Armfuls of Time: The Psychological Experience of the Child

In this review of Armfuls of Time, Barbara M. Sourkes offers a humane, clinically informed portrait of children confronting life-threatening illness; the book is written for clinicians, child psychiatrists, therapists and students who need direct insight into the child's inner world. The single biggest reason to read it is the author's use of children's own words and play-based techniques to illuminate how diagnosis and treatment reshape a child psychologically, making it a rare and practical resource rather than a purely theoretical text.

Key Features

• Firsthand voices: Extensive use of the words of children gives clinicians direct examples of how young patients communicate fear, loss and resilience in their own language.
• Therapeutic techniques: Sourkes describes practical methods such as drawings, soft toys and dolls that help children express feelings when verbal explanation is limited.
• Integration of objects: The book shows how real medical objects can be used therapeutically to demystify treatment and reduce anxiety.
• Family focus: Clear discussion of the child's relationship with family helps professionals consider systemic factors in care and communication.
• Interpretive guidance: The author offers astute interpretations of children's material, providing clinicians ways to translate play into clinical insight.
• Practical advice: Concise, actionable recommendations help therapists plan interventions suitable for different developmental levels.

Who It's For

Armfuls of Time is best suited to child mental health professionals, pediatric nurses, social workers and clinical trainees who work with seriously ill children and need concrete, clinical examples and techniques. The emphasis on play, drawings and real objects makes it particularly valuable for practitioners who use expressive or play-based therapy.

Parents seeking a light self-help guide or readers wanting an exhaustive medical textbook should look elsewhere; the book focuses on psychological experience and therapeutic approach rather than detailed medical protocols or broad epidemiology.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Powerful use of children's own words provides authentic clinical material for reflection and teaching.
• Detailed, practical techniques such as toys and drawings can be implemented with minimal equipment.
• Discussion of family relationships broadens clinical perspective beyond the child alone.

Cons

• Not a substitute for medical guidance; it emphasizes psychological care rather than clinical treatment protocols.

Specifications

Title	Armfuls of Time: The Psychological Experience of the Child with a Life-Threatening Illness
Author	Barbara M. Sourkes, Ph.D.
Focus	Psychological experience and therapeutic methods for ill children
Therapeutic tools discussed	Drawings, soft toys, dolls, stories, medical objects
Intended audience	Clinicians, therapists, students working with children
Content style	Case material, child quotes, interpretations and practical advice

Our Verdict

Armfuls of Time is a compassionate, clinically useful book for professionals who seek to understand how children psychologically process serious illness; its reliance on children's words and low-tech therapeutic tools makes it excellent value for training and practical application in clinical settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include case examples from children?
Yes. The author makes extensive use of children's words and case material to illustrate clinical points.

Is it practical for therapists working with young children?
Yes. Sourkes describes concrete methods such as drawings, dolls and medical objects that therapists can adapt in sessions.

Is this a medical guide for treatment protocols?
No. The book focuses on psychological experience and therapeutic approaches rather than medical treatment protocols.