A Therapist's Guide to Child Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years

A Therapist's Guide to Child Development gives therapists and counselors the basics they need to understand their clients in the context of development and to explain development to parents.

The chapters take the reader through the various physical, social, and identity developments occurring at each age, explaining how each stage of development is closely linked to mental health and how that is revealed in therapy. This ideal guide for students, as well as early and experienced professionals, will also give readers the tools to communicate successfully with the child’s caregivers or teachers, including easy-to-read handouts that detail what kind of behaviors are not cause for concern and which behaviors mean it’s time to seek help. In the new edition, each chapter also includes new sections on brain development and cultural identity development, as well as updates on child development in the age of technology.

As an aid to practitioners, this book matches developmental ages with appropriate, evidence-based mental health interventions.

Dee C. Ray, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, is regents emeritus professor in the Counseling Program and director emeritus of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas. She is co-owner and play therapist at EmpathyWell, PLLC, in Highland Village, Texas.