Main description:

The book is a comprehensive how-to manual which systematically teaches Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) skills in a way which its competitors do not. Given its systematic logical training sequence, case stories and examples, it can be used by graduate students and post graduate mental health professionals alike who are just starting out to learn the method. The book is comprehensive in that it covers ancillary topics such as working with others including parents and teachers who support the child in therapy, ethics and diversity issues, Filial Family Therapy (an extension of CCPT for parent-child interventions) and as such it should also appeal to those who have an introductory knowledge of CCPT. Finally, given it is like a self-contained training program, our book is designed to be professor friendly and is especially useful for university on-line based counseling degree programs (and has already been adopted by one such program) and also used successfully for intensive CCPT courses (during the pandemic) in graduate training on-line.

Some unique selling points include that the book offers:

* Highly practical, skills-based guidance for novice and experienced mental health practitioners (counselors and play therapists) who are wanting to learn how to apply or improve applications of CCPT to help the children they serve.

* Extensive realistic case stories that allow readers to see the applications of specific CCPT skills and to better understand and explain concepts in child counseling and psychotherapy.

* Ancillary topics such as working with parents and teachers, ethics, diversity issues, Filial Therapy (an extension of Child-Centered Play Therapy for parent-child interventions) and up-to-date literature review.

* A focus on the therapeutic relationship as the primary key to positive change for child clients and an emphasis on the self-development of the play therapist or counselor to be "the best toy in the playroom" (the most effective therapeutic agent) in child psychotherapy.

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