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

The third edition of Child-Centered Play Therapy is a comprehensive, engaging, and practical guide for best practice in child-centered play therapy. 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 setup, tracking and empathy, limit-setting, and role-play to treatment planning, recognizing 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.

This new edition is fully revised and includes a section expanding on the importance of CCPT Supervision and the use of self-evaluation skills guides for session reviews, literature focused on effectiveness of CCPT across differing childhood concerns, the multicultural applicability of CCPT, and intersections with neuroscience. Designed for professionals adding play therapy to their practice as well as graduate students, this textbook comprehensively introduces readers to the child-centered approach to play therapy and addresses how to incorporate the approach into schools, agencies and private practice.

Nancy H. Cochran, MA, CAS, LMHC, is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science at the University of Tennessee where she teaches child-centered play therapy.

William J. Nordling, PhD, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Professor in the PsyD program at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences (IPS) at Divine Mercy University where he teaches coursework on play and Filial therapy.

Jeff L. Cochran, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science at the University of Tennessee where he teaches, researches, and supervises child-centered play therapy.