This work addresses the many practical questions asked by beginning psychotherapists, yet largely ignored in the child psychotherapy literature. Issues discussed include managing difficult child behavior, relating to the child’s parents and teachers, appropriate and inappropriate play techniques, and dealing with termination. Each question is answered with several alternative suggestions for the reader’s consideration.

The issues discussed here are common among various theoretical approaches. For instance, handling a child’s refusal to separate from the mother on the first visit, giving and receiving gifts, and preserving the child’s confidentiality are questions facing the behavior therapist, the existential therapist, and the psychodynamic therapist alike. Addressing specific, practical issues with suggestions that can be starting points for discussion between therapist and supervisor, this is an ideal manual for the beginning therapist, as well as for those more experienced. (159 pages)