All play therapy modalities include a range of corresponding assessments and may differ dependent on the child's age, reason for referral and modality of play therapy.
Play Therapy assessments provide the therapist with further insight from the child or caregiver's perspective on attachment and relationships, typical or atypical play skills, family dynamics, school dynamics and play and social comprehension. Additionally, assessments may also be indicative of current presenting emotional difficulties, or where referral for further external support and assessment may be warranted.
For a child to engage in humanistic or child-directed play therapy, they must demonstrate some level of spontaneous pretend play ability. This is because if the child has significant challenges engaging in play spontaneously, it makes it difficult for them to express what is required through their play. Undertaking play therapy assessments assists the therapist to provide a suitable intervention such as expanding the child's pretend play skills, prior to engaging in child-directed emotional based work.
Types of play therapy assessments
- Pretend Play Enjoyment Developmental Checklist (PPE-DC)
- Animated Movie Test (AMT)
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
- Family Genogram (including Sand tray adaptation).
- Blob Tree (Parent and child)
- Kinetic Family Drawing or Kinetic School Drawing
- House-Person-Tree Test (HPT)
- Secure Base Attachment (SBI)
- Secure Base Attachment Developmental Checklist
- Playtime Exercise
- Family Puppet Play (FPP)
- Family Play Observation (FPO)