Scientific direction

Maria A. Geraci

Scientific Director of the CBPT Research Center · CEO

Maria A. Geraci earned her specialization in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Humanitas School of Specialization in Rome (LUMSA University). She holds a university specialization in Psychological Assessment from Sapienza University of Rome and a Master's in Play Therapy from the International Academy of Play Therapy in Lugano. She obtained the Play Therapy Practitioner qualification issued by APTI (Associazione Play Therapy Italia).

She specializes in CBT psychotherapy, with a case of Childhood Depression treated with CBPT. She is the author of "La Play Therapy Cognitivo-Comportamentale" (Armando Editore, 2022), recognized as a foundational text for updating Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy and disseminating international research.

She has worked for 20 years in schools as a school psychologist, handling behavioral, educational and organizational analysis and intervention. For the past 12 years she has dedicated herself to developmental-age psychotherapy using Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy in interventions aimed at the emotional regulation of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

She is a contract lecturer at LUMSA University, Coordinator and lecturer at the Humanitas School of Psychotherapy, and lecturer at several CBT psychotherapy schools, teaching modules on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy. She also teaches in Rome and trains various school prevention projects on developmental psychology, psychopathology and educational psychology.

She is the author of several national and international publications on Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SLD, ADHD, Autism), coping, the emotional resources of children with learning disorders, and the promotion of resilience.

She is currently Director of the CBPT Research Center.

Susan M. Knell

Susan M. Knell earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University and her Master's in Developmental Psychology from Ohio State University. She is the author of "Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy" (Jason Aronson, 1993), known internationally and published in Italian in 1998.

She was the first to study the application of cognitive-behavioral therapy in young children. In addition to her book, she has published many chapters in books on play therapy, including a recent chapter on treating young children with anxiety disorders. She has lectured throughout the United States on Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) with preschool and school-age children.

As a clinical psychologist, she has practiced for more than 25 years, providing assessment and therapeutic interventions for children, adolescents and adults. She also has extensive experience in research and in training and mentoring other mental health professionals. She currently serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University, where she supervises and teaches doctoral students in the Department of Psychological Sciences.