Getting to the heart of post-traumatic play

This presentation will examine case illustrations from a pilot study examining children’s cardiac reactivity during a narrative story stem assessment of attachment, the Child Attachment and Play Assessment (CAPA), developed by Dr Steve Farnfield. Case study illustrations examining play narratives and cardiac reactivity will be presented. The presentation will explore the difference between ‘stuck’ post-traumatic play and therapeutic post-traumatic play and how measures of autonomic arousal may provide further insights into the features that distinguish between these two types of play. The presentation will conclude with implications for therapeutic work with traumatised children and ways to promote healing and connection through play.