How do children emotionally heal and regain equilibrium after suffering trauma? How do adults understand and help them in a therapeutic relationship? These questions are at the heart of Violet Oaklander's approach to play therapy and her methods for training adults to work with children and adolescents. In this text, Peter Mortola uses qualitative and narrative methods of analysis to document and detail Oaklander's work in a two-week summer training attended by child therapists from around the world.
This was such a helpful book for putting gestalt ideas into practice. it really provided a framework for applying Oaklander's teachings. Before this book, I felt like I was trying her practices without directions, rhyme, or reason other than loving her work. But now, I feel so much more confident in apply Gestalt practices with children
If only we could all enjoy a one-on-one training experience with Violet Oaklander herself. It was great to understand the methods of gestalt play therapy at work and to read examples of them in practice with children.