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The primary goal of this pilot study was to compare the frequency of which children explore items, and engage in cultural conversations and verbalizations (COBV) in a multiculturally designed play therapy room (MCP) versus a historically recommended play therapy room (HRP). A quasi-experimental comparison group design was used to observe differences between the play therapy rooms. Participants consisted of 32 children with varying cultural identity makers, including age (M = 6.31, SD = 2), race, and gender. Children were recruited from two campus-based university therapeutic clinics and one early childhood education program. Results of independent samples t-tests indicated a statistically significant difference between mean scores of cultural behaviors exhibited in MCPs when compared to HRPs with a large effect size. Furthermore, a moderate practical significance was found between the mean difference in cultural verbalizations found in MCPs when compared to HRPs. Correlational analyses exploring the child's age, both the child's and therapist's gender, and the three dependent variables exposed significant relationships between the child's age and frequency of items used, child's gender and number of cultural verbalizations, number of cultural verbalizations and cultural behaviors. Results from group analyses revealed a statistically significant difference between the therapist's race on number of cultural verbalizations with a large effect. Results from the present study influenced implications for practice such as utilizing intentional selection of cultural toys, and research implications such as a replication study using a randomized controlled trial to encourage generalizability.

The current study is the first to explore the role of cultural humility, cultural comfort, and the therapeutic relationship in play therapy. Participants consisted of 69 parent-therapist dyads recruited from university clinics, private practices, and a non-profit counseling center in the southwestern United States. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, Cultural Humility Scale, Therapist Cultural Comfort Scale, and Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory – Other to Self 40 (BLRI OS – 40). Play therapists completed a demographic questionnaire and BLRI MO – 40. A multiple regression analysis indicated that after controlling for the race/ethnicity of both play therapist and parent, parents' perceptions of play therapists' cultural humility and cultural comfort predicted parents' perception of their therapeutic relationship with their child's play therapist. Additionally, exploratory analyses suggested that when therapists report the occurrence of cultural conversation in parent consultations there may be an increase in parent-reported therapeutic relationship scores. However, when also controlling for the child's race/ethnicity, cultural humility and cultural comfort did not have a statistically significant impact on the play therapist's perception of the therapeutic relationship with their child client. These findings underscore the significance of play therapists' cultural humility and cultural comfort on the development of a strong therapeutic relationship with parents of children in play therapy. Limitations and implications for practice and future research are discussed.

The transition from middle school to high school can be challenging for some students. Many school districts are implementing practices to ease the transition to high school. The current study examined one school district's practices and procedures for the development and implementation of a ninth-grade center. In this study, I examined the perceptions of 12 participants (teachers, counselors, and campus and district administrators) in a suburban Texas school district with a ninth-grade center. Using a qualitative descriptive case study methodology, data were collected and analyzed from face-to-face in-depth interviews and a focus group. The findings revealed an overall positive view of ninth-grade centers and a generally favorable impression of separating ninth graders from the remainder of the high school student body, to focus specifically on ninth graders' unique and individual needs. There were some identified concerns related to communication and logistical issues between the ninth-grade center and the main high school campus. From participant feedback, effective campus leadership, providing engaging and ongoing professional learning, having a separate facility, and creating a sense of team through building strong relationships are the specific top four elements that are most effective in developing a ninth-grade center. While this study provides a practical set of recommendations for school districts to guide the development and implementation of a ninth-grade center, expanded research is necessary to confirm the long-range impact on student achievement.

The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which alternative schools add value to the college readiness of their students, as well as to measure the capacity of alternative school students to successfully complete dual credit courses while enrolled at the alternative school. This mixed methods study utilized an exploratory approach with a descriptive research design to explore the extent to which alternative schools produce college-ready students. The Texas Success Initiative Assessment was used to measure participants' academic readiness levels in mathematics, reading, and writing. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to provide their own perspectives on their college readiness levels through a student survey and semi-structured face-to-face interview. The results of this study reveal that the college readiness levels of alternative high school students varied across academic areas. Of the tested participants, 41.1% were college ready in reading, 52.1% in writing, and 16.7% in mathematics. Additionally, the findings reveal that dual credit course participation was not a viable option because of course prerequisites and the amount of time needed to complete dual credit courses. Results of this study expand on the literature to provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of alternative school programs, the college readiness levels of alternative high school students, and the capacity of alternative high school students to successfully complete college coursework while in high school.

This phenomenological study examined the experiences and perceptions of child-centered play therapists who deliver shortened sessions in the clinic setting. Using the phenomenological analysis procedures based on Moustakas' modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method, a coding team of three doctoral students found 10 themes related to child-centered play therapists' (N = 5) experiences delivering shortened session lengths. Each theme is defined and further described using verbatim transcript examples. This study has practical and clinical implications for child-centered play therapist development and training. The results of this study point to the need for further research in child-centered play therapists' experiences delivering play therapy-as-usual. Finally, future research regarding the change process in child-centered play therapy theory is also implicated.