Going beyond traditional play therapy, this innovative book presents a range of evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches that incorporate play as a key element. It is grounded in the latest knowledge about the importance of play in child development. Leading experts describe effective strategies for addressing a wide variety of clinical concerns, including behavioral difficulties, anxiety, parent-child relationship issues, trauma, and autism. The empirical support for each approach is summarized and clinical techniques are illustrated. The book also discusses school-based prevention programs that utilize play to support children's learning and social-emotional functioning. Chapters include: (1) Cognitive and Affective Processes in Play (Sandra W. Russ, Julie Fiorelli, and Sara Cain Spannagel); (2) Play and Interpersonal Processes (Jason F. Jent, Larissa N. Niec, and Sarah E. Baker); (3) Assessment and Pretend Play (Astrida Seja Kaugars); (4) Measuring Parent-Child Interactions through Play (Elizabeth Brestan Knight and Christie A. Salamone); (5) Play, Playfulness, and Creativity in Therapeutic Assessment with Children (Deborah J. Tharinger, Gina B. Christopher, and May Matson); (6) Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: The Role of Play in the Behavioral Treatment of Childhood Conduct Problems (Larissa N. Niec, Cheryl Gering, and Emily Abbenante); (7) The Use of Play in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Kristin M. Briggs, Melissa K. Runyon, and Esther Deblinger); (8) Play Interventions for Children with Autism (Connie Kasari, Linh Huynh, and Amanda C. Gulrud); (9) Integrating Play into Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Child Anxiety Disorders (Donna B. Pincus, Rhea M. Chase, Candice Chow, Courtney L. Weiner, and Jessica Pian); (10) Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy (Sue M. Knell and Meena Dasari); (11) The Importance of Play in Both the Assessment and Treatment of Young Children (Elizabeth J. Short, Maia Noeder, Suzanne Gorovoy, Michael J. Manos, and Barbara Lewis); (12) Play and Head Start (Sandra J. Bishop-Josef and Edward F. Zigler); (13) Play Intervention and Prevention Programs in School Settings (Sandra W. Russ and Beth L. Pearson); and (14) Conclusions and Implications for the Use of Play in Intervention and Prevention Programs (Sandra W. Russ and Larissa N. Niec).