Trauma-Focused Integrated Play Therapy: An Interview WIth Eliana Gil, Part 1

Trauma-Focused Integrated Play Therapy: An Interview With Eliana Gil, Part 1

Catherine Ford Sori and Sheryl Schnur

Summary by Emory Ciocci

This article portrays an interview between Catherine Sori and Dr. Eliana Gil about her work with traumatized children and their families. Dr. Eliana Gil is a certified art therapist, a registered play therapy advisor, and a licensed marriage and family therapist. Her credentials and years of experience have allowed her to develop an integrated play therapy model for traumatized children that caught the attention of Catherine Sori. At the beginning of the article, Dr. Eliana Gil emphasizes that creating an atmosphere where a safe healing process can occur is crucial. In order for the play therapy to be successful, the child must feel in control, and there should be an inviting and engaging environment. Dr. Eliana Gil then explains how once safety has been established, the therapist can move to nondirective play with the child. This may include taking a baby doll and playing with it in such a way to show you what their concerns are. For example, if they inflict harm upon the doll or speak violently towards it the child is communicating something very important to you indirectly. Once the child feels comfortable and a foundation of nondirect play has been laid, the therapist can begin incorporating into posttraumatic play. Dr. Eliana Gil then illustrates the beneficial effects play therapy has on traumatized children. Dr. Eliana explains how play therapy often allows the child to process their trauma without looking directly at it which at a young age can be quite scary and depermential in the future. In the end, Dr. Eliana reminds Sori that child therapy is an under-researched tool for coping with trauma in children and that she has devoted many years to publish her very own method which she believes can help many children conquer their trauma.


  Sori, C. F., & Schnur, S. (2014). Trauma-Focused Integrated Play Therapy: An Interview With Eliana Gil, Part I. The Family Journal, 22(1), 113–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480713505280