EMDR and play therapy: A playful integration for treatment of childhood sexual abuse

This chapter discusses integrating EMDR therapy and play therapy for the treatment of child sexual abuse (CSA).

About the Chapter

“Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) offers a treatment approach for child sexual abuse (CSA) which has research support and can often work quickly to treat the symptoms of posttraumatic stress in children. Integrating EMDR within a play therapy setting with many options for movement and creative expression increases the child’s ability to enter these memory networks briefly, manage the strong feelings which may arise and express these even when there are no clear words or they may have dissociated parts of the sexual abuse experience. Involving current caregivers when appropriate can magnify the treatment effect.”

—Description from publisher

Chapter Access

Purchase/Subscription Required

Beckley-Forest, A., & Monaco, A. J. (2026).  EMDR and play therapy: A playful integration for treatment of childhood sexual abuse. In S. Kenney-Noziska (Ed.) Play therapy and childhood sexual abuse: A clinical guide to practice. (Chapter 15). Routledge.

Book Access

Purchase/Subscription Required

Kenney-Noziska, S. (2026).  Play therapy and childhood sexual abuse: A clinical guide to practice. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003451549

• ISBN: 9781003451549