The role of non-directive and directive/focused approaches to play and expressive arts therapy for children, adolescents, and adults

There are many approaches to play therapy and expressive arts that can be used in the therapeutic treatment of children, adolescents, and adults (Nash and Schaefer, 2011; Drewes and Bratton, 2014; Graves-Alcorn and Green, 2014; Frey, 2015; Gardner, 2015). These approaches range along a continuum from nondirective to focused/directive (Yasenik and Gardner, 2012). This chapter is designed to introduce play therapy and expressive arts therapies to professionals new to the field and to provide clarity about the various approaches to play therapy and expressive arts therapies for more experienced practitioners.