Session Description

How do we know play therapy is working and how do we determine that children are getting better throughout the play therapy process? Participants will learn how to measure progress through concrete measures of evaluation, as well as conceptualization and reflective practices on client improvement. Using systemic and holistic evaluation procedures, presenter will offer participants a system of evaluation to help determine the need for treatment modifications, termination, and/or patience with the process. Participants will learn markers of progress and how to use these markers to help children progress more effectively through the play therapy process. Using theories of progress (Moustakas, 1971; Guerney, 2001; Landreth, 2024), participants will be able to evaluate where clients are in the process of treatment and how to articulate this movement. Evaluation and measurement of change with specific presenting issues such as anxiety, aggression, and social problems will be a few of the examples used to illustrate the tracking of progress. Presenter will offer participants standardized measures, procedures, and steps to determining progress in session and outside of session. Participants will also learn how to articulate improvement to parents, administrators, and legal stakeholders. This session will further address the process of evaluation when children are not progressing in play therapy. Although presenter is grounded in Child-Centered Play Therapy theory and will rely heavily on CCPT examples, this session will be applicable to most orientations to play therapy.

Primary Area: Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, Play Therapy Skills and Methods

Play Therapy Competencies Addressed: Clinical Play Therapy Skills

Theoretical Basis: Child Centered Play Therapy