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Contact Info

Email: ycheng [at] rider.edu

Phone Number: 609-896-5735

Department: Graduate Education, Leadership and Counseling

Office Location: Bierenbaum Fisher Hall

Additional Info:

Academic Focus: Counseling Services

Education

  • Ph.D. in Counseling, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas (CACREP accredited), Specialty Areas: Play therapy, diversity and multicultural issues in counseling and supervision
  • M.Ed. in Counseling, University of North Texas Denton, Texas (CACREP accredited, Community Mental Health Counseling)
  • B.S. in Social Work, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan

Licensures/certifications

  • 2018-Present: Licensed Professional Counselor (New Jersey)
  • 2016-Present: Certified Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)-Trainer/Supervisor
  • 2016-Present: Certified Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT)- Trainer/Supervisor
  • 2015-Present: Registered Play TherapistTM (RPT)
  • 2012-Present: National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Teaching experience

Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ

Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling (CACREP-accredited)

  • Spring 2022 - BHP 253: Cross Cultural Comparison of Play
  • Fall 2019 & Summer 2022 - COUN 556: Parent-Child Play Therapy
  • Spring 2019-Present - COUN 555: Introduction to Play Therapy
  • Summer 2018 - COUN 600: Independent Study: The Inequality of Funding in Schools
  • Fall 2017-Present
    • EDPS 520: Measurement, Tests, and Assessment in Counseling
    • CNPY 518: Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Their Families
    • COUN/CNDT 585: Practicum in Counseling

Professional background and research interests 

I am a licensed professional counselor and a registered play therapist. I am also a certified trainer and supervisor for child-centered play therapy (CCPT) and child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT). I have experiences working with children and their families experiencing various struggles, from diverse cultural backgrounds, and across settings. Working with caregivers and educators to help them enhance their relationships with children is another passion of mine. In addition, I provide play therapy related training locally, nationally, and internationally. 

My research interests center on exploring the impact of play therapy (specifically child-centered play therapy) on children experiencing various struggles and multicultural issues related to counselor education and play therapy training. 

Selected publications

Articles Published/In Press in Refereed Journals

Yee, T., & Cheng, Y. (2022). Racism in the playroom: Clinical errors that maintain racism. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2022.2113707

Ritzi, R. M., Cheng, Y., Yurkovich, C. V., & Chen, S. (2022). Child parent relationship therapy: Reunification with children and parents with substance use disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2022.2114772

Chen, S., & Cheng, Y. (2021). Effects of kinder training on preschool children’s externalizing behavior: A single-case design. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 7, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2021.1948270

Peterson, C. H., Peterson, N. A., Cheng, Y., Dalley, L. M., Flower, K. M. (2020). A systematic review of standardized instruments that assess LGBT couple and family constructs. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 16(5), 455-474. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2019.1709598

Cheng, Y., Smith, L., Ritzi, R., Wagner, T., & Pertuit, T. (2020). Counselor preparation in working with African American adolescents in group counseling. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 45, 3-21, https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2019.1699620

Ray, D. C., & Cheng, Y. (2018). Child-centered group play therapy: Therapeutic power of relationship. Journal of Taiwan Play Therapy, 7, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.6139/JTPT.2018.7.1

Published Edited Book

Ray, D. C., Ogawa, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2022). Multicultural play therapy: Making the most of cultural opportunities with children. Routledge.

Published Translated Books

Landreth, G. L., & Bratton, S. (2021). Child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT): An evidencebased 10-session filial therapy model (F. Liu, H. Wang, & D. Yee Trans; Y. Cheng Eds.). China Renmin University Press. (Original 2nd ed. work published in 2020).

Bratton, S. & Landreth, G. L. (2021). Child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) Treatment Manual: An evidence-based 10-session filial therapy model (F. Liu, H. Wang, & D. Yee Trans; Y. Cheng Eds.). China Renmin University Press. (Original 2nd ed. work published in 2020).

Kottman, T., & Meany-Walen, K. (2019). Partners in play: An Adlerian approach to play therapy (Y. Cheng, K. Wan, M. Tsai, & C. Chung Trans.). Psychological Publishing. (Original 3 rd ed. work published in 2016).

Published Book Chapters

Ray, D. C., Ogawa, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2022). Cultural humility and the play therapist. In D. C. Ray, Y. Ogawa, & Y. Cheng (Eds.), Multicultural play therapy: Making the most of cultural opportunities with children (pp. 13-28). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003190073-3

Ogawa, Y., Cheng, Y., & Ray, D. C. (2022). Cultural opportunities and comfort in play therapy. In D. C. Ray, Y. Ogawa, & Y. Cheng (Eds.), Multicultural play therapy: Making the most of cultural opportunities with children (pp. 29-43). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003190073-4

Cheng, Y., Chung, R. K., & Ogawa, Y. (2022). Cultural opportunities with Asian populations. In D. C. Ray, Y. Ogawa, & Y. Cheng (Eds.), Multicultural play therapy: Making the most of cultural opportunities with children (pp. 182-205). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003190073-13

Cheng, Y., Ritzi, R., & Ener, L. (2019). Live Supervision in University-Based Play Therapy Training Clinics: Roles, Process, and Considerations. In E. M. Dugan, K. Vaughn, & K. Camelford (Eds.), Developing and sustaining play therapy clinics (pp. 194-222). IGI Global.

Published DVD

Center for Play Therapy (2019). Child-centered play therapy with children of Chinese cultures: A clinical session featuring Dr. Yi-Ju Cheng, a leading expert in child-centered play therapy [Film]. Center for Play Therapy.

Selected presentations

Professional Presentations/Workshops

International Level

Lin, Y. D., & Cheng, Y. (2022, November). Play therapy and play therapists during the pandemic. Invited and will conduct a 1.5-hour virtual presentation as a keynote co-presenter. Taiwan Association for Play Therapy, Taiwan.

Ray, D. C., & Cheng, Y. (2022, January). Child-centered group play therapy. Invited and conducted a 6-hour virtual workshop. Jian Geng Education and Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China.

Cheng, Y. (2021, December). Child-Centered Play Therapy 101 & 102 Workshop. Invited and conducted a 30-hour virtual workshop. Jian Geng Education and Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China.

National Level

Ogawa, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2022, November). Cultural humility in the playroom. Invited and will present a 3-hour virtual workshop. Center for Play Therapy 2022 Multicultural Series, Denton, TX.

Ray, D. C., Ogawa, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2022, October). Multicultural play therapy: How to make most of the cultural opportunities. Proposal accepted and will present a 2-hour program at the 2022 Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference, St. Louis, MO.

Ogawa, Y., & Cheng, Y. (2021, November). Play therapy with children from Asian cultural background. Invited and conducted a 3-hour virtual workshop. Center for Play Therapy 2021 Multicultural Series, Denton, TX.

Cheng, Y. & Ray, D. C. (2021, August). Child-centered group play therapy. Invited and conducted a 6-hour virtual workshop. Center for Play Therapy Summer Institute, Denton, TX.

Chen, S., & Cheng, Y. (2019, March). School-Based Play Therapy: Strategies to Build Effective Partnerships with Schools. Program presented at the American Counseling Association 2019 Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Yee, T., & Cheng, Y. (2019, March). The Transition from International Counseling Student to International Counselor Educator. Program presented at the American Counseling Association 2019 Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Ritzi, R., & Cheng, Y. (2018, October). Child-centered play therapy with children with type I diabetes. Poster presented at the Association for Play Therapy 2019 Conference, Phenix, AZ.

Editorial activities

  • Summer 2022-Present: Editorial Board Member, Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy (JCLA)
  • Fall 2018-Present: Reviewer, Play Therapy Magazine, Association for Play Therapy
  • Summer 2018-Present: Editorial Board Member, Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling (JCAC)

Professional service

  • Fall 2022-Present: President-Elect, New Jersey Association for Play Therapy
  • Spring 2022-Present: Chair, Research Committee, Association for Play Therapy

Awards and recognitions

  • Fall 2022: Faculty Spotlight, Rider Alumni Magazine
  • Spring 2019: Faculty Appreciation, CSI, Counseling Program, Rider University
  • 2018: NARACES 2018 Research Grant Award ($500)