses the ther-
apeutic power of play and offers a review of the outcome research of
school-based play therapy. Part II gives the school clinician practical
information on how to incorporate play therapy in the schools, along
with the concomittant challenges and barriers that are encountered.

xi
xii PREFACE

Part III addresses play-based assessments for the primary years and
for elementary and intermediate school settings. Part IV addresses
play-based prevention programs using paraprofessionals and teach-
ers. Part V focuses on individual and group play therapy approaches
that specically target children with autism, anger management dif-
culties, ADHD, and trauma. Part VI addresses special populations and
special issues encountered when using play therapy in the school set-
ting, such as parental alcoholism, selective mutism, homelessness, and
bereavement issues. All chapters are meant to be applicable to the
school or classroom setting. There are clear descriptions of each ap-
proach with suggestions as to how they might be implemented.
We hope that school clinicians and teachers will nd this second
edition a useful resource for helping the children and adolescents they
serve.
Athena A. Drewes
Charles E. Schaefer
November, 2009
 Contributors

Brittney Bixby, EdS candidate Barbara Fischetti, DEd, NCSP,

University of Denver ABPP, RPT
Morgridge College of Education Diplomate in School Psychology
Denver, Colorado Coordinator of Psychological
Services
Sue C. Bratton, PhD, LPC, RPT-S Westport Public Schools
Associate Professor Westport, Connecticut
Director, Center for Play Therapy
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas Ruthellen Grifn, MEd, MA,
ADTR
Judy Doran, MS, LPC, RPT Friends of Hospice, Litcheld and
Elementary School Counselor New Milford
Springeld Public Schools Visiting Nursing Association,
Springeld, Missouri New Milford
Visiting Nurses Services of
Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, RPT-S Connecticut
Director of Clinical Training and Torrington, West Cornwall,
APA-Accredited Doctoral Connecticut
Internship
Astor Services for Children &
Families Wendy Pretz Helker, PhD, LPC-S,
Poughkeepsie, New York NCC, RPT
Adjunct Professor Professional Counseling
Marist College, Poughkeepsie, Program
NY Texas State University
Sage College, Albany, NY San Marcos, Texas

James G. Emshoff, PhD A. Dirk Hightower, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychology Childrens Institute
Georgia State University Rochester, New York
Atlanta, Georgia

xiii
xiv CONTRIBUTORS

Laura L. Jacobus-Kantor, PhD Toni Linder, EdD

Assistant Research Professor Professor
Center for Integrated Behavioral Child, Family, and School
Health Policy Psychology
George Washington University University of Denver
Medical Center Morgridge College of Education
Washington, DC Denver, Colorado

Deborah Johnson David E. McIntosh, PhD

Childrens Institute Department of Special Education
Rochester, New York Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Theresa Kestly, PhD
Director, Program Development Mary O. Morrison, PhD, LPC-S,
and Training NCC, RPT-S
Sand Tray Training Institute of Assistant Professor
New Mexico Professional Counseling Program
Corrales, New Mexico Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas
G.W. Krauss, MA
Widener University Mary Anne Peabody, LCSW,
Department of Psychology RPT-S
Chester, Pennsylvania Interim Director of National
Services
Childrens Institute
Daniel B. LeGoff, PhD, LP
Rochester, New York
Director of Neuropsychology
Adjunct Associate Professor
The Center for Neurological and Kristi L. Perryman, PhD, LPC,
Neurodevelopmental Health RPT
Voorhees, New Jersey Assistant Professor
Counseling Program
Internship Coordinator
Sarah Allen Levin, MA
Missouri State University
Drexel University
Springeld, Missouri
Department of Psychology
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 Contributors xv

Dee C. Ray, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, Karen Stagnitti, PhD

RPTS Associate Professor
Associate Professor, Counseling School of Health and Social
Program Development
Director, Child and Family Deakin University
Resource Clinic Australia
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
Ana Maria Sutton, MA
Founder, Director of Clinical
Linda A. Reddy, PhD
Services
Associate Professor
Nanas Children Mental Health
Rutgers University
Foundation
Director, Child and Adolescent
Phoenix, Arizona
ADHD-Related Disorders Clinic
The Graduate School of Applied
and Professional Psychology Geraldine Thomas, MSc, MA
Piscataway, New Jersey Play Therapist, Supervisor,
Certied Filial Therapist-
Charles E. Schaefer, PhD, RPT-S Instructor
Professor Emeritus Member CAMHS Outreach
Director Emeritus of the Team
Association for Play Therapy Associate Researcher with
Fairleigh Dickinson University Lifespan Research
Teaneck, New Jersey United Kingdom

Mary May Schmidt, MS, MA, Alison Woolf, BEd

LMHC, RPT-S Masters in Play Therapy
Nationally Certied Counselor Director of Care-Northwest
Registered Play Therapist- United Kingdon
Supervisor
American Board of School
Neuropsychology, Diplomate Laurie Zelinger, MS, PhD,
Monticello, New York RPT-S
Child Psychologist
Yih-Jiun Shen, DEd, NCC, CSC Oceanside Public Schools
Assistant Professor Oceanside, New York
Department of Educational Private Practice
Psychology Cedarhurst, New York
The University of Texas-Pan
American
Edinburg, Texas