Welcome to Research Spotlight!
This page is dedicated to highlighting recent research in play therapy so that you can see what the research says! These studies focus on a variety of topics to help play therapists in their everyday practice and will feature experts in the field. A quick video explanation can be found on our YouTube page. As part of our renewed research initiative, please visit our Evidence-Based Research Website to learn more about these studies and request access to the full articles. You can view the research spotlight video by clicking on the video thumbnail or the title. Scroll down to start learning!
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Brittany Wilson Wilson, B. J., & Ray, D. (2018). Child‐centered play therapy: Aggression, empathy, and self‐regulation. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(4), 399–409. doi: 10.1002/jcad.12222 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Hannah Robinson Robinson, H., Ray, D. C., & Lemberger-Truelove, M. E. (2024). Impact of child-centered play therapy on the mindful expressions and social-emotional competencies of Head Start preschoolers. International Journal of Play Therapy, 33(2). |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Kim Walker Walker, K. L. A. & Ray, D. C. (2024). Outdoor child-centered play therapy: A pilot study. International Journal of Play Therapy, 33(1), 52-63. doi: 10.1037/pla0000213 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Dalena Dillman Taylor and Kaleb Thompson Dillman Taylor, D., Thompson, K., Frawley, C., Mendoza, S., & Blount, A. (2023). Understanding the effect of COVID-19 on two children with autism and their caregivers: A case study research design. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. doi: 10.1080/20473869.2023.2231219 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Maggie Parker Parker, M. M., Glickman, C. P., Smelser, Q., & DeRaedy, M. (2021). Therapeutic or traumatic: An exploratory study of play therapists' perceptions of toys guns and aggressive toys in the playroom. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(1), 61-71. doi: 10.1037/pla0000141 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Sarah M. Agarwal Agarwal, S.M., Ceballos, P., Cartwright, A., Quinn, C., & Walker, M. (2022). Parents of preadolescents’ experiences of child–parent relationship therapy. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 8(2),85-100. doi: 10.1080/23727810.2022 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Terri Gonzales-Ball Gonzales-Ball, T. L., & Bratton, S. C. (2019). Child–teacher relationship training as a Head Start early mental health intervention for children exhibiting disruptive behavior. International Journal of Play Therapy, 28(1), 44–56. doi: 10.1037/pla0000081 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Caitlin Frawley Frawley, C. (2023). An investigation of change mechanisms using psychophysiological data: Child-centered play therapy with children exposed to adverse childhood experiences. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Central Florida). STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations. |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Carol Quinn Quinn, C. (2023). Children's experiences in child-centered play therapy: An artwork-based phenomenological investigation. (Submission No. 3553) [Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas]. University of North Texas Libraries. |
 | Research Spotlight with Drs. Ryan Holliman and Ryan D. Foster Holliman, R., & Foster, R.D. (2023). The way we play in the sand: A meta-analytic investigation of sand therapy, its formats, and presenting problems, Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 9(2), 205-221. doi: 10.1080/23727810.2023.2232142 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Kasie R. Lee Lee, K. R., & Ray, D. C. (2020). Child-centered play therapy parent services: A Q-methodological investigation. International Journal of Play Therapy, 29(3), 131–143. doi: 10.1037/pla0000120 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Regine K. Chung Chung, R.K. (2023). Child-Centered Play Therapy and Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Children on the Autism Spectrum [Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas). University of North Texas Libraries. |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Ahou Vaziri Line Line, A. V. (2023) The role of play therapists' characteristics and self-efficacy in predicting barriers to engaging parents [Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas). University of North Texas Libraries. |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Maggie M. Parker Parker, M. M., Hunnicutt Hollenbaugh, K. M., & Kelly, C. T. (2021). Exploring the impact of child-centered play therapy for children exhibiting behavioral problems: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(4), 259–271. doi: 10.1037/pla0000128 |
 | Research Spotlight with Drs. Eric S. Davis, Korinne H. Babel, & Amy P. Davis Davis, E. S., Babel, K. H., Davis, A. P., O'Bryan, T., & Ritz, J. (2022). The use of aggressive toys in schools: Insights and experiences of school-based play therapists. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(3), 184–195. doi: 10.1037/pla0000174 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Margaret Hindman Hindman, M. L., Perryman, K. L., & Robinson, S. E. (2022). The adult public’s perception of the utility of play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(1), 34–45. doi: 10.1037/pla0000164 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Ryan Holliman & Pedro J. Blanco Holliman, R., Blanco, P., & Kowalis, C. (2022). Play therapy and academic achievement: A secondary analysis. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(2), 82–96. doi: 10.1037/pla0000160 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Pedro J. Blanco and Dr. Ryan P. Holliman Blanco, P.J., Holliman, R. P. & Carroll, N.C. (2019) The effect of child-centered play therapy on intrinsic motivation and academic achievement of at-risk elementary school students, Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling,5(3), 205-220, doi: 10.1080/23727810.2019.1671758 |
 | Research Spotlight with Regine K. Chung, Krystal K. Turner, & Elizabeth V. Aguilar Ray, D.C., Chung, R. K., Turner, K.K., & Aguilar, E.V. (2022) The multicultural playroom. In D. C. Ray, Y. Ogawa, & Y. Cheng (Eds.), Multicultural play therapy: Making the most of cultural opportunities with children (pp. 29‐43). Routledge. |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Elizabeth Burgin Burgin, E., & Ray, D. (2022). Child-centered play therapy and childhood depression: An effectiveness study in schools. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31, 293-307. doi: 10.1007/s10826-021-02198-6 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Kristi Perryman Perryman, K. L., Robinson, S., Bowers, L., & Massengale, B. (2020). Child-centered play therapy and academic achievement: A prevention-based model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 29(2), 104–117. doi: 10.1037/pla0000117 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Dalena Dillman Taylor Dillman Taylor, D., Thompson, K. A., & Kottman, T. (2022). Strengthening the efficacy of Adlerian Play Therapy through the measurement model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(3), 165–173. doi: 10.1037/pla0000176 |
 | Research Spotlight: Child-Centered Play Therapy and Adverse Childhood Experiences Ray, D. C., Burgin, E., Gutierrez, D., Ceballos, P., & Lindo, N. (2021). Child-centered play therapy and adverse childhood experiences: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling & Development, 1–12. doi: 10.1002/jcad.12412 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. Alyssa Swan Swan, A. M., Bratton, S. C., Hughes, L., Walker, K., & Frawley, C. (2022). What experiences prompted adoptive parents of preadolescents to self-refer for child–parent relationship therapy? International Journal of Play Therapy, 31(2), 119–130. doi: 10.1037/pla0000167 |
 | Research Spotlight with Dr. LaKaavia Taylor Taylor, L., & Ray, D. C. (2021). Child-centered play therapy and social–emotional competencies of African American children: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(2), 74–85. doi: 10.1037/pla0000152 |