Play Therapy

Play therapy is designed to be developmentally appropriate for the age of the client. It was developed by adapting empirically supported techniques for use in a play setting with young children and emphasizes the child's involvement in the therapy process.

The logistics of treatment frequency, duration, initial assessment, and treatment planning, are important considerations in preparation for treating a child.

Play therapy often takes place over the following stages: introductory/orientation, assessment, middle, and termination. The treatment is both structured and unstructured, and treatment planning includes efforts to help the child generalize learned adaptive behaviors to other settings, and incorporate relapse prevention efforts.

Knell SM. Cognitive‐behavioral play therapy. Handbook of play therapy. 2015 Nov 16:119-33.