Exploring the Impact of Child-Centered Play Therapy for Children Exhibiting Behavioral Problems: A Meta-Analysis. Parker et al. (2021)

This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) across 908 participants. Results showed moderate effects for reducing children’s externalising behaviours and overall behavioural problems, and small effects for aggressive behaviours. CCPT was slightly more effective than no treatment and moderately more effective than alternative treatments for externalising issues. Findings suggest CCPT is a promising intervention, particularly for diverse populations—55% of participants were male, nearly half identified as non-White, and one-third lived in poverty.