Paper Dolls and Paper Airplanes: Therapeutic Exercises for Sexually Traumatized Children

Paper Dolls and Paper Airplanes is a unique collection of more than 80 activities for mental health professionals working with sexually abused children in individual or group therapy sessions. The activities use paper, crayons, stickers, puppets, music, and other items and are designed to lower the threat level of the treatment process, helping children to heal. Activities are divided into age groups preschool, latency, preteen, and teen to take into account developmental differences, and each activity includes a materials list, directions, and discussion questions.

The book discusses topics such as defining sexual abuse, relationships with family and friends, identifying and coping with feelings, disclosure and documentation, responsibility, personal safety, and self-esteem. Noting that saying goodbye is as important as saying hello, the authors also include information on transitions and graduations.

Paper Dolls and Paper Airplanes provides clinicians with activities and ideas that they can integrate into any sexual abuse treatment framework.