Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within

Winner of the 1988 Clark Vincent Award for an "outstanding contribution to the profession through a literary work" and translated into four languages, the original edition of Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within was considered a groundbreaking addition to the field of child and adolescent psychotherapy. The 1986 edition was the first—and to this day the only—book that solely intertwines the extraordinary foundational teachings and philosophies of Milton H. Erickson and creative healing approaches for children and adolescents. With resiliency at its core, this revision now brings forward important topics related to neurobiology and cultural value of metaphor and play, along with fresh case examples and creative activities to a new generation of mental health, education, and coaching professionals.

"If you work with kids, read this book: it will expand your therapeutic skills. Joyce Mills and Richard Crowley add contemporary neuroscience to their accumulated wisdom to tell an enlightening and captivating story. This book will magnify your healing power and remind you what you like best about doing the work you do."—Carl A. Hammerschlag, MD, author of The Dancing Healers and The Theft of the Spirit"Milton Erickson was a master at using experiential techniques to elicit strengths that were previously dormant. Mills and Crowley have masterfully captured essential elements of Erickson’s work and applied it to therapy with children. Easy to read, meticulously referenced, and filled with inspiring case studies, Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within has now been updated with important new findings, and it’s essential reading for clinicians who work with children as well as for those who want to improve their use of therapeutic metaphor."—Jeffrey K. Zeig, PhD, director of the Milton Erickson Foundation"This is a wonderfully refreshing revision of a genuine classic in the field of child and play therapy. Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within offers readers detailed insight and direction into the healing power that metaphors offers in clinical work. The authors seamlessly weave together theory, step-by-step technique, detailed case examples and helpful ways to blend expressive arts dimensions into a therapeutic metaphor. Both the inexperienced and experienced clinician will find this book useful for its uplifting and positive approach to fostering resilience in clients. This is a delightful book that should be on every child and play therapist’s book shelf."—Athena A. Drewes, PsyD, director of clinical training and APA Internship at Astor Services for Children & Families

Joyce C. Mills, PhD, is an award-winning, internationally recognized trainer, author, play therapist, consultant, and program development specialist. Founder of StoryPlay® Global and the StoryPlay® Certification Training Program, Dr. Mills is a co-director of the Phoenix Institute of Ericksonian Therapy and an adjunct faculty member of Argosy University in Phoenix, Arizona, and is on the board of directors of the Turtle Island Project. The author of numerous chapters in leading professional books, Dr. Mills is the co-author and author of eight books, including Reconnecting to the Magic of Life, The Butterfly Wisdom® Transformation Kit, Little Tree, and Gentle Willow. Richard J. Crowley, LCSW, PhD, has completed fellowships in community mental health and internships at Harvard University’s medical and psychiatric facilities. Author of Mentalball™: Beat Your Invisible Opponent at Its Own Game, Dr. Crowley is an internationally recognized sports psychologist and performance coach whose patent-pending process removes mental blocks not reached by other means. He is co-creator and developer of Imagine All Better, a life-changing mobile and web app designed to remove emotional and behavioral patterns. Dr. Crowley can be reached at ImagineAllBetter.com and Sportsmaker.com.