The behavioral characteristics of child centered play therapist in therapy with children with autism spectrum disorders

Background. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience communication difficulties, which may be partly associated with reduced emotional intelligence. Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is an effective method for developing emotional competence. Its effectiveness depends not only on the methodology but also on the therapist’s personal qualities, which remain understudied. Objective. To adapt and refine the CCPT approach for work with children with ASD by analyzing therapists’ verbal and nonverbal behavioral patterns. Research Questions. Which behavioral categories do therapists use during CCPT with children with ASD to establish initial contact? How does therapist behavior change depend on the child’s individual characteristics? Methods and Materials. The study involved three children with ASD (ages: 5 years 3 months, 5 years 7 months, and 5 years 11 months; 2 boys and 1 girl). Each child participated in eight 45-minute play sessions (two per week). Therapist behavior was analyzed using video recordings and participant observation. Therapeutic responses were assessed via qualitative content analysis, and behavioral strategies were explored using hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward’s method). Results. Content analysis identified 16 therapist statement categories, including self-worth reinforcement, action reflection, responsibility return, and emotional attunement. Cluster analysis revealed three session clusters: those characterized by high therapist approach similarity, moderate variation, and pronounced individuality. Conclusions. The identified behavioral categories refine the CCPT protocol. A minimal essential set of behavioral categories is proposed for establishing initial contact with children with ASD. Therapist adaptability, reflected in behavior changes based on therapy stage and child characteristics, was confirmed. Future directions: Further research is planned with a larger sample, inclusion of comparison groups, identification of new behavioral categories, and a focus on effective strategy combinations.