EMDR Therapy and Integrative Approaches with Children

Abstract

Abstract EMDR therapy with children requires great developmental sensitivity and creativity to enhance therapeutic safety and engagement in the therapy. Integrating play therapy conceptualizations and interventions can enhance the congruence of the somatic, emotional, and cognitive shifts occurring during EMDR. This chapter will establish the importance of therapeutic play as a tool in clinical work with children and review of some major play therapy models (child-centered play therapy, Adlerian play therapy, synergetic play therapy, Gestalt play therapy, and prescriptive play therapy), their intersection with the Adaptive Information Processing model, and how these play therapy techniques can be integrated within the eight phases of EMDR.