The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of child-centered group play therapy on children of new immigrants in Taiwan exhibiting relationship difficulties. Eight second- and third-grade children in Northern Taiwan participated in the study. Research participants were randomly assigned into experimental groups and control groups. Children in the experimental group received child-centered group play therapy once a week for 12 weeks. The Social Skill Behaviors and Characteristics Scale for Elementary and Junior School Students (SSBCS, student version and teacher version) and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) were used to examine the effect. The children and their teachers also participated in semistructured interviews. Results revealed that child-centered group play therapy represented an effective treatment for interpersonal behavior, self-confidence, self-acceptance, and affection among the children of new immigrants. Child-centered group play therapy is also a way to enhance the psychological health of children of new immigrants in Taiwan and to improve the childrenas relationships in school. The limitations of this study and the recommendations for school counselors and future research are addressed. © 2016 APA, all rights reserved.

School counseling child-centered group play therapy relationship concerns children of new immigrants

psychological well being play therapy semi structured interview teacher randomized controlled trial immigrant parental stress PsycINFO controlled clinical trial control group Taiwan experimental model social adaptation student human human experiment Child