The Therapeutic Play Group

Originally published in 1971, this title is a comprehensive and detailed presentation of the principles and practices of an activity-type, experimental form of group therapy which had proved successful with emotionally disturbed, pre-pubertal children at the time. Mortimer Schiffer describes the clinical procedures and rehabilitative programs that were developed, over a period of many years, through experience of more than a hundred therapeutic play groups.

One play group, conducted in a public elementary school in an underprivileged community of a large city, is examined from its inception to its termination after more than three years of meetings. Thus the reader is able to study the psycho-dynamics of a group, and to appreciate the special meaning of the school environment when it is used as a setting for therapeutic group practice. As the author says, "The school is not only advantageously situated with respect to the identification of developmental problems in young children, but it also has great potential for carrying out preventive and rehabilitative programs. No other community resource – including the mental health agencies – can match the potential of school-based programs for countering mal-experience in the lives of children."

This book will be of interest to psychiatrists, social workers and psychologists who work with emotionally disturbed children, and also to teachers in special education and to other school personnel involved with children who have adjustment problems.