The effects of child-centered play therapy (CCPT) on the social and emotional growth of young Australian children with autism.

Abstract

This rural Australian study explored the effects of child-centered play therapy (CCPT) on the social and emotional growth of 3 young children with autism ages 4−6 years. Parents sought private therapy for the emotional and behavioral difficulties these children were experiencing at home and in educational settings. All children participated in 10 weekly, individual therapy sessions, which focused on targeted goals set by parents. Two instruments, the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition, and the Developmental Behavior Checklist, were used to formally measure social and emotional growth pre- and postintervention. Informal data were also gathered on each child’s targeted goal using Goal Attainment Scaling and weekly parent reflections. Data from both formal and informal measures showed positive improvements for all children in several areas of social and emotional functioning. Results indicated that CCPT was an effective intervention for this small sample of young children with autism. Limitations, implications, and recommendations are discussed.