This book is unique in exploring the process of conducting short-term intensive group play therapy and the subsequent results. It focuses on play therapy with special populations of aggressive acting-out children, autistic children, chronically ill children, traumatized children, selective mute children, disassociative identity disorder adults with child alters, and the elderly.

The book addresses such vital issues as:

* How play therapy helps children

* Confidentiality in working with children

* How to work with parents

* What the play therapist needs to know about medications for children

The difficult dimension of diagnosis is clarified through specific descriptions of how the play therapist can use play behaviors to diagnose physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional maladjustment in children.