Designing an Integrated Play Therapy Program Based on the Cognitive-Behavioral Approach and Sensory Integration for Children With Autism

Marziyeh Eshraghi; Mansoureh Shahriari Ahmadi; Roya Kuchak Entezar

Authors

Marziyeh Eshraghi Department of General Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8289-5558
Mansoureh Shahriari Ahmadi Department of General Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6876-9196
Roya Kuchak Entezar Department of General Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7545-5665

Keywords:

play therapy, cognitive-behavioral approach, sensory integration, autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

The present study aimed to design an integrated play therapy program based on the cognitive-behavioral approach and sensory integration for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In terms of purpose, this was an applied study, and in terms of methodology, it employed a qualitative research design. Using thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase framework, valid and up-to-date theoretical and empirical evidence was systematically reviewed and coded. A step-by-step framework illustrating the process of structuring and designing the integrated play therapy program based on the cognitive-behavioral approach and sensory integration for children with autism was developed according to Intervention Mapping (IM). The integrated cognitive-behavioral play therapy and sensory integration program was subsequently presented to 10 faculty members from the University of Tehran and experienced therapists working in a university clinic for children with neurodevelopmental disorders who were professionally involved in the field of autism spectrum disorder. They were asked to provide expert feedback on the developed intervention package to facilitate its refinement. Quantitative assessment of the content validity of the integrated play therapy program was conducted using the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR). The results indicated that the integrated program resulted in the development of a valid 12-session protocol. The inductive thematic analysis process progressed from 52 initial codes to 22 axial codes, 14 subthemes, and 8 main themes. These eight themes constituted the conceptual pillars of the protocol and integrated the cognitive-behavioral and sensory integration approaches within a spiral, play-based structure, thereby empirically demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed program design. Another finding of the present study was that the integrated program demonstrated satisfactory validity. The CVI calculated for each of the 12 items corresponding to the intervention sessions ranged from .80 to .90, with all values exceeding the accepted threshold of .79. Internal validity was confirmed through member checking and calculation of the CVI. The developed integrated program constitutes a valid intervention for improving sensory responses in children with sensory modulation disorder. Based on the findings, it is recommended that psychologists working with children with special needs use the 12-session integrated protocol developed in this study as a standardized intervention package.

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