International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(4), Oct 2024, 179; doi:10.1037/pla0000227

This editorial introduces a special issue “COVID-19 and Pandemic Consequences.” COVID-19 impacted the entire world for more than 2 years, and the aftereffects continue to influence individual and collective mental health outcomes and delivery systems, somatic health care, and global policy decisions. For many, COVID-19 challenged clinicians technically and ethically to find ways to continue providing quality care while facing a steep learning curve to adapt to new platforms or ways of providing play therapy. The authors in this Special Edition of International Journal of Play Therapy provided qualitative testimony and quantitative data that describe the frustration and exhaustion that many play therapists experienced, as well as how they practiced (or decided not to) during this unprecedented time. These authors also testified to the resilience that clinicians mustered to face challenges that extended above and beyond clients’ presenting questions and concerns. The authors in this issue give us much to think about and further research ideas to explore and enhance our professional development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(4), Oct 2024, 180-193; doi:10.1037/pla0000225

The authors present results from research on play therapists’ experiences of moving to teleplay, or online play therapy, during the early lockdown stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with four play therapists of varying experience (a supervisor, an experienced practitioner, a novice, and an expert in the field). Interviews explored the methods and strategies participants used to make the shift to teleplay, the challenges and opportunities they encountered, and their ability to maintain the therapeutic alliance in the online space. Thematic analysis yielded three primary themes: therapist skepticism, ensuring a relational focus, and developing and growing. Participants felt challenged and expressed doubt and uncertainty when considering the move to teleplay. However, they also recognized their responsibility to maintain contact with their clients. Maintaining a strong therapeutic relationship was identified as a particular priority for all participants as they made the switch to teleplay, often combating feelings of skepticism. The participants recognized that if they were to remain client focused, they had a responsibility to change from face-to-face to online work in order to support their clients. All participants were able to maintain the therapeutic alliance with some of their existing clients via the use of teleplay. Reflecting on their ability to develop and grow participants used the interview process to reflect on their own assumptions, the changes they made, and the additional support that might aid the transition to online work, including experiential learning, training, and supervision. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(4), Oct 2024, 194-205; doi:10.1037/pla0000226

This international digital survey of 490 play therapists across 25 countries explores the knowledge of specialized mental health care providers and their experiences of practicing through the COVID-19 pandemic. The 26-question survey explored playroom changes including but not limited to the addition of pandemic symbols into the playroom, observations of pandemic-featured play behavior during play therapy sessions, pandemic-specific play themes, and the categorization of the pandemic’s mental health impact (i.e., adverse, traumatic, collective trauma). Findings indicate a strong agreement between play therapists on how to classify the pandemic’s impact. Moreover, play therapists’ formulation of play themes from pandemic play provides interesting considerations for how to move toward pandemic recovery and continued mental health support for children. Clinical implications and research implications from this survey are directly addressed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(4), Oct 2024, 206-221; doi:10.1037/pla0000223

Family play therapy and telemental health are understudied areas (Haslam & Harris, 2011; Smith et al., 2023). However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians across the globe were forced to move their family play therapy sessions from in-person to virtual ones without any prior training or supervision (Mitchell, 2020; Whaibeh et al., 2020). This study explored the feelings of self-efficacy of family play therapists transitioning their in-person sessions to telemental health sessions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a qualitative design and a phenomenological approach. The study consisted of 18 participants who completed an online survey exploring self-efficacy through a qualitative interview questionnaire. This study indicated that years of experience might not determine confidence in applying family play therapy modality in telemental health sessions. This study is a starting point of research for family play therapy for telemental health. This study provides beginning steps to close the current research gaps and lay the groundwork for improving self-efficacy in family play therapy telemental health practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(4), Oct 2024, 222-232; doi:10.1037/pla0000224

We explored the lived experiences of registered play therapists who have used play therapy to support the mental health needs of children struggling with body image (i.e., not liking their body shape and size, being bullied for their weight, having a family who makes comments about their food consumption/body shape and size/movement or lack thereof, etc.). Using Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenology, we facilitated semistructured interviews with 12 registered play therapists who self-identify as having used play therapy to help children under 10 years old with body dissatisfaction and their experiences with such. Findings included themes related to the following: (a) playroom materials, (b) interventions, (c) collaborations, and (d) the feeling of grasping at straws. Implications for play therapists are provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(3), Jul 2024, 117-128; doi:10.1037/pla0000219

Emotion regulation and stress management are crucial in daily life. The present researchers aimed to investigate the effect of child–parent relationship therapy (CPRT) on emotion regulation and stress in mothers of deaf children. The present study was a semirandomized controlled trial design. Thirty mothers who had deaf children were randomly selected from deaf Schools in Isfahan, Iran. They were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 15) groups. The intervention group participated in the 10-session CPRT, while the control group did not participate in this program. Both groups completed the Emotion Behavioral Regulation Questionnaire and Parenting Stress Index–Short Form before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance. The results showed that the intervention significantly and positively influenced behavioral emotion regulation and stress in mothers of deaf children (p < .001). This study statistically suggests that the CPRT program can promote behavioral emotion regulation and stress in mothers of deaf children. Of practical significance, this program was feasible and acceptable to these mothers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(3), Jul 2024, 129-139; doi:10.1037/pla0000208

We developed the Assessment of Play Therapy and Child Counseling Competencies (APTCCC) to measure child and play therapy trainees’ clinical counseling competencies. We tailored the APTCCC to align with (a) the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (2016) Standards; (b) the Association for Play Therapy (2022e) Play Therapy Competencies; and (c) the Association for Play Therapy (2022d) Play Therapy Best Practices: Clinical, Professional, and Ethical Issues. In our article, we review (a) developmental needs of child and play therapy counseling trainees, (b) the importance of comprehensive and child-specific competency evaluation measures, and (c) present the APTCCC as an appropriate tool for evaluating the growth and development of counselors-in-training working with children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(3), Jul 2024, 140-153; doi:10.1037/pla0000220

Narrative inquiry was used to explore how to develop a culturally appropriate play therapy program for Australian Aboriginal children, families, and community. The study was carried out in an urban Aboriginal community in New South Wales. Six participants were invited to have a conversation about their knowledge and experience to guide the development of a play therapy service within an Australian Aboriginal community. This article presents findings illustrating respectfully arriving, organizational practices, fear of child removal, play therapy as an unfamiliar practice model, stigma, caregiver perceptions, location and environment, and accessibility. Play therapists need to consider these key subthemes when establishing trust and creating safety as part of culturally responsive practice for play therapy service provision with Australian Aboriginal people and with clients whose cultures of origin differ from their own, more generally. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(3), Jul 2024, 154-163; doi:10.1037/pla0000218

Given that as many as 50% of school-aged children report body dissatisfaction or appearance concerns, it is imperative that play therapists increase their competency to address childhood body image needs. This article provides an overview of the need for play therapy adaptations to meet the body image and related mental health needs of youth. We offer size-inclusivity as a framework for play therapists as they serve children of all body shapes and sizes, including size-inclusive toys, play therapist bias and reflection, assessment, and play therapy process considerations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

International Journal of Play Therapy, Vol 33(3), Jul 2024, 164-177; doi:10.1037/pla0000222

The researchers in the present study sought to explore play therapists’ barriers to engaging parents in their clinical work and understand the relationship between play therapist characteristics and their attitudes toward parents. One hundred thirty-six members of the Association for Play Therapy were surveyed using a demographic questionnaire, Therapist Barriers to Engaging Parents, and the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory to explore predictors to engaging with parents. Overall, play therapists reported low scores on barriers to engaging parents, indicating they are likely to report positive attitudes toward working with parents. Through two multiple regression analyses measuring the predictive value of self-efficacy subscales including Dealing with Difficult Clients and Counseling Process, play therapist identification as a parent, years of experience, and hours of training on parent engagement, both models demonstrated statistically significant findings with large effect sizes. Play therapist self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of play therapists’ attitudes toward parents, accounting for approximately 80% of the variance in the models. Play therapists’ identification as a parent and years of practice also predicted their barriers to engaging parents. Hours of training in parent engagement had no relationship to Therapist Barriers to Engaging Parents scores. Implications for practice include increasing play therapists’ training experiences involving direct practice with parents and general counseling self-efficacy. Implications for future research as well as limitations are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)