Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy With Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents

This chapter discusses cognitive behavioral play therapy (CBPT), a cognitive behavioral approach within the framework of play therapy, for treatment of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). CSA has a significant psychological impact on victims including such things as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and attentional deficits. Components of CBPT including parenting, relaxation, psychoeducation, safety planning, affect regulation, cognitive coping, trauma narrative process, and exposure are discussed. Both directive CBPT and nondirective play are explored across components. A case examples and limitations of CBPT are presented.