Play in Family Therapy

By: Eliana Gil PhD, Matthew D. Selekman MSW

Narrated by: Allison Posner

This classic guide has helped tens of thousands of therapists integrate play therapy and family therapy techniques in clinical practice.

Eliana Gil demonstrates a broad range of verbal and nonverbal strategies for engaging all family members—including those who are ambivalent toward therapy—and tailoring interventions for different types of presenting problems. Numerous case examples illustrate ways to effectively use puppets, storytelling, art making, the family play genogram, drama, and other expressive techniques with children, adolescents, and their parents. Gil offers specific guidance for becoming a more flexible, creative practitioner. The second edition features all-new case material and discusses how recent advances in neuroscience can inform creative interventions. The audiobook includes examples of therapeutic interactions, engagingly read by multiple narrators; images of client artwork are provided in the online supplement.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2015 The Guilford Press (P)2024 The Guilford Press

Critic reviews

“Every family and child therapist should read this book! Gil is the most creative family play therapist and teacher I have ever known. This second edition is the culmination of her career spent working in the trenches. She has translated her ability into a highly readable and useful guide that is straightforward and clear without oversimplifying issues, which takes genius. This book will be indispensable for any therapist interested in helping families—which nearly always requires working with children—and vice versa. Gil offers a brilliant summary of the roots of family play therapy and describes her fantastic work with family members to transform their problems and find imaginative solutions.”—Monica McGoldrick, LCSW, PhD (h.c.), Director, Multicultural Family Institute, Highland Park, New Jersey

"In the second edition of her pioneering book on family play therapy, Gil has greatly amplified her unique contribution to the field. Gil stands alone in her masterful blend of solid theory; creativity; and spirited, playful engagement with families. The use of metaphor is one of the special gifts of both the author and this book. It features compelling illustrations of a wide range of clinically astute interventions that facilitate secure attachments in families. This positive, hopeful book will be treasured by clinicians and will ignite further enthusiasm for Gil's integrative treatment model."—David A. Crenshaw, PhD, ABPP, RPT-S, Clinical Director, Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, New York

"This book has been a valuable resource for me in clinical practice, and for many years has been a required text in the play therapy courses I teach. The second edition provides a number of important updates. Therapists working with children, teens, and their families will benefit from Gil's thoughtful, integrative approach."—John W. Seymour, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, Department of Counseling and Student Personnel, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Integrative and Practical

Clinicians trained in family/systemic models can gain tremendously by integrating play therapy interventions into their relational work with the encouragement and practical applications contained in this book. Highly recommend it!