In therapy described as using the child’s interests and play with questions, what type of approach is this?

• A. Clinician-directed
• B. Child-centered
• C. Interactive play
• D. Parallel play

Answer: (B)

Focusing on the child’s own interests and using play with questions points to a non-directive, child-centered approach to therapy. In this style, the child leads the session—choosing what to play and where to explore—while the therapist follows, observes, and uses open-ended questions to help the child reflect, label feelings, and gain insight. The goal is to foster autonomy and self-directed problem-solving, with the therapist acting as a warm, responsive facilitator rather than a director.

This differs from clinician-directed work, where the therapist sets the activities and goals; from parallel play, where children play alongside each other with little interaction; and from other collaborative play styles that imply more structure or direction than the description suggests.