Narrative Approaches in Play with Children

Narrative play is a way of communicating with children using imaginative stories and narratives to share and make sense of life events. This book describes using narrative play therapeutically with children who have lived in multiple families, children who have problems with social understanding and children who have learning difficulties.Ann Cattanach explains how children's stories and narratives, whether they are about real or imagined events, can be interpreted as indicators of their experiences, their ideas, and a dimension of who they are. She demonstrates this with examples of children's stories from her clinical experience, and provides narrative play techniques and sample scripts both for therapists and for parents whose circumstances require a therapeutic parenting approach.This book is essential reading for play therapists, social workers and other professionals working with children, as well as parents and carers of children who are experiencing social and/or learning difficulties.

Ann Cattanach is a play therapist and dramatherapist in private practice in Scotland. She has wide experience of teaching and lecturing in drama, dramatherapy and speech communication, and has also worked as a child psychotherapist, family therapist and dramatherapist for Social Services and NHS Trusts. She has written many books including Process in the Arts Therapies, Play Therapy: Where the Sky Meets the Underworld and Play Therapy with Abused Children, all published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Alternative names:

• UBC Press Narrative Approaches in Play with Children book Paperback 208 pages