PTA's research policies and activities are based on our
systemic view of play therapy practice. This shows the importance of the evidence base upon which our competency framework, the foundation of training, learning and practice is constructed. PTA's approach to play therapy practice is evidence based.
In turn the evidence base is updated by original research and practice based evidence. The main emphasis of our current research programme is practice based evidence which is stored and analysed in the
SEPACTO national database of play therapy clinical outcomes. This uses data derived from practice as a by product of clinical governance. It's results are more likely to be replicated by others in future practice. It is also used to justify funding on play therapy services. When PTA was formed there was a dearth of quantitative research upon the efficacy of play therapy. This continuous research programme places PTA firmly in the lead of play therapy research. Together with PTI, it has taken five years to get our quantitative research programme running at a satisfactory level. We can now devote more attention to qualitative and original research. This will be obtained from two main sources:
- Journals, conference papers and books, mainly from the psychological professions. These are now reviewed and digested in the 'Play for Life' journal. (for example a review of the contribution of neuroscience to play therapy in the Summer 2007 issue).
- MA dissertations published by PTA members.
