office and the toys are still pulsating with the presence of the tiny souls who have come to process, express, learn, and grow, I know a little bit more about the science behind why play therapy works.

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Fenker, D., & Schutze, H. (2008). Learning by surprise: Novelty enhances memory. That fact has practical implications for educators. Scientific American, 19(6), 47.

Kottman, T. (2011). Play therapy: Basics and beyond. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Lacey, S., Stilla, R., & Sathian, K. (2012). Metaphorically feeling: Comprehending textural metaphors activates somatosensory cortex. Brain and Language, 120(3), 416–421. doi:10.1016/j. bandl.2011.12.016

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Paolicelli, R. C., Bolasco, G., Pagani, F., Maggi, L., Scianni, M., Panzanelli, P., … Gross, C. T. (2011). Synaptic pruning by Microglia is necessary for normal brain development. Science, 333(6048), 1456–1458. doi:10.1126/science.1202529

Shaomin, L., Cullen, W. K., Anwyl, R., & Rowan, R. J. (2003). Dopamine-dependent facilitation of LTP induction in hippocampal CA1 by exposure to spatial novelty. Nature Neuroscience, 6, 526-531. doi:10.1038/nn1049

van der Kolk, B. (2000). Postraumatic Stress Disorder and the nature of trauma. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 2(1), 7-22. Retrieved from https://www. ncbi.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181584/

Willis, J. (2007). The neuroscience of joyful education. Educational Leadership Online, 64. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational- leadership/summer07/vol64/num09/The-Neuroscience-of-Joyful-Education. aspx

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kristina Sargent, MSW, LISW-S, currently works as a child and family therapist in Cincinnati, Ohio, and obtained her RPT credential this year. She is passionate about using play therapy as a means to help children and families who have experienced trauma and has implemented related trainings and youth based skills groups in Masaka, Uganda. Sargentkm@me.com

SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED YOUR BOBO.

www.BagOfAir.com 972.886.8375 admin@bagofair.com

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PLAYTHERAPY | September 2017 | www.a4pt.org