Creative Psychotherapy

Eileen Prendiville is the founder and Director of Academic Affairs at the Children’s Therapy Centre (CTC) in Ireland. Eileen is a creative psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer. CTC delivers MA level training in Creative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy, and a range of Practitioner Awards and related courses for mental health.Justine Howard, PhD, is a Chartered Psychologist and Therapeutic Play Specialist. She holds a British Academy Research Chair and is research lead at the Children’s Therapy Centre, Ireland. An experienced practitioner, consultant and trainer across educational, recreational and therapeutic contexts, she is widely published and an internationally recognised expert in the field.

• DedicationsAbout the EditorsContributorsForewordDr Bruce PerryContentsIntroductionEileen Prendiville and Justine HowardPart 1: Applying the principles of neurobiology to play and expressive arts-based practice1 Neurobiology for psychotherapists: A two-way streetEileen Prendiville2 Key principles and advances in neurobiologically informed psychotherapyEileen Prendiville, Justine Howard and Katharine Selby3 The role of non-directive and directive/Focused approaches to play and expressive arts therapy for children, adolescents, and adultsRebecca Dickinson and Kristin Meany-Walen4 Counselling skills in action with children, adolescents and adultsLorri Yasenik and Ken GardnerPart 2: Working with the Brainstem and Midbrain5 The role of music and rhythm in the development, integration and repair of the selfEimir McGrath6 Being, becoming and healing through movement and touchMaggie Fearn and Pablo Troccoli7 Coming Alive: Finding joy through sensory play Siobhán Prendiville and Maggie Fearn Part 3: Working with the Limbic and Cortical Systems8 Thera-Build® with LEGO®: Sequencing Play for Regulation, Relationship and Reflection through a Neurosequential LensAlyson Thomsen, Sarra Boukhari and Justine Howard9 Image Medication: The healing power of images in art psychotherapyClaire Colreavy Donnelly10 Sandtray Therapy: A neurobiological approachDaniel S. Sweeney11 Creating Change: Stories as Therapeutic AgentsEileen Prendiville12 Touchstone Story – A Neuroscientific and Neurosequential Therapeutic NarrativeCarol Duffy 13 A Growing Brain – A growing imaginationKaren StagnittiAfterwordDr Stephen PorgesIndex

'As I reflect on the conceptual and clinical material woven through this volume, I am struck by the convergence of science, practice, and human connection that animates its chapters. This text exemplifies what it means to translate neuroscience into healing practice—not as abstract theory, but as a framework rooted in safety, engagement, and respect for developmental and individual trajectories.This revised volume exemplifies the editors’ thoughtful curation and their ongoing dedication to fostering therapeutic approaches that integrate neuroscience with the expressive arts. Their work creates an essential platform for bridging scientific understanding with clinical application, making this edition a timely and meaningful contribution to the field.'Dr. Stephen W. Porges, Phd'This book is an example of an opportunity to listen and learn from each other. There are a valuable range of therapeutic perspectives and approaches presented here. Each author has experience and expertise in their unique approach – yet each anchor their work in the unifying perspective of neurobiology.The integration of core aspects of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics into the various play and expressive arts-based therapeutic practices presented in this new edition, yield valuable insights and more effective application of the various evidence-based therapeutic tools available to our clinical teams.'Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.Praise for the 1st Edition ‘This book is a timely and valuable gift to the field of play and expressive arts-based psychotherapy. Neurosequential development is essential knowledge for therapists who work with individuals across the lifespan and specifically to address concerns arising in childhood. Prendiville and Howard have logically sequenced this volume to incorporate neurobiological principles with targeted sensory interventions for lower brain regions and with creative art, narrative and imaginative play interventions to progress neural integration for higher brain systems. A synaptic tree of therapeutic knowledge.’ Judi Parson, PhD, RN, APPTA RPT-S: Lecturer in Mental Health - Child Play Therapy at Deakin University, Australia ‘Creative Psychotherapy is a fantastic addition to the child therapy literature. This volume offers a wonderfully rich integration of current neurobiological research with various play and expressive therapeutic practices. The worlds of clinical practice and developmental research often exist in parallel. Creative Psychotherapy helps bridge these worlds, to the benefit of practitioners, researchers, and most importantly, the children who we try to understand and help.’ Henry Kronengold, PhD, Clinical Supervisor, Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, City University of New York, USA ‘I enjoyed the book immensely. I felt like I walked right into it and couldn't leave it alone! Some areas I read and re-read several times, then was so intrigued I went to the reference texts to study them. I'm excited to see where this goes!’ Joan Wilson, Registered Psychotherapist, Certified Play Therapy Supervisor, Trainer and Supervisor with the Theraplay® Institute