The effectiveness of play therapy: Responding to the critics.

TLDR

Play therapy has long faced criticism for lacking a robust research base, with critics questioning its efficacy for six decades despite small studies, making evidence of effectiveness essential for its acceptance. The study aimed to conduct a meta‑analysis of 94 research studies on the efficacy of play therapy, filial therapy, and their combination. The authors performed a meta‑analysis of 94 studies to evaluate treatment outcomes across modalities, populations, settings, and theoretical schools. The meta‑analysis found a large positive effect of play therapy on child outcomes, effective across modalities, demographics, and settings, with the strongest benefits when parents were involved and an optimal number of sessions were provided.

Abstract

Play therapy has long been criticized for a lack of adequate research base to prove its efficacy. For 6 decades, while play therapists conducted small research studies, critics challenged the utility and efficacy of play therapy as a viable psychotherapy intervention. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of 94 research studies focusing on the efficacy of play therapy, filial therapy, and combined play therapy and filial therapy. Meta-analysis revealed a large positive effect on treatment outcomes with children. Play therapy appeared effective across modality, age, gender, clinical vs. nonclinical populations, setting, and theoretical schools of thought. Additionally, positive play therapy effects were found to be greatest when there was parent involvement in treatment and an optimal number of sessions provided. Proving the effectiveness of any therapeutic intervention is essential to the acceptance of that intervention as a potential treatment