Child-Centered Play Therapy: A Practical Guide to Therapeutic Relationships with Children

Designed for professionals adding play therapy to their practices as well as for graduate students, the second edition of Child-Centered Play Therapy is comprehensive, engaging, and practical.

The authors provide a strong theoretical base from which to understand the whys and hows of child-centered play therapy and guide readers through all necessary skills for successful practice. From playroom set-up, tracking and empathy, limit-setting, and role-play to treatment planning, recognising stages, measuring progress, and working with parents and teachers, each chapter anticipates readers’ questions and covers key concepts in diverse ways to meet different learning styles.

On the book’s website, readers will find a test bank, sample slides and syllabi, treatment planning forms, as well as additional activities and worksheets for students and trainees.

Key Features:

• Everything needed for best practices in child-centered play therapy in one book.
• Plain-spoken, practical writing.
• Vivid case stories and vignettes.
• New neuroscience findings linked to long-held wisdoms of child-centered play therapists.
• Outcome research reviewed across problem areas of externalising and internalising behaviours, school problems, applications with children with disabilities, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma.

Endorsed by Louise Guerney, a founding child-centered play therapy figure who developed the skills-based methods covered in this book, Child-Centered Play Therapy comprehensively and realistically introduces practitioners to the child-centered approach to play therapy and addresses how to incorporate the approach into schools, agencies, or private practice.

Table of Contents

Section 1: Background to Understanding the 'What and Why' of CCPT

1. Introduction: What CCPT Is, Brief Notes of Who We Are, and How to Use this Book
2. CCPT and Key Concepts from Child Development and Principles of Human Change
3. Research and Literature Supporting CCPT: Effectiveness, Multicultural Applicability, and Neuroscience Connections
4. The Ideal Therapist Qualities: Deep Empathy, Unconditional Positive Regard, and Genuineness
5. The Eight Principles in Child-Centered Play Therapy

Section 2: The CCPT In-Session Skill Sets

6. Peparing Your Setting for Providing Child-Centered Play Therapy

7. The Two Core Therapist Skills: Tracking and Empathic Responding

8. Creating an Optimum Environment for Therapy Through Structuring and Limit-Setting

9. Responding to Questions, Requests for Help, and Commands

10. Role-Play: The Thereapeutic Value of Taking Part in Dramatic or Pretend Play During Child-Centered Play Therapy Sessions

Section 3: The CCPT Out-of-Session Skill Sets

11. Recognizing Stages: Understanding the Therapy Process and Evaluating Children's Internal Progress

12. Helping Parents, Teachers, and Principals Support the Child's Work in Play Therapy

13. Goals, Treatment Planning, and Evaluating Progress

14. Filial Therapy: Involving Parents and Caregivers in Child-Centered Play Sessions With Their Children

15. Helping Children Capitalize on Gains

16. Reaching Diverse Clients with the Child-Centered Approach

Section 4: Integrity in Practice

17. Legal and Ethical Issues from a Child-Centered Perspective

18. Your Ongoing Development