Creative Psychotherapy ─ Applying the Principles of Neurobiology to Play and Expressive Arts-Based Practice

Creative Psychotherapy brings together the expertise of leading authors and clinicians from around the world to synthesise what we understand about how the brain develops, the neurological impact of trauma and the development of play. The authors explain how to use this information to plan developmentally appropriate interventions and guide creative counselling across the lifespan.

The book includes a theoretical rationale for various creative media associated with particular stages of neural development, and examines how creative approaches can be used with all client groups suffering from trauma. Using case studies and exemplar intervention plans, the book presents ways in which creative activities can be used sequentially to support healing and development in young children, adolescents and adults.

Creative Psychotherapy will be of interest to mental health professionals working with children, adolescents and adults, including play and arts therapists, counsellors, family therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and teachers. It will also be a valuable resource for clinically oriented postgraduate students, and therapists who work with victims of interpersonal trauma.

Dr Justine Howard is an Associate Professor at the College of Human and Health Science at Swansea University. She is a Chartered Psychologist and specialist in Developmental and Therapeutic Play. Her consultancy activity has included the delivery of training courses in play for a wide range of professional groups across children’s services. She is internationally recognised as an expert in play and child development and has published numerous journal articles, book chapters and books in this field.

Eileen Prendiville is the Course Director for the MA Creative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy at Ireland’s Children’s Therapy Centre. She is heavily involved in providing play therapy and creative psychotherapy training, both nationally and internationally. She devised ‘The Therapeutic Touchstone’, an innovative approach for use when working with vulnerable and dependent clients and with Justine Howard, co-authored Play Therapy Today: Contemporary Practice for Individuals, Groups and Parents.