About this course

Learning Objectives

• 1. Recite the three major theoretical tenets of child-centered play therapy.
• 2. Discuss the history and theoretical roots of child centered play therapy.
• 3. Identify nine key practice skills and interventions unique to child centered play therapy.
• 4. Describe how child centered play therapists access the therapeutic powers of play.
• 5. Explain the rationale of applying tracking skills from at least three distinct directions in the administration of child-centered play therapy.
• 6. Assess when child centered play therapy is an effective intervention for a client

Learning Levels

• All Levels

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Steven L. Parks, LCSW-S, MBA, RPT-S

  Executive Director, A Time for Play | Play Therapy Training Series

  Steven L. Parks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Supervisor and serves in the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work as a full-time clinical Senior Lecturing Faculty professor. Steven is a Registered Play Therapist & Supervisor (RPT-S) and the Executive Director of the A Time for Play nonprofit organization based in Houston, TX. He also maintains a private practice in Sugar Land, Texas and specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma symptoms, depression, anxiety, and externalizing behaviors. Steven has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree of Psychology from Texas Tech University, a Master’s of Business Administration degree from University of Houston Bauer College of Business, and a Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Steven volunteers regularly with the National Association of Social Workers Texas (NASWTx), and serves as the Board Chair of Tony's Place, a local LGBTQ+ Community Organization.

Disclosure

References

• Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003255796
• Ray, D. & Landreth, G. (2025). Child-Centered Play Therapy. In: Crenshaw, D. A., Stewart, A. L., & Ray, D. C. (2025). Play therapy: Theory, research, and Practice (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
• Conroy, & Perryman, K. (2022). Treating trauma with child-centered play therapy through the SECURE lens of polyvagal theory. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(3), 143–152. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000172
• Chung, R. K., Ray, D. C., Aguilar, E. V., & Turner, K. K. (2023). The Multicultural Play Therapy Room: Intentional Decision Making in Selecting Play Therapy Toys and Materials. International Journal of Play Therapy, 32(4), 197–207. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000203
• Burgin, & Ray, D. C. (2022). Child-Centered Play Therapy and Childhood Depression: An Effectiveness Study in Schools. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31(1), 293–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02198-6