The efficacy of time-limited play therapy with maltreated preschoolers

Despite recognition of child maltreatment as a major national problem, there have been no controlled studies that evaluated the efficacy of individual psychotherapy with maltreated children. Thirty-six preschoolers who were attending a therapeutic nursery were provided with either 15 weeks of directive individual play therapy to supplement their ongoing milieu therapy or with their milieu therapy only. Of 13 outcome measures, children in the treatment group were superior to control children at posttest on amount of isolated play, and there were no significant differences at a 10-week follow-up assessment. Possible explanations for the general lack of significant results were discussed.