This is the first book of its kind to provide an overview of key aspects of play and play therapy, considering play on a continuum from generic aspects through to more specific applied and therapeutic techniques and as a standalone discipline.

"Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapyis a delightful collection of stories, research, experiences from play practitioners across multicultural contexts. What is most fascinating about this play potpourri is the range it is able to cover from children as play experts in co-research, to use of play in classroom, work place, health space to play as core medium for healing and therapy. This innovative handbook by Sue and Clive is an ultimate encyclopedia on play that will treasured by therapists, teachers, paediatricians, parents and play campaigners across the world for many generations. " - Shelja Sen, Family Therapist

"Bringing perspectives from around the world to consider play across time and cultures and in a broad range of disciplines, artistic forms, settings and creative spaces, this handbook offers an in indispensable point of entry and a timely journey through this multifaceted field." - Dr Maggie O’Neill, NUI Galway

"I celebrate Clive Holmwood and Sue Jennings in showing how "play and the arts are intrinsically linked." The silos of professions, and of the arts themselves, too often block access to this natural interdependence of imagination advancing the whole of life—even the workplace. Children model a life-affirming creative intelligence involving all of the senses, ways of playing needed to create, heal, and be in the world in the most complete and organic ways. Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy, and its global community of authors, reinforce the vital role of play in our common humanity." - Shaun McNiff, Professor, Lesley University

"The importance of play for human development is paramount. Neurosciences showed that play is ingrained in our brain, generating the basic emotion of joy, and, at least since Froebel, we know that a large amount of what children learn, is learnt through play. Notwithstanding that, we can perceive everywhere what Roger Caillois called the ‘debasement of play’, the lacking of spontaneity, creativity and freedom. How can these virtues of play be recovered? This precious book offers a whole range of reflections on the matter in a multicultural perspective, and suggests many powerful ways to engage with play and restore its therapeutic potentiality." – Salvo Pitruzzella, Centro ArtiTerapie, Lecco, Italy

"Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy is a delightful collection of stories, research, experiences from play practitioners across multicultural contexts. What is most fascinating about this play potpourri is the range it is able to cover, from children as play experts in co-research to use of play in classroom, work place, health space to play as core medium for healing and therapy. This innovative handbook by Sue and Clive is an ultimate encyclopedia on play that will treasured by therapists, teachers, paediatricians, parents and play campaigners across the world for many generations. " - Shelja Sen, Family Therapist

"Bringing perspectives from around the world to consider play across time and cultures and in a broad range of disciplines, artistic forms, settings and creative spaces, this handbook offers an indispensable point of entry and a timely journey through this multifaceted field." - Dr Maggie O’Neill, NUI Galway, Ireland

"I celebrate Clive Holmwood and Sue Jennings in showing how 'play and the arts are intrinsically linked.' The silos of professions, and of the arts themselves, too often block access to this natural interdependence of imagination advancing the whole of life - even the workplace. Children model a life-affirming creative intelligence involving all of the senses and ways of playing needed to create, heal and be in the world in the most complete and organic ways. Routledge International Handbook of Play, Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy, and its global community of authors, reinforce the vital role of play in our common humanity." - Shaun McNiff, Professor, Lesley University, USA

"The importance of play for human development is paramount. Neurosciences showed that play is ingrained in our brain, generating the basic emotion of joy, and, at least since Froebel, we know that a large amount of what children learn is learnt through play. Notwithstanding that, we can perceive everywhere what Roger Caillois called the ‘debasement of play,’ the lacking of spontaneity, creativity and freedom. How can these virtues of play be recovered? This precious book offers a whole range of reflections on the matter in a multicultural perspective, and suggests many powerful ways to engage with play and restore its therapeutic potentiality." – Salvo Pitruzzella, Centro ArtiTerapie, Lecco, Italy

Sue Jennings is Professor of Play (European Federation); Distinguished Scholar at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; Senior Research Fellow, The Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, UK; and a retired play therapist and dramatherapist. She is the originator of Neuro-Dramatic-Play (NDP) and is a pioneer of dramatherapy around the world.

Clive Holmwood is an associate professor, lecturer, researcher, author and doctoral supervisor in the Department of Therapeutic Arts at the University of Derby, UK. He is a consultant dramatherapist with 25 years post-qualifying experience working in the public and voluntary sectors and in private practice as a director of Creative Solutions Therapy Ltd. He is also an NDP practitioner and associate director of NDP.