Community play therapy for encounter with diverse children

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates how Community Play Therapy (CPT) can be used to facilitate person-to-person encounters in school avoidant and neurodiverse children. CPT provides a psychologically safe space for children who hesitate to go to school or have difficulties with school life due to neurodevelopmental disorders. CPT includes the children, volunteer assistants, and facilitators. The core conditions of person-centered therapy are used by the facilitators to provide such a space for the children. A case illustration provides an example of how facilitators create a safe space and facilitate the person-to-person encounter using CPT. The meaning of such encounters for school avoidant and neurodiverse children are discussed.