Counseling Families: Play-Based Treatment

Counseling Families: Play-Based Treatment offers an engaging and practical integration of expressive arts and play therapy within family counseling. Building upon the most current research in family counseling, this volume presents new and humanistic approaches of family play therapy, including family-based cognitive behavioral therapy, family theraplay, and filial therapy. Application of these methods is explored with children and families affected by autism, divorce, and trauma. Essential coverage of the ethics of family play therapy as well as the therapist’s own self-care is also included in this comprehensive and valuable resource. Counseling Families: Play-Based Treatment provides clinicians and family counselors with an integrative and effective model of family counseling that will help children and families understand and develop their mental health needs.

Jennifer N. Baggerly, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S is a Professor of Counseling and play therapy at the University of North Texas at Dallas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor with over 25 years of play therapy experience. Dr. Baggerly also provides counseling and play therapy at Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health in Flower Mound Texas. She is an award-winning Counselor Educator and distinguished leader in the field of counseling and play therapy. Some of her notable awards across the decades include UNT Dallas Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Award (2022), Texas Counseling Association Outstanding Supervisor Award (2021), Viola Brody Outstanding Play Therapist Award (2005), and Post-Secondary Counselor of the Year for Hillsborough Counseling Association (2004). She served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association for Play Therapy from 2013-2014 and was a member of the board from 2009-2015. With over 75 publications, Dr. Baggerly is recognized as a prominent expert in children’s crisis intervention and play therapy. She has provided Disaster Response Play Therapy throughout the world including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, tsunami in Sri Lanka, Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, hurricanes in Florida, and tornados in Texas and Oklahoma. She demonstrated her play therapy skills through several training videos such as Disaster Mental Health and Crisis Stabilization for Children and Trauma Informed Child Centered Play Therapy.