Exploring the Role of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Following Childhood Trauma: Play Modalities, Therapeutic Outcomes, and Key Gaps

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a widely utilized therapeutic approach that facilitates children's emotional processing and resilience following traumatic experiences (Ogawa, 2004). Despite its effectiveness, research and practice gaps remain regarding its application for children who have experienced trauma. This study examines the perspectives of CCPT practitioners on the therapist’s role in supporting children, especially those who have experienced trauma, in their emotional healing and psychological well-being, addressing key limitations in existing research. A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with six practicing CCPT therapists to explore their experiences, insights, and challenges regarding CCPT’s effectiveness for children exposed to trauma. The findings highlight that CCPT encourages and supports self-expression and coping skills but is affected by treatment duration, therapist training, and caregiver or parental involvement. Additionally, participants highlighted the lack of standardized assessment tools to measure therapeutic progress consistently and pointed out the need for trauma-informed competencies among CCPT practitioners. These findings suggest that integrating trauma-sensitive techniques within CCPT, along with structured caregiver engagement models, long-term follow-ups, and enhanced practitioner training, could improve its effectiveness in supporting children’s emotional adjustment post-trauma. Addressing these gaps through targeted research and protocol development will contribute to making CCPT a more comprehensive and inclusive intervention for children who have experienced trauma.