Child-Led Therapy for Children with Complex Trauma: 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. 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.

Gita Ingram is an occupational therapist and systemic practitioner who worked in a child and adolescent mental health service as Head of Occupational Therapy and then manager of a specialist team for children in the care system. She is now an independent trainer and consultant, and writes about play and psychodynamic approaches.

Susie Reade is an occupational therapist who worked in a child and adolescent mental health service as clinical specialist in the sexual trauma team. She is learning British Sign Language and now volunteers in services for deaf children. She is an exhibiting visual artist.

Annie Green is an occupational therapist and counsellor who worked for many years in a child and adolescent mental health service as Head of Occupational Therapy and clinical specialist in the child trauma team. She is now an exhibiting visual artist.