The tools of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy
CBPT adapts evidence-based cognitive-behavioral techniques into play — with tools that let children explore, express and change.
The child's language becomes the tool of change: puppets, stories and art.
Puppets
Puppets create an atmosphere of free expression: easy to manipulate, they let the child be spontaneous and project thoughts and feelings onto the character.
- Assessment: the Puppet Sentence Completion Task (PSCT)
- Interviewing children and family assessment
- Cognitive-behavioral techniques, modeling and role-play
Therapeutic storytelling
Narrative is how children make sense of the world. In CBPT the child is no longer a passive subject, but the active author of their own improvement.
- The development of narrative thinking
- Building therapeutic stories
- Bibliotherapy and the choice of texts
Puppets let the child be spontaneous and say what words alone cannot.
Expressive arts
Through expressive arts, emotions that have no words finally find a shape. Creative activities are organized within the CBPT setting and combined with cognitive-behavioral techniques.
- From art therapy in CBT to CBPT practice
- Organizing creative and expressive activities
- Exploring emotions along the therapeutic path
Learn to use the tools
Dedicated courses teach each tool in depth — puppets, storytelling and expressive arts — with practical, applicable technique.
Explore the coursesFrequently asked questions
What are the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy?
CBPT adapts cognitive-behavioral techniques into play through three main tools: puppets, therapeutic storytelling and expressive arts. Each one lets the child explore, express and change in a language that fits their developmental level.
How are puppets used in CBPT?
Puppets create an atmosphere of free expression: the child projects thoughts and feelings onto the character and can say what words alone cannot. They are used for assessment with the Puppet Sentence Completion Task (PSCT), for interviewing children and families, and for modeling and role-play of cognitive-behavioral techniques.
What role does storytelling play in CBPT?
Narrative is how children make sense of the world. In CBPT the child becomes the active author of their own improvement: the therapist works on the development of narrative thinking, builds therapeutic stories and uses bibliotherapy with carefully chosen texts.
How do expressive arts fit into a cognitive-behavioral approach?
Creative activities give shape to emotions that have no words yet. In CBPT they are organized within the therapeutic setting and combined with cognitive-behavioral techniques, moving from art therapy in CBT to structured CBPT practice along the therapeutic path.
Can I train in the CBPT tools?
Yes. The CBPT Research Center offers a dedicated online course for each tool (puppets, storytelling, expressive arts) and a CBPT Tools Pack that bundles all three, with practical technique you can use in session. A free ebook on the method is also available as a starting point.
Start with the method
Download the free ebook on Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy.
Get the free ebook