Glossary

Self-assessment

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a developmentally responsive play-based mental health intervention for young children experiencing social, emotional, behavioural and relational disorders.

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Evidence

4

Fit

NYR

Capacity

NYR

Supports

3

Usability

4

Need

NYR

Usability - Rating: 4

Core Components

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a developmentally responsive play-based mental health intervention for young children aged 3 to 10 years who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioural and relational disorders. The programme is delivered by a trained mental health professional over 16-20 weekly, 45-minute individual play sessions in hospital, out-patient, community and school settings. CCPT utilizes play, the natural language of children, and therapeutic relationships to provide a safe, consistent therapeutic environment which a child can experience full acceptance empathy and understanding from a counsellor whilst processing inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols, leading to lasting positive change, a move towards integration and self-enhancing ways of being. CCPT aims is to unleash the child’s potential to move toward integration and self-enhancing ways of being and seeks to decrease symptomatic behaviours and improve overall functioning.

This manualised programme includes a range of resources and support materials including Play Therapy and Advanced Play Therapy Books which include the CCPT Treatment Manual (protocol and checklists) in the appendix. The manual includes parent handouts & notebook, homework and worksheets for each session, model adaptations, additional training materials and a CD-ROM of training materials that can be downloaded and reproduced.

Core components of the programme include foundational principles, establishing a therapeutic working relationship between therapist and child, developing facilitative responses and esteem building and therapeutic limit setting and choice giving.

Fidelity

In order to effectively replicate the programme and achieve good outcomes, all elements of the core programme should be implemented in the order outlined in the treatment manual. A play therapy skills checklist (PTSC) is available to ensure fidelity of intervention protocol for training and research purposes.

Modifiable Components

All core elements of the programme are strongly recommended for implementation following a 16-20 session format delivered weekly for 45 minutes, however the programme has been modified to be implemented in the school setting following a 16-session format, twice weekly for 30 minutes. The CCPT treatment model can also be provided in the context of longer treatment requirements and may be used in a small group format. The CCPT manual is available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Turkish

Supports - Rating: 3

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) was developed by the University of North Texas, Centre for Play Therapy in the United States of America.

Support for Organisation / Practice

Implementation Support

Support is provided from the Centre for Play in the form of one-to-one phone/email support, programme developments through newsletters and social media, and remote support meetings.

Licence Requirements

A licence to deliver CCPT is not required.

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs include therapist training in two phases: Child-Centered Play Therapy 101 - $280 and Child-Centered Play Therapy 102 - $600. Additional resources are also required including the CCPT Therapy Model book at $55 per individual purchase.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

To become a CCPT level 1 & level 2 certified practitioner, participants are required to be a mental health practitioner who has received extensive training in Child-Centred Play Therapy principles.

For participants who are not trained mental health practitioners, associate/parent educator certification is available and for mental health professionals working outside the US, the Centre for Play Therapy offer an international CCPT certificate.

Training Requirements

Training to become a CCPT therapist is a requirement. Professionals must complete CCPT 101: Foundations in CCPT (12 hours) and CCPT 102: Advanced CCPT Practice and Application (12 hours). The total training time is 4 days, 6-hour training per day (24 hours).

Mental health professionals working outside the US, who complete the international CCPT certificate, are eligible to apply to become a certified therapist. In order to maintain certification status, CCPT certification must be renewed every 5 years. Requirements for renewal include 18 continuing education hours specific to CCPT and a renewal fee of $95.

The Centre for Play Therapy also provides ongoing training in CCPT through annual workshops and conferences.

Supervision Requirements

Completion of 30 continuous weekly sessions of CCPT with a minimum of 3 children, under supervision with an approved CCPT supervisor is a requirement. Remote supervision is available to accommodate therapists in locations where approved supervisors are not available.

Please note that training in the CCPT programme is not a UK accredited Play Therapy qualification, and one could not be called a Play Therapist upon completion of the training.

Evidence - Rating: 4

Theory of Change

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a systemic intervention grounded in play therapy theory, attachment principles, and interpersonal neurobiology. CCPT is built on the foundation of a dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child and a therapist trained in play therapy procedures who provides selected play materials and facilitates the development of a safe relationship for the children to fully express and explore self-feelings, thoughts, experiences and behaviours through play, the child’s natural medium of communication, for optimal growth and development.

Preschool: 3 to 5 years - Rating: 4

Research Design & Number of Studies

The best evidence identified for children in the 3–5 age range comes from four RCTs undertaken by the programme developer. The first RCT study population (n=54) included low-income pre-school children with clinical levels of disruptive behaviour in the south western region of the US (Bratton, et al., 2013), the second study population (n=65) included children aged 5-11 years with highly disruptive behaviours from high poverty urban schools in the south and north east regions of the US (Cochran & Cochran, 2017), the third study population (n=60) included children with attention problems and hyperactivity aged 5-11 years in south western US (Ray et al., 2007) and the fourth study population (n=71) included children aged 5-10 years with problematic aggressive behaviours from 4 elementary schools in the south west region of the US. (Wilson & Ray, 2018). Separate date for children in the 3-5 age range was not reported.

Outcomes Achieved

Child Outcomes

• Statistically significant improved results for reported children’s levels of aggression, self-regulation, and empathy (Bratton et al., 2013 – teacher reported) (Wilson & Ray, 2018 – parent reported).
• Significant differences compared with control groups across total problems, externalizing, attention problems, and learning related self-efficacy. (Cochran & Cochran, 2017).
• Children who participated in CCPT demonstrated statistically significant improvement compared to the alternative treatment group on the student characteristics domain indicating they were significantly less stressful to their teachers in personal characteristics, specifically emotional distress, anxiety, and withdrawal difficulties. Both groups exhibited statistically significantly fewer ADHD behaviours (Ray et al, 2007).

Parent Outcomes

• No parent outcomes were identified.

Key References

Bratton, S.C., Ceballos, P.L., Sheely-Moore, A.I., Meany-Walen, K., Pronchenko, Y. & Jones, L.D. (2013). Head Start Early Mental Health Intervention: Effects of Child-Centered Play Therapy on Disruptive Behaviors. International Journal of Play Therapy. 22 (1) pp. 28-42.

Cochran, J.L. & Cochran, N.H. (2017) Effects of child-centered play therapy for students with highly disruptive behavior in high-poverty schools. International Journal of Play Therapy, 26 (2) pp. 59-72. (Quasi RCT).

Ray, D.C., Schottelkorb, A., & Tsai, M.H. (2007). Play therapy with children exhibiting symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. International Journal of Play Therapy, 16 (2) pp.95-111.

Wilson, B., & Ray, D. (2018). Child-centered play therapy: Aggression, empathy, and self-regulation. Journal of Counseling & Development 96 (4) pp. 399-409.

Primary school: 6 to 12 years - Rating: 4

Research Design & Number of Studies

The best evidence identified for children in the 6-12 age range comes from four RCTs undertaken by the programme developer. The first study population (n=65) included children aged 5-11 years with highly disruptive behaviours from high poverty urban schools in the south and north east regions of the US (Cochran & Cochran, 2017), the second study population (n=60) included children with attention problems and hyperactivity aged 5-11 years in the southwest region of the US (Ray et al., 2007), the third study population (n=53) included children aged 6-8 years with anxiety symptoms in the southwest region of the US (Stulmaker & Ray, 2015) and the fourth study population (n=71) included children aged 5-10 years with problematic aggressive behaviours from 4 elementary schools in the southwest region of the US. (Wilson & Ray, 2018). Separate data for the age range 6-12 years was not reported.

Outcomes Achieved

Child Outcomes

• Significant differences compared with control groups across total problems, externalizing, attention problems, and learning related self-efficacy (Cochran & Cochran, 2017).
• Children who participated in CCPT demonstrated statistically significant improvement compared to the alternative treatment group on the student characteristics domain indicating they were significantly less stressful to their teachers in personal characteristics, specifically emotional distress, anxiety, and withdrawal difficulties. Both groups exhibited statistically significantly fewer ADHD behaviours (Ray et al., 2007).
• Children who received CCPT treatment significantly decreased their overall levels of anxiety and worry (Stulmaker & Ray, 2015).
• Statistically significant parent reported improved results for children’s levels of aggression, self-regulation, and empathy (Wilson & Ray, 2018).

Parent Outcomes

• No parent outcomes were identified.

Key References

Ray, D.C., Schottelkorb, A., & Tsai, M.H. (2007). Play therapy with children exhibiting symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. International Journal of Play Therapy, 16 (2) pp.95-111.

Stulmaker, H.L. & Ray, D.C. (2015). Child-centered play therapy with young children who are anxious: A controlled trial. Children and Youth Services Review, 57 pp.127-133.

Wilson, B., & Ray, D. (2018). Child-centered play therapy: Aggression, empathy, and self-regulation. Journal of Counseling & Development 96 (4) pp. 399-409.

Capacity

Workforce

To deliver Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) requires a mental health practitioner who has received extensive training in Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) principles and who has participated in the training which takes in total 24 hours. For participants who are not trained mental health practitioners, associate/parent educator certification is available and for mental health professionals working outside the US, the Centre for Play Therapy offer an international CCPT certificate.

Do you have staff with the required qualifications / experience available to commit to the necessary training in CCPT?

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is delivered over 16-20 weekly, 45-minute individual play sessions in hospital, out-patient, community and school settings by trained practitioners.

Do you have staff available to commit to delivering the full extent of this intervention?

Technology Support

To implement CCPT requires minimal technological resources. Some of the teaching sessions may require online access to technology that enables web access to teaching, resources, and streaming.

Do you have access to technology to support practitioners to undertake training online and to access the optional teaching elements of the programme?

Administrative Support

Practitioner preparation for each session is minimal, requiring only printing, photocopying and cutting up of resources in advance of each session and one home activity prepared and sent home per module.

Do you have enough administrative capacity to meet these needs?

Financial Support

To deliver CCPT requires a total training fee of $880 and 5 yearly renewal of license at $95. Additional resources are also required including the CCPT Therapy Model book at $55 per individual purchase.

Do you have the finances available to fund the required training and supervision, programme resources and manuals/books?

Capacity Score

Self-assessment

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)

Compare

Usability Rating

4

Supports Rating

3

Evidence Rating

4

Fit Rating

NYR

Capacity Rating

NYR

Need Rating

NYR

The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool

The Hexagon can be used as a planning tool to guide selection and evaluate potential programs and practice for use.

Evidence

4

Fit

NYR

Capacity

NYR

Supports

3

Usability

4

Need

NYR

Preschool: 3 to 5 years - Rating: 4

Primary school: 6 to 12 years - Rating: 4

Need

Fit

Capacity

Self-assessment

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)

Compare

Usability Rating

4

Supports Rating

3

Evidence Rating

4

Fit Rating

NYR

Capacity Rating

NYR

Need Rating

NYR

The Hexagon: An Exploration Tool

The Hexagon can be used as a planning tool to guide selection and evaluate potential programs and practice for use.

Evidence

4

Fit

NYR

Capacity

NYR

Supports

3

Usability

4

Need

NYR

Preschool: 3 to 5 years - Rating: 4

Primary school: 6 to 12 years - Rating: 4

Need

Fit

Capacity

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