The following is a guide to information, including books, av materials, journal articles and websites available through the Library Resource Centre at Library Support Services in the Winnipeg School Division on "Play Therapy." If you wish to obtain any of the information, please call the Library Resource Centre at 788-0203 ext. 143, or come down and visit our library. We are located in the Prince Charles Educational Resource Centre at 1075 Wellington Avenue.

Updated June 2005


616.89156 GIL
Gil, Eliana.  Play in family therapy.  New York: Guildford Press, 1994.  

618.92 MCN
McNeil, Cheryl Bodiford.  Short-term play therapy for disruptive children.  King of Prussia, PN: Center for Applied Psychology, 1996.

618.928916 GIL
Gil, Eliana.  The Healing power of play : Working with abused children.  New York: Guildford Press, 1991.

618.928916 WEB
Webb, Nancy Boyd.  Play therapy with children in crisis : A Casebook for practitioners.  New York: Guildford Press, 1991.

618.92891653 KOT
Kottman, Terry.  Partners in play : An Adlerian approach to play therapy.  Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association, 1995.

618.92891653 SHO
Short-term play therapy for children.  New York: Guilford Press, c2000.


Essentials of play therapy with abused children.  New York: Guilford Publications, 1998. 1 videocassette (40 min.) + 1 manual.
SUMMARY:  Information is provided on the impact of abuse and suggestions are given for specific play therapy techniques.  Audience:  A.  Media Booking # VHS0002804

An Interview with Kevin J. O’Connor : "Interpreting children's verbalizations in play therapy".  King of Prussia: Center for Applied Psychology, 1994. 1 cassette (1 hr., 27 min.) + 1 transcript.
SUMMARY:  Dr. O'Connor discusses his theory of EcoSystemic Play Therapy, one of the few approaches which truly integrates the best of the major play therapy techniques. Dr. O'Connor discusses how to effectively make verbal interventions in play therapy, how to choose the appropriate toys to "direct" the play therapy, and how to consider all the factors which influence the child's progress in therapy.  Audience:  A.  Media Booking # KITVH01295

Techniques of play therapy : A Clinical demonstration.  New York: Guilford Publications, 1994. 1 videocassette (50 min.) + 1 manual/discussion guide.
SUMMARY:  Video assists in establishing a basic foundation of familiarity with the materials and techniques of play therapy for viewers who lack first-hand experience with children, their toys, and their typical modes of interaction. Also provides clinical examples for experienced therapists.  Audience:  A.  Media Booking # VHS0002354


Carroll, Jo.  “Play therapy : The Children's views.”  Child & Family Social Work 7.3 (2002): 177-187.

Johnson, Brian D.  “Parent training through play : Parent-child interaction therapy with a hyperactive child.”  Family Journal 8.2 (2000): 180-186.

Jones, Anne M.  “An account of play therapy with an abused child from a different ethnic background to the therapist.”  Children & Society 16.3 (2002): 195-205.

Leblanc, Michael and Martin Ritchie.  “A Meta-analysis of play therapy outcomes.”  Counselling Psychology Quarterly 14.2 (2001): 149-16.

Ray, Dee C. et al.  “Play therapy practices among elementary school counselors.”  Professional School Counseling 8.4 (2005): 360-365.

Rotter, Joseph C.  “Play and family therapy.”  Family Journal 8.2 (2000): 172-176.

Wilson, Kate and Virginia Ryan.  “Helping parents by working with their children in individual child therapy.”  Child & Family Social Work 6.3 (2001): 209-217.

Yih-Jiun Shen and Christopher A. Sink.  “Helping elementary-age children cope with disasters.”  Professional School Counseling 5.5 (2002): 322-330.


Association for Play Therapy, Inc. 2005. 27 Jun. 2005 http://www.a4pt.org/

Play therapy for children. 27 Jun. 2005 http://www.playtherapyforchildren.com/index.html

Play Therapy International. March 2005. 27 Jun. 2005 http://www.playtherapy.ca/

Center for Play Therapy. University of North Texas. 2002. 27 Jun. 2005 http://www.coe.unt.edu/cpt/