This book deftly combines symbols, heartfelt feelings, relational theory, bibliotherapy, and several developmentally-appropriate and creative art strategies to ultimately bolster the empirically-validated and single most important curative component of child psychotherapy: the nonjudgmental, nonevaluative relationship between the counselor and client. Having incorporated Crenshaw's heartfelt feelings activity (Chapter 2) into my play therapy practice and graduate school training curriculum, I can affirm that my child clients, graduate students and supervised clinicians find it effective as the child is freed to express his/her feelings in nonthreatening ways. I highly recommend this book to graduate students and mental health practitioners searching for innovative ways to therapeutically engage and connect to young children and resistant adolescents. -- Eric Green, PhD,, Johns Hopkins University In this book, Dr. Crenshaw invites us into his office to watch over his shoulder as he and helpers such as 'Misunderstood Mouse' and 'Blow-Up Bernie' develop therapeutic relationships with children and adolescents who are facing major challenges in their lives. He then invites us into a conversation about the theory, best practice research, and practical resources for effective work with young clients and their families. This book is rich in content for both the reflective and active aspects of the therapeutic relationship. -- John W. Seymour, Ph.D., RPT-S, AAMFT supervisor, associate professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN This is one of the most engaging 'how-to' books in recent memory. It combines play, symbol work, storytelling and drawing in ways that provide symbolic links to a child's inner world. The stories themselves are gems and when combined with Dr. Crenshaw's intuitive and sensitive questioning, they serve all children well. This book provides a major contribution that is of importance for teh novice as well as for the more experienced practitioner. I only wish I had it many years ago! -- Lois Carey, LCSW, author, Sandplay: Therapy with Children and Families; editor of Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Tramua Survivors This book is a gem! Dr. Crenshaw presents a variety of incredibly helpful therapeutic strategies that you can use in your practice with children and adolescents. He does a beautiful job of outlining practical, easy-to-follow directions for the activities, along with touching case examples and citations of empirical research that make these techniques practical, therapeutically useful, and easy to "sell" to managed care providers. -- Terry Kottman, Ph.D., RPT-S, founder, The Encouragement Zone; author, Partners in Play: An Adlerian Approach to Play Therapy and Play Therapy: Basics and Bey
