Speaking about the Unspeakable
Non-Verbal Methods and Experiences in Therapy with Children
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Children do not always have the capacity or need to express themselves through words. They often succeed in saying more about their feelings and experiences by communicating non-verbally through play and other expressive, creative activities.
The basic premise of Speaking about the Unspeakable is that life's most pivotal experiences, both good and bad, can be truly expressed via the language of the imagination. Through creativity and play, children are free to articulate their emotions indirectly. The contributors, all experienced child therapists, describe a wide variety of non-verbal therapeutic techniques, including clay, sand, movement and nature therapy, illustrating their descriptions with moving case studies from their professional experience.
Accessible and engaging, this book will inspire child psychologists and therapists, art therapists and anyone with an interest in therapeutic work with children.
The basic premise of Speaking about the Unspeakable is that life's most pivotal experiences, both good and bad, can be truly expressed via the language of the imagination. Through creativity and play, children are free to articulate their emotions indirectly. The contributors, all experienced child therapists, describe a wide variety of non-verbal therapeutic techniques, including clay, sand, movement and nature therapy, illustrating their descriptions with moving case studies from their professional experience.
Accessible and engaging, this book will inspire child psychologists and therapists, art therapists and anyone with an interest in therapeutic work with children.
- Published: May 10 2008
- Pages: 160
- 232 x 156mm
- ISBN: 9781843108795
Press Reviews
Counselling children and young people
One of the greatest challenges in talking therapies must be when the client is unable to talk, or choose not to. Speaking about the unspeakable is an inspirational book that introduces a treasure trove of creative techniques, and fascinating details of how a range of therapies have facilitated change in particular case studies. I would highly recommend this book to all practictioners who work with children, since the exploration of the diverse ways of working with children is likely to inspire, broaden possibilities, and engender interest in further reading or training.
Drama Therapy
The contributors are clearly experienced and skilled therapists and it was inspiring and reassuring to read about the healing and change that becomes possible through the use of the non-verbal methods which enable children to communicate their, at times, truly horrific experiences... Speaking the Unspeakable has truly described healing through applied imagination and as Dennis McCarthy says in his epilogue, "it is the imagination that allows us to speak about the unspeakable and then go forward into life".
Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal
This small book, a compilation of experiences from a number of seasoned child therapists, offers an incredible breadth of insight on how to effectively and meaningfully connect with children in an effort to guide them to a place of health.
Nor Hall, Ph.D.
The imaginative therapies described in this book offer a welcome counter-balance to medical trends dominating the current practice of children's therapy. Inspired practitioners experienced in listening to buried, altered or muted voices of traumatized children invite us into their consulting rooms to witness the unique ways the soul speaks in images, movement and sound.
Suzi Tortora, Ed.D.
This book is an offering to all our senses enabling us to delve into the powerful sphere of the implicit, making tangible aspects of self that have been difficult to reach in more traditional psychotherapeutic practices. I highly recommend this book for all readers, as a therapeutic tool, a guide to understanding your child's play, or to stimulate your own self-expression. Accept the offering and receive a gift that will inspire your thinking as well as your creative sense.
Imogen Gorman, Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist, Argentina
Debate - British Psychological SocietyThis book explores and considers a variety of non-verbal therapeutic methods to explore with children whom are 'unspeakable'. Edited by Dennis McCarthy, a licensed mental health counsellor and play therapist... I found the book as a whole to be thought provoking and useful... this is a valuable book to enable reflection upon one's own practice when working therapeutically with children.