Vol. 7 No. 3 (2025): July - September 2025
Humanistic therapy

Validity and effectiveness of Gestalt Play Therapy: a proposal for defining a shared research protocol

pdf
  • Alfonso Davide Di Sarno,
  • Maria Barone,
  • Maria De Masis,
  • Rita Di Gennaro,
  • Irene Fabbricino,
  • Anna Asia Forino,
  • Jgor Francesco Luceri
Alfonso Davide Di Sarno
SIPGI - Scuola di Psicoterapia Gestaltica Integrata, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Maria Barone
SIPGI - Scuola di Psicoterapia Gestaltica Integrata, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Maria De Masis
SIPGI - Scuola di Psicoterapia Gestaltica Integrata, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Rita Di Gennaro
SIPGI - Scuola di Psicoterapia Gestaltica Integrata, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Irene Fabbricino
SIPGI - Scuola di Psicoterapia Gestaltica Integrata, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Anna Asia Forino
SIPGI - Scuola di Psicoterapia Gestaltica Integrata, Torre Annunziata, Italy
Jgor Francesco Luceri
SGT - Scuola Gestalt Torino, Torino, Italy
logo
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32069/PJ.2021.2.241

Published 2025-09-17

Keywords

  • Gestalt, Gestalt Play therapy, Play Therapy, Research protocol.

How to Cite

Di Sarno, A. D., Barone, M., De Masis, M., Di Gennaro, R., Fabbricino, I., Forino, A. A., & Luceri, J. F. (2025). Validity and effectiveness of Gestalt Play Therapy: a proposal for defining a shared research protocol. Phenomena Journal - International Journal of Psychopathology, Neuroscience and Psychotherapy, 7(3), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.32069/PJ.2021.2.241

Copyright (c) 2025 Alfonso Davide Di Sarno, Maria Barone, Maria De Masis, Rita Di Gennaro, Irene Fabbricino, Anna Asia Forino, Jgor Francesco Luceri

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This study aims to develop and validate a practical and valid checklist specifically for measuring the effectiveness of treatment based on Gestalt Play Therapy.

This article explores the concept of play and its role in therapy. Following a literature review of Play Therapy and its applications, the complexities inherent in Play Therapy research are noted.

The creation of a specific checklist to evaluate the effectiveness of Gestalt Play Therapy-based treatment and a shared research protocol is proposed. The use of a shared protocol will make it possible to implement Gestalt Play Therapy data by providing a practical assessment tool for therapists while at the same time allowing them to gather evidence of the benefits of the Gestalt Play Therapy approach.

pdf

References

  1. Senko, K., & Bethany, H. (2019). Play therapy: An illustrative case. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 16(5-6), 38.
  2. Koukourikos, K., Tsaloglidou, A., Tzeha, L., Iliadis, C., Frantzana, A., Katsimbeli, A., & Kourkouta, L. (2021). An overview of Play Therapy. Materia socio-medica, 33(4), 293.
  3. Ramires V. R. (2016). The Intersubjective Nature of Play Development and Its Role in Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1783.
  4. Kool, R., & Lawver, T. (2010). Play Therapy: Considerations and applications for the practitioner. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 7(10), 19.
  5. Axline, V. M. (1947). Nondirective therapy for poor readers. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 11(2), 61.
  6. Axline, V. M. (2012). Play Therapy-The inner dynamics of childhood. Read Books Ltd.
  7. Bodrova, E., Leong, D. J., & Yudina, E. (2023). Play is a play, is a play, is a play… or is it? Challenges in designing, implementing and evaluating play-based interventions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1034633.
  8. Zosh, J. M., Gaudreau, C., Golinkoff, R. M., & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2022). The power of playful learning in the early childhood setting. YC Young Children, 77(2), 6-13.
  9. Canning, N. (2012). Exploring the concept of quality play. Implementing Qual. Improvement Change Early Years, 75-91.
  10. Zosh, J. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Hopkins, E. J., Jensen, H., Liu, C., Neale, D., ... & Whitebread, D. (2018). Accessing the inaccessible: Redefining play as a spectrum. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 382140.
  11. Hewes, J. (2014). Seeking balance in motion: The role of spontaneous free play in promoting social and emotional health in early childhood care and education. Children, 1(3), 280-301.
  12. Association for Play Therapy. About play therapy. 2014; 25-11-2018 Retrieved from: http://www.a4pt.org/ps.playtherapy/cfm?ID=1158
  13. Piaget, J. (1967). Lo sviluppo mentale del bambino. Einaudi, Torino.
  14. Hubbuck, C. (2009). Play for sick children: Play specialists in hospitals and beyond. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  15. Schaefer, C. E. (Ed.). (2011). Foundations of play therapy. John Wiley & Sons.
  16. Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. Routledge.
  17. Schaefer, C. E., & Kaduson, H. G. (Eds.). (2007). Contemporary play therapy: Theory, research, and practice. Guilford Press.
  18. Sheely‐Moore, A. I. (2010). Child parent relationship therapy with African American parents. Child‐Centered Play Therapy Research: The Evidence Base for Effective Practice, 339-353.
  19. Knell, S. M. (2015). Cognitive‐behavioral play therapy. Handbook of play therapy, 119-133.
  20. Hall, T. M., Kaduson, H. G., & Schaefer, C. E. (2002). Fifteen effective play therapy techniques. Professional psychology: Research and practice, 33(6), 515.
  21. Lawrence, G., & Kurpius, S. (2000). Legal and ethical issues involved when counseling minors in nonschool settings. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78,130-136.
  22. Carmichael, K. D. (2006). Legal and ethical issues in play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 15(2), 83.
  23. Bratton, S., Landreth, G., & Homeyer, L. (1993). An intensive three day play therapy supervision/training model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 2(2), 61.
  24. Bratton, S., Ray, D., & Landreth, G. (2008). Play therapy. Handbook of clinical psychology, 2, 577-625.
  25. Homeyer, L.E., & Morrison, M.O. (2008). Play Therapy: Practice, Issues, and Trends. American Journal of Play, 1, 210-228.
  26. Lawrence, G., & Kurpius, S. E. R. (2000). Legal and ethical issues involved when counseling minors in nonschool settings. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78(2), 130-136.
  27. Shelby, J., Ellingsen, R., & Schaefer, C. E. (2015). Play therapy research: Issues for 21st century progress. Handbook of play therapy, 561-581.
  28. Wethington, H. R., Hahn, R. A., Fuqua-Whitley, D. S., Sipe, T. A., Crosby, A. E., Johnson, R. L., ... & Task Force on Community Preventive Services. (2008). The effectiveness of interventions to reduce psychological harm from traumatic events among children and adolescents: a systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(3), 287-313.
  29. Urquiza, A. J. (2010). The future of play therapy: Elevating credibility through play therapy research. International Journal of Play Therapy, 19(1), 4.
  30. Rounsaville, B. J., Carroll, K. M., & Onken, L. S. (2001). A stage model of behavioral therapies research: Getting started and moving on from stage I. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 8(2), 133–142.
  31. Kazdin, A. E. (2011). Evidence-based treatment research: Advances, limitations, and next steps. American Psychologist, 66(8), 685.
  32. Kaminski, J. W., & Claussen, A. H. (2017). Evidence base update for psychosocial treatment of disruptive behaviors in children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 2017, 46(4), 477499.
  33. Ray, D., Bratton, S., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2001). The effectiveness of play therapy: Responding to the critics. International Journal of Play Therapy, 10(1), 85.
  34. Stripling, T. (2021). Gestalt interventions benefitting children and adolescents: A literature review. Gestalt Review, 25(2), 197-220.
  35. Gold, E., & Zahm, S. (2008). The need for Gestalt therapy research. Handbook for theory, research, and practice in Gestalt therapy, 27-36.
  36. Cook, D. A. (1999). Gestalt treatment of adolescent females with depressive symptoms: A treatment outcome study. University of Kentucky.
  37. Keshavarz, H., & Ghadini, S. (2016). The effect of Gestalt therapy on generalized anxiety disorder and test anxiety in students. Counseling Culture and Psycotherapy, 7(28), 85-102.
  38. Thomas, S. L. (2017). Embodied Conflict Resolution: The Use of Body Psychotherapy, Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy, and Aikido to Resolve Conflict amongst Adolescents. International Body Psychotherapy Journal, 16(1).
  39. Mortola, P. (2022). Il Metodo Oaklander: La psicoterapia della Gestalt attraverso il gioco. FrancoAngeli.
  40. Shelby, J., Ellingsen, R., & Schaefer, C. E. (2015). Play therapy research: Issues for 21st century progress. Handbook of play therapy, 561-581.
  41. Frank, R., & La Barre, F. (2011). The first year and the rest of your life: Movement, development, and psychotherapeutic change. Routledge.
  42. Francesetti, G., Gecele, M., & Roubal, J. (Eds.). (2014). La psicoterapia della Gestalt nella pratica clinica. Dalla psicopatologia all’estetica del contatto: Dalla psicopatologia all’estetica del contatto. FrancoAngeli.
  43. Fernandes, M. B., Cardoso–Zinker, S., Nogueira, C. R., Lazarus, E. A., & Ajzemberg, T. C. (2006). The development of the baby and Gestalt Therapy. Gestalt Review, 10(2), 98-109.
  44. Mortola, P. (2012). Commentary II. A Developmental Theory of the Infant. Gestalt Review, 16(3):251-258, 2012.
  45. LaBauve, B. J., Watts, R. E., & Kottman, T. (2001). Approaches to play therapy: A tabular overview. TCA Journal, 29(1), 104-113.
  46. Oaklander, V. (1999). Il gioco che guarisce: la psicoterapia della Gestalt con bambini e adolescenti. EPC.
  47. Mortola, P. (2015). “It actually reveals things to me about myself”: How Play Becomes Real in the Oaklander Approach. Gestalt Review, 19(3), 251-259.
  48. Mortola, P. (2014). Windowframes: Learning the art of Gestalt play therapy the Oaklander way. Gestalt Press.
  49. Oaklander, V. (1997). The therapeutic process with children and adolescents. Gestalt Review, 1(4), 292-317.
  50. Oaklander, V. (2004). Commentary on The Story of Daniel: Gestalt Therapy Principles and Values. Gestalt Review, 8(1), 96-99.
  51. Hughes, B. (2013). Evolutionary playwork. New York: Routledge.
  52. Mortola, P. (2019). Play becomes real for adults: Measuring effectiveness of expressive arts media for therapists in training using the oaklander approach. Gestalt Review, 23(1), 67-83.
  53. Farahzadi, M., & Masafi, S. (2013). Effectiveness of Gestalt and cognitive-behavioural play therapy in decreasing dythymic disorder. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 84, 1642-1645.
  54. Khodabakhshi-Koolaee, A., Akhalaghi-Yazdi, R., & Hojati Sayah, M. (2019). Investigating gestalt-based play therapy on anxiety and loneliness in female labour children with sexual abuse: A Single Case Research Design (SCRD). Journal of Client-Centered Nursing Care, 5(3), 147-156.
  55. Siampani, K. (2013). Incorporating sandplay therapy into gestalt therapy in the treatment of dementia. Gestalt Review, 17(1), 35-58.
  56. Timm, N., & Garza, Y. (2017). Beyond the miniatures: Using Gestalt theory in sandtray processing. Gestalt Review, 21(1), 44-55.
  57. Schneider, E., & Rosenblum, S. (2014). Development, reliability, and validity of the My Child’s Play (MCP) questionnaire. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(3), 277-285.
  58. Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. (1991). Child behavior checklist. Burlington (vt), 7, 371-392.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >> 

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.