Speaking about the Unspeakable: Non-Verbal Methods and Experiences in Therapy with Children

Front Cover
Dennis McCarthy
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, May 10, 2008 - Psychology - 160 pages

Children do not always have the capacity or need to express themselves through words. They often succeed in saying more about their feelings and experiences by communicating non-verbally through play and other expressive, creative activities.

The basic premise of Speaking about the Unspeakable is that life's most pivotal experiences, both good and bad, can be truly expressed via the language of the imagination. Through creativity and play, children are free to articulate their emotions indirectly. The contributors, all experienced child therapists, describe a wide variety of non-verbal therapeutic techniques, including clay, sand, movement and nature therapy, illustrating their descriptions with moving case studies from their professional experience.

Accessible and engaging, this book will inspire child psychologists and therapists, art therapists and anyone with an interest in therapeutic work with children.

 

Contents

FOREWORD
9
Introduction
11
Chapter 1 The Hidden Treasure of the Self
17
Speaking with Clay
27
Chapter 3 Speaking with the Body Using DanceMovement Therapy to Enhance Communication and Healing with Young Childr en
45
Chapter 4 Speaking with Silence Play Therapy with Selective Mute Children
60
Healing through Nature
76
Chapter 6 Speaking with the Imagination
89
Chapter 8 The Healing Power of Creative Expression
115
Chapter 9 Getting to the Core Moving through the Language Barrier
130
Chapter 10 Quicksand Provocation to Change
143
Epilogue
151
CONTRIBUTORS
155
SUBJECT INDEX
158
AUTHOR INDEX
160
Copyright

Chapter 7 DanceMovement Therapy with Children
100

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Page 6 - The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
Page 142 - Imagery in post-traumatic stress disorder: an overview.

About the author (2008)

Dennis McCarthy is a licensed mental health counselor in New York state and is the director of Metamorfos Institute. He is a psychotherapist working with both children and adults and specializing in sandplay and dream work. Initially trained as a dancer, he weaves the body's innate urge to move into all of his work.

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