Abstract

RUIZ-BLANA, Magdalena et al. Child-centered play therapy research: a review. Ajayu [online]. 2023, vol.21, n.2, pp.175-191.  Epub Aug 31, 2023. ISSN 2077-2161.  https://doi.org/10.35319/ajayu.212236.

Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is the application of Carl Rogers' person-centered approach to the child population. It is a model initiated by Virginia Axline, which currently has a great deal of research over the years. A literature review was conducted on existing research over the last five years regarding the effectiveness of CCPT in individual format. 22 studies were found that show favorable results in areas such as mood and affectivity, ADHD, ASD, cognitive skills and academic performance, socio-emotional skills, disruptive behaviors, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences. CCPT is a child therapy model that has empirical support. The research is centralized in the Anglo-Saxon world, with scarce research in Latin America. CCPT it's suggested to be considered in health and education contexts. Future research should include systematic reviews with meta-analyses, and research with the Latin population and bigger sample size research with the Latin population and bigger sample size.

Keywords : play therapy; child-centered play therapy; child psychotherapy; person-centered therapy; humanistic therapy; humanistic psychology; childhood.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )