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.

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.

"The authors . . . make child-centered play therapy readily understandable to those who wish to take advantage of its long history of helping children overcome problems and grow emotionally to a level of maturity difficult to achieve by any other approach."
--From the Foreword, by Louise F. Guerney, PhD, RPT-S

A comprehensive resource that thoroughly teaches the theory, methods, and practice of child-centered play therapy

"Child-Centered Play Therapy: A Practical Guide to Developing Therapeutic Relationships" with Children offers how-to direction and practical advice for conducting child-centered play therapy. Filled with case studies, learning activities, and classroom exercises, this book presents extensive coverage of play therapy applications such as setting goals and treatment planning, as well as recommendations for family and systemic services that can be provided along with play therapy.

This rich resource provides:

A thorough introduction to the theory and guiding principles underlying child-centered play therapy

Skill guidance including structuring sessions, tracking, empathy, responding to children's questions, and role-play

Effective ways of determining what limits to set in the playroom and how to set them in a therapeutically effective manner

Clear methods for monitoring children's progress through stages as well as external measures of progress

Practical guidance in adjunct therapist tasks such as playroom set-up, documentation, ending therapy, and working with parents, teachers, and principals

Endorsed by Louise Guerney--a founding child-centered play therapy figure who developed the skills-based methods covered in this book--"Child-Centered Play Therapy" comprehensively and realistically introduces practitioners to the child-centered approach to play therapy and addresses how to incorporate the approach into schools, agencies, or private practice.