Initial Investigation of Nature‐Based, Child‐Centered Play Therapy: A Single‐Case Design

Abstract

The authors implemented an A‐B‐A single‐case research design to examine the degree of treatment effect for a nature‐based, child‐centered play therapy intervention with early elementary school children (N = 4) exhibiting behavioral problems. Two participants exhibited behavioral change during the 7‐week intervention and maintained the change during follow‐up, as measured by classroom observations. Implications for using this approach in counseling are discussed.

Greening Counseling: Examining Multivariate Relationships Between Ecowellness and Holistic Wellness

“…Reese and Myers (2012) cited a lack of attention placed on the human-nature connection in wellness models and a need to integrate components of nature into professional counseling. Other researchers have made similar observations (e.g., Greenleaf, Bryant, & Pollock, 2014;Greenleaf & Roessger, 2017;Reese, Lewis, Myers, Wahesh, & Iverson, 2014;Swank, Cheung, Prikhidko, & Su, 2017;Swank, Shin, Cabrita, Cheung, & Rivers, 2015).…”

School Counselor Roles and Opportunities in Promoting EcoWellness: Integrating Nature Connection in K–12 Settings

“…Instead of including material toys in an indoor setting, the NBCCPT approach utilizes natural elements in an outdoor context. Swank, Shin, Cabrita, Cheung, and Rivers (2015) evaluated the effects of this approach in the individual counseling context by utilizing a single-case research design. Following fourteen 30-min sessions in an afterschool program, Swank and colleagues identified reductions in problem behaviors (i.e., more on-task behaviors and reducing the number or problems in the school environment) in two of the four elementary-aged students included in the study.…”

Using Single‐Case Research Designs to Demonstrate Evidence for Counseling Practices

“…Also included within this special issue are eight exemplar studies that depict the use of SCRDs to evaluate the efficacy of counseling and counseling preparation interventions with individuals across the lifespan. Four articles investigate the efficacy of interventions with school‐aged children and adolescents using Adlerian play therapy (Meany‐Walen, Kottman, Bullis, & Taylor, ), child‐centered play therapy (Ware Balch & Ray, ), and nature‐based (Swank, Shin, Cabrita, Cheung, & Rivers, ) and peer‐monitoring modalities (Smith, Evans‐McCleon, Urbanski, & Justice, ). Two articles depict the utility of counseling interventions within the rehabilitative experience of individuals who are incarcerated using integrating narrative therapy (Ikonomopoulos, Smith, & Schmidt, ) and cognitive behavior therapy (Cox, Lenz, & James, ).…”