Research Matters Forum - ‘From Psychoanalytic Theory to Researching Play: The Child Psychoanalytic Play Assessment Scale (C-PPAS)'

'From Psychoanalytic Theory to Researching Play: The Child Psychoanalytic Play Assessment Scale (C-PPAS)'

The February Research Matters Forum is pleased to present Dr Nikolaos Tzikas, who will present his postdoctoral research and introduce the Child Psychoanalytic Play Assessment Scale (C-PPAS), a tool currently undergoing validation. The project seeks to explore how the field might bridge the gap between traditional psychoanalytic play observation and the requirements for structured empirical reliability.
The C-PPAS is designed to evaluate play in children aged 3 to 8 by focusing on its functional dimensions, the underlying psychodynamic and developmental processes, rather than thematic content alone. By capturing how a child plays rather than simply what they play, the scale aims to provide a more nuanced map of the child’s internal world. The instrument is organized across three fundamental axes:

•    Axis 1: Types and Spheres of Play
•    Axis 2: Relating to and Use of the Object/Therapist
•    Axis 3: Ego Defences and Mechanisms

By utilizing a structured scoring system, the C-PPAS allows for the quantitative mapping of these complex psychodynamic states. This provides a method for measuring therapeutic change and tracking developmental progress over time with empirical clarity, without sacrificing clinical depth. The presentation will discuss the rationale for such a tool, its clinical applicability through vignettes, and the next steps in reliability testing and validation. Ultimately, the C-PPAS aims to offer a framework for translating the "art" of play observation into a quantifiable language, supporting the clinical case for psychoanalytic psychotherapy in an increasingly data-driven landscape.
 

The presentation will be facilitated by Nikolaos Tzikas, and chaired by Dr Elena Della Rosa, Deputy Director of Scientific Research.

Nikolaos Tzikas

Nikolaos trained as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist at the Independent Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Association (IPCAPA), UCL and the Anna Freud Centre. He currently practices privately in Athens, Greece, and is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His current research focuses on the developmental and psychodynamic dimensions of children’s play, specifically the development and validation of the Child Psychoanalytic Play Assessment Scale designed to measure play from a psychoanalytic perspective. Dr. Tzikas is the co-editor and co-author of the book Psychoanalytic Crisis Work with Adolescents: An Independent Approach (Routledge).

Dr Elena Della Rosa

Dr Elena Della Rosa - Elena trained at the Tavistock Centre, has worked in the NHS and has been teaching at the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex. She is currently working in private practice. She has an interest in research and is a research supervisor on the clinical training at the Tavistock. She is Deputy Director of the Scientific Committee at the ACP.

ABOUT RESEARCH MATTERS FORUM: 

The aim of this bi-monthly forum is to bring together child psychotherapists who want to learn more about research, to enhance their knowledge, skills and to find other colleagues who may be interested in similar topics for potential collaboration.

The research carried out by members has been spurred by their clinical practice and interest in clinical issues. This discussion forum will enable dialogue on how to tackle clinical dilemmas and ethical practice in research.