Research and Resources

​

Ellie Finch

www.elliefinch.co.uk

+44 7709 059801

ellie@elliefinch.co.uk

Ellie Finch’s training program page (including free guide to accessing Minecraft Education): https://elliefinch.thinkific.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-finch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ellie.Finch.Counsultancy 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EllieFinchMBACP

​

Bridging the ChASM Project webpage (including the freely available films about the project and featuring 5 example sessions): https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/research/programmes/chasm/

​

Articles:

• Beckett, M (2022) Using Minecraft to build therapeutic relationships: Heuristic inquiry into my psychotherapy practice with a latency age child (Unpublished master’s thesis) University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

• Finch, E. ‘Therapeutic Adventures in Minecraft’ in BACP Children, Young People and Families Journal, December 2021 (pp. 6-11): https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/bacp-children-young-people-and-families-journal/december-2021/therapeutic-adventures-in-minecraft/

• Finch E. ‘Using Minecraft as a sandtray’ In Stone J. Digital play therapy: a clinician’s guide to comfort and competence. New York: Routledge; 2022 (pp.190-192).

• Minecraft: Education Edition recently published a guest blog about Ellie's work here: https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/blog/therapeutictool and another about the work of KEMP Hospice here: https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/blog/kemp-hospice

• This article provides a summary of recent research in to videogames and autism: https://www.nationalelfservice.net/learning-disabilities/autistic-spectrum-disorder/video-games-autism/

• Ringland, Kathryn & Wolf, Christine & Boyd, Louanne & Baldwin, Mark & Hayes, Gillian. (2016). Would You Be Mine: Appropriating Minecraft as an Assistive Technology for Youth with Autism. 33-41. 10.1145/2982142.2982172: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309342278_Would_You_Be_Mine_Appropriating_Minecraft_as_an_Assistive_Technology_for_Youth_with_Autism

• Gerhardt, L. And Smith, J. (2020) The use of Minecraft in the treatment of trauma for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder’ in Journal of Family Therapy (2020) 42: 365–384

• Zolyomi, A. and Schmalz, A. (2017) Mining for Social Skills: Minecraft in Home and Therapy for Neurodiverse Youth: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/b8b2d858-a841-493a-b897-71e124028349/content

• Kilmer E, Spangler J and Kilmer J. Therapeutically applied Minecraft groups with neurodivergent youth [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. F1000Research 2023, 12:216 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.129090.1) 

Books:

• Bean, A. (2018) Working with Video Gamers and Games in Therapy: A Clinician's Guide, New York: Routledge.

• Knibbs, C (2022) 'Children, Technology and Healthy Development'

• Rice, R (2022) Video Games in Psychotherapy. New York: Routledge

• Schaefer, C. E., & Drewes, A. A. (2013). The Therapeutic Powers of Play: 20 Core Agents of Change (1st edition). Hoboken, New Jersey. Wiley.

• Stone, J. (2022) Digital play therapy: a clinician’s guide to comfort and competence. New York: Routledge

• Whale, D., & O’Hanlon, M. (2014). Adventures in Minecraft. London, UK: Wiley Press. 

Other resources:

• Geek Therapy Community Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GeekTherapy

• Interview with Ellie Finch with Heal Game Ukarine - includes section on risks and fears regarding videogames: https://healgameukraine.click/en/ellie-finch-children-are-having-real-meaningful-relationships-in-these-games/

• Here’s the link to where Dr Coyle writes about this concept about the bed and depression and gaming. It was a researcher called Dr Kelli Dunlap that brought this concept to my attention.

• Quantic Foundry: https://quanticfoundry.com/

• Ellie’s blog on keeping children safe in Minecraft: https://www.elliefinch.co.uk/post/essential-steps-for-keeping-your-child-safe-when-they-are-playing-minecraft-bedrock-edition

• Spectrum Gaming: https://www.spectrumgaming.net/about-us (check out their fab ‘Our Story’ video)

• MindJam: https://mindjam.org.uk/services/gamejam/ (check out their video gallery for a taste of what their mentor sessions are like)

• Autcraft: https://www.autcraft.com/

• KEMP Hospice: https://www.kemphospice.org.uk/latest/counselling-using-minecraft

• Interesting YouTube video exploring the use of gamers to make a better world using video games such as Minecraft. https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world/transcript?language=en