EmotionRegulating Play Therapy with ADHD Children: Staying with Playing

Dr. Gnaulati presents us with a refreshing new look at ADHD, both in terms of its origins and its treatments. In this work we see an exciting and hopeful paradigm shift, from an emphasis imposed by psychopharmacology and neurocognitive science back to a psychotherapeutic approach, one that is tailored specificially for ADHD patients. The author takes the position that ADHD emerges from early affect disregulation, the consequences of which become registered in early brain development. The treatment the author proposes is play therapy, a therapy that is characterized by the active participation and engagement of the therapist. It is the play itself rather than the meaning of the play that is crucial in the treatment. I found Dr. Gnaulati's work exciting, highly credible, well documented and hopeful. I encourage all psychotherapists to familiarize themselves with his groundbreaking work. (James Grotstein M.D., University of California at Los Angeles)

Enrico Gnaulati, PhD, is a former faculty member in the Child and Family Studies Department at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Gnaulati maintains a private practice in Pasadena, California and is a frequent public speaker on child development and parenting issues.