This volume explores how traumatized children can lead their own healing through expressive therapies. Eliana Gil and contributing master clinicians present case studies demonstrating the power of play, art, and other expressive modalities in helping children overcome overwhelming experiences like sexual abuse and chronic neglect. The book details what posttraumatic play looks like, how it fosters resilience and coping, and strategies for engaging difficult-to-reach children. It also addresses how to intervene when a child's play becomes stuck in destructive patterns, aiming to promote mastery and growth.

This book is presented as an invaluable resource for mental health professionals working with children, including psychologists, social workers, play and art therapists, counselors, family therapists, and psychiatrists. It is also intended as a supplemental text for clinically oriented graduate-level courses. The contributors share effective strategies for engaging children and building therapeutic relationships, focusing on the child's capacity to guide their own healing process.