Following the work of Vygotsky, this paper explores three dimensions of change in play therapy: linear, additive, and emergent pivotal structures. In therapeutic play, the child expresses actions and initiates movements, sounds, and gestures. Then, seemingly "out of the blue," the child shifts such gestures to an episode containing…

Explores the wonders of life, as functions of children and parents in change. Describes the process of participation in play therapy. Presents examples of cases in progress. (Author/KS)

Presents a case where psychiatry and family therapy were used concurrently to treat a family disorder. The use of two modalities allowed the therapists to see the distress their prescriptions inflicted on the child. Concluded that family therapists should consider how their interventions affect young, vulnerable family members. (BH)

Employing the notions of Vygotsky, Bruner, Sutton-Smith and Csikszentmihalyi, this paper theoretically examines a millisecond of time in a typical play therapy session. The case of a child's attempt to establish contact with reality in play through the therapist is explored. (Author/PAS)

Emphasizes the importance of play therapy for hospitalized children. Describes separation anxiety and psychological patterns including protest, despair, and denial. Describes the play therapy program at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, which helps children express their fears and cope with anxiety. (JAC)

Poetry, art and music are avenues open to the play therapist in optimizing self-help processes within children. Using creative events in the counseling-learning process helps children bridge gaps between fantasy and reality. Art and creativity may be the better conceptual base for counseling children and building educational theory. (Author)

Child Life Programs in hospital settings aim to involve children in activities and relationships appropriate to their needs. Child Life programming is an essential component of health care, as it promotes: (1) advocacy for children, families, and individuals; (2) the sharing of resources and knowledge; (3) cohesion in the health care team; and (4)…

A practicum designed to strengthen and expand day care staff members' knowledge about working with preschool children from crisis families had the following goals: (1) to provide staff with information about children in stressful situations; (2) to help staff recognize child behaviors that call for special attention; (3) to help staff implement…