Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy
Play Therapy Podcast with Dr. Brenna Hicks offers expert coaching and training in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). The show breaks down barriers to high-quality education by providing accessible, ad-free, and paywall-free content. Each episode functions as a master-class, helping play therapists refine their skills and deepen their understanding of CCPT. It is a valuable resource for professionals seeking focused and practical guidance in play therapy.
Episodes
427 | How Anxiety Shows Up—and Changes—in the Playroom
In this episode, I answer several questions about two anxious girls whose play is giving us a fascinating look at what happens when children begin confronting the very things anxiety tells them to avoid. From putting sandy fidgets back into a bucket and intentionally leaving personal toys behind, to breaking open squishies, making enormous messes, and covering hands with paint, I explore how seemi
426 | What's Wrong with Our Field? CCPT-ish
In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I tackle something I've been talking about for years: CCPT-ish. We have a complete, empirically supported model with known outcomes, but those outcomes are based on actually practicing child-centered play therapy. When we begin adding techniques, removing pieces, blending theories, or modifying the model whenever something else seems usef
425 | How to Coach Parents Through Severe Power Struggles
In this episode, I answer a question about helping parents whose child has gradually taken control of the entire home. When a child constantly interrupts conversations, makes relentless demands, or escalates until everyone gives in, it's tempting to focus on stopping the behavior. Instead, I explain why we have to begin by understanding what's driving it. I discuss how power and control needs, inc
424 | What's Wrong with Our Field? The Problem with ABA
In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I examine why I believe Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) remains one of the most concerning practices in pediatric mental health. I discuss its historical origins, the philosophy on which it was built, and why I believe its directive, compliance-focused approach stands in direct contrast to the principles of child-centered play therapy. I
423 | What If a Child Tells You to Stop Talking?
In this episode, I answer a question about one of the most uncomfortable moments a child-centered play therapist can experience: when a child tells you to stop talking because your reflections are "annoying." I explain why these moments are often signs of therapeutic progress rather than therapist failure. As children become more vulnerable, our reflections bring subconscious emotions into conscio
422 | What's Wrong with Our Field?: Universities and Graduate School
In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I tackle what I believe is one of the greatest shortcomings in graduate mental health education: the lack of meaningful preparation for working with children. I share why so many counseling, social work, psychology, and marriage and family therapy programs treat children as an afterthought, expose students to modified adult interventions
421 | Does Birth Order Matter in CCPT? (Especially for Only Children)
In this episode, I answer a question about birth order and, specifically, what research and clinical experience tell us about only children. While birth order doesn't change how I practice child-centered play therapy, it does provide valuable insight into family dynamics, personality development, and the parent-child relationship. I explain why only children often develop differently from oldest,
420 | What is Wrong With Our Field? (New Series) Have We Lost Our Heart?
In this episode, I begin a new series exploring what I believe is wrong with the play therapy field today. I share a surprising piece of anonymous conference feedback that challenged me personally, but more importantly, raised a much deeper question: Have some play therapists lost the heart of this work? I revisit the progression from Rogers to Axline to Landreth and argue that love, empathy, genu
419 | Returning Responsibility During Regressive Play
In this episode, I answer a question about one of the most nuanced aspects of child-centered play therapy: knowing when to return responsibility to a child and when to step into a nurturing role during regressive play. If a child is pretending to be a baby, should I get their bottle or blanket? What if they continue asking me to do things after the role play ends? I explain why there isn't a one-s
418 | CCPT Mythbusters: You'll Eventually Be 100% Adherent to the Model
In this final episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a myth that many child-centered play therapists quietly carry with them: the belief that if we practice long enough, we'll eventually become 100% adherent to the model. I explain why adherence isn't something that develops automatically with experience or time. Instead, it is a moment-by-moment commitment grounded in a deep understandi
417 | Expectancy, Not Expectations: The Heart of Unconditional Acceptance in CCPT
In this episode, I answer a question about what to do when children create artwork or craft projects during child-centered play therapy. Should they take their creations home? Should therapists keep them? And if a child spends an entire session coloring or painting, are they missing out on "more important" therapeutic work? I explain why the child's creations should never be displayed in the playr
416 | CCPT Mythbusters: Kids Are Manipulative
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle one of the most common labels adults place on children: "They're just manipulative." I explain why manipulation requires cognitive planning, rational thinking, and intentional strategy—abilities that children simply don't possess developmentally. Instead, I unpack the difference between manipulation and conditioning, showing how children lea
415 | Advanced "I Wonder" and Whisper Technique in Role Play
In this episode, I answer a question about using whispering and "I wonder" statements during role play in child-centered play therapy. One of the biggest challenges therapists face is knowing when to continue in a role the child has assigned versus when to seek additional direction. I explain why our goal is never to improvise or steer the play, but rather to follow the child's cues while remainin
414 | When a Child Narrates Their Own Play - Trusting the Process
In this episode, I answer a question from a new CCPT therapist who wonders whether a child who quietly builds with Legos session after session is really doing therapeutic work. When play seems repetitive, surface-level, or disconnected from the child's personal life, it's easy to question whether meaningful progress is being made. I explain why narration, predictable play, and even seemingly simpl
413 | CCPT Mythbusters: Child-Centered Play Therapy Doesn't Work with Older Kids
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a misconception that exists even within the child-centered play therapy community: the belief that CCPT doesn't work with older children. Too many therapists assume that once children reach nine or ten years old, they have "outgrown" play therapy and need a more traditional talk therapy approach. I explain why this simply isn't true. While o
412 | When an Anxious Child Won't Stay in the Playroom
In this episode, I answer a question about working with a young child who repeatedly tries to leave the playroom during the first few sessions of therapy. Whether the child says they need to see their parent, use the bathroom, or simply can't stay in the room, I explain why these behaviors are often rooted in anxiety, a need for control, and difficulty with emotional regulation—not a true desire t
411 | When Parents and Grandparents Aren't on the Same Page: Helping Families Align Around CCPT
In this episode, I answer a question about working with children who are being raised in nontraditional family systems, including homes where grandparents or other caregivers play a significant parenting role. I explore the unique challenges that arise when one caregiver embraces child-centered play therapy principles while others continue using more traditional parenting approaches. Rather than v
410 | CCPT Mythbusters: Diagnosing and Medicating Kids Helps
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle one of the most widely accepted assumptions in children's mental health today: that diagnosing and medicating children is the best path to helping them. I explain why child-centered play therapists often find themselves working against systems that prioritize labels and prescriptions before fully understanding the whole child. While there ar
409 | Why the Hardest CCPT Cases Need the Most Trust - Navigating Trauma, Attachment, and Dysregulation in the Playroom
In this episode, I answer a question about working with a 7-year-old child with a profound history of neglect, abandonment, foster placements, reunification, and complex attachment trauma. Sixty-six sessions into the therapeutic process, the child continues to demonstrate significant dysregulation, attempts to flee the playroom, intense verbal aggression, and destructive behaviors. I explore why t
408 | What If the Child Isn't Finished When Time Is Up?
In this episode, I answer a question about how to handle the end of a play therapy session when a child is deeply engaged in an activity and isn't finished when time runs out. While it's natural to want to help children find closure, complete a project, or avoid frustration, I explain why those desires can subtly shift us away from adherence to the child-centered model. CCPT requires us to trust t
407 | CCPT Mythbusters: You Have to Figure Out What the Play Means
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle one of the most common misconceptions in child-centered play therapy: the belief that therapists have to figure out what a child's play means. Many clinicians feel pressure to identify themes, decode symbolism, interpret behavior, and connect every play sequence to a specific life event or presenting concern. While symbolic and thematic play
406 | When an Intern Sits In: Best Practices for CCPT Observation + Live Event Announcements!
In this episode, I answer a question about allowing interns, supervisees, and other clinicians to observe child-centered play therapy sessions. I discuss what happened when an intern sat in on a session and unintentionally disrupted the therapeutic process by interacting with the child in a directive manner. Using this scenario as a springboard, I share what I believe are the essential best practi
405 | What Happens Now? Preserving Garry Landreth's Legacy
In this special episode, I take a break from the MythBusters series to reflect on the life, influence, and legacy of Dr. Garry Landreth. Like so many in the child-centered play therapy community, I have spent the past several days processing the loss of a man whose work shaped not only my career, but also my identity as a therapist, teacher, coach, and advocate for children. I share personal stori
404 | What If a Child Brings Schoolwork Into the Playroom?
In this episode, I answer a follow-up question about children bringing items from home into the playroom and explore a specific scenario involving a child who brings schoolwork and homework into session. I discuss why children often bring meaningful objects from their lives outside the playroom and why those items can serve important purposes, including self-soothing, safety, connection, and commu
403 | CCPT Mythbusters: Children Need Guidance to Change
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle the belief that children need guidance to change. This myth is deeply embedded in our culture and shows up in many therapeutic approaches through advice, instruction, worksheets, lessons, and adult-directed interventions. I explain why this assumption directly contradicts the foundations of person-centered and child-centered theory. From the
402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and Trusting the CCPT Process
In this episode, I answer a question about a 7-year-old child whose play therapy sessions have been marked by extreme dysregulation, constant limit setting, destruction of materials, and very little observable progress after 16 sessions. I explore several possible explanations for this kind of presentation, including neurodivergence, developmental immaturity, a complete lack of experience with sel
401 | CCPT Mythbusters: What the Child Is Doing Isn't Enough
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a belief that quietly shows up in many therapists' thinking: that what the child is doing in session isn't enough. Whether it's a child who only draws, only colors, only builds with Legos, or simply sits quietly week after week, there is often an underlying assumption that the child should be doing more. I challenge that assumption and explo
400 | 400 Episodes of CCPT: Reflections, Vision, and Live Q&A
This week's episode is a special one—the recording of our 400th Play Therapy Podcast livestream celebration. What began as an experiment with six episodes has grown into a global community of child-centered play therapists, with listeners in more than 120 countries and nearly one million downloads. In this episode, I share some reflections on that journey, celebrate what we have built together, an
399 | Signs a Child Has Too Much Screen Time: What It Looks Like in the CCPT Playroom
In this episode, I answer a question about recognizing signs of excessive and unrestricted technology use in children and how those patterns show up in the playroom. I discuss common indicators I've observed in CCPT, including difficulty engaging in imaginative play, replicating video games or screen content during sessions, low frustration tolerance, irritability, boredom with toys, emotional dys
398 | CCPT Mythbusters: The Child Has to Talk About It
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle the belief that "play therapy isn't enough" unless children verbally talk about their problems. I explain why this myth is rooted in adulthood bias and the false assumption that children process experiences cognitively and verbally the way adults do. In reality, children are experiential and emotional beings who naturally work through their
397 | If Children Aren't Cognitive, Why Do Some Want to Sit and Talk?
In this episode, I answer a thoughtful question about how child-centered play therapy works if children are not yet capable of abstract reasoning. I explain the important distinction between children being able to memorize and learn information versus having the cognitive ability for true introspection, logic, and abstract thought. Drawing from Piaget's developmental framework, I discuss why child
396 | CCPT Mythbusters: It's Not Therapeutic If the Child Won't Go to the Playroom
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle the belief that "it's not play therapy if the child isn't in the playroom." I explain why a child refusing to go back to the playroom is not a problem to solve, but simply another behavior to understand within the child's process. Whether a child sits in the lobby, hallway, parking lot, or refuses to engage at all, our role does not change.
395 | Helping Children Through Divorce: The Importance of Age-Appropriate Truth
In this episode, I answer a question about helping children navigate a difficult divorce and discuss how to guide parents in communicating hard truths in developmentally appropriate ways. I explain why shielding children from reality often creates more confusion and anxiety, because children are already aware that something is wrong. When adults avoid conversations, children fill in the gaps thems
394 | CCPT Mythbusters: You Have to "Do Something"... or Therapy Won't Work
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I address one of the most persistent and widely accepted myths in the field: that therapists have to do something for therapy to be effective. I unpack how this expectation shows up—from parents, schools, and even our own training—and why it creates pressure to intervene, direct, or "produce" visible results. I explain how this mindset is rooted in a
393 | When to Set Limits (and When Not To) in CCPT + Removing Toys
In this Q&A episode, I respond to two questions that highlight common areas of uncertainty in child-centered play therapy. First, I address a case involving a 7-year-old with significant behavioral challenges across settings. The core issue isn't what to "do more," but whether a limit is actually necessary. I walk through the three reasons we set limits and the three questions we ask ourselves, em
392 | CCPT Mythbusters: The "Innovation" Myth in Play Therapy
In this episode, I introduce a new series on the podcast—CCPT Mythbusters—and we begin by tackling what I believe is one of the most pervasive myths in the field: that child-centered play therapy needs innovation. I explain how the field often defines "innovation" as applying models to new populations, integrating multiple theoretical approaches, or repackaging techniques. While those efforts may
391 | When a Child Doesn't Want to Stop: Navigating Termination in CCPT
In this episode, I answer a question about preparing a child and family for termination in child-centered play therapy—especially when the child appears clinically ready, but the parent is still seeing concerns outside the playroom. I walk through how to assess readiness using the four termination criteria, including both clinical and environmental factors, and explain why it can feel unclear when
390 | Room Wrecks: The Moment That Tests Every Child-Centered Play Therapist (A CCPT Guide for Understanding and Handling Them)
In this episode, I walk through one of the most challenging—and inevitable—aspects of child-centered play therapy: room wrecks. I explain why these moments, as overwhelming and inconvenient as they can feel, are often deeply meaningful and necessary parts of a child's process. When a child is dumping shelves, throwing toys, or creating chaos, there is always a reason beneath the behavior. Rather t
389 | Building Buy-In for CCPT with Teachers and Staff
In this episode, I answer a question about how to effectively communicate child-centered play therapy to teachers and school staff—especially when they are expecting quick, directive results. I explain why this is such a challenge, given that educational systems often operate from a very different framework than CCPT. I share practical strategies for bridging that gap, including building strong re
388 | Why Are These Kids So Happy?: What I Learned About Parenting (and CCPT) from Japan
In this episode, I share some observations from my recent trip to Japan and reflect on what I noticed about children and their parents. What stood out to me most wasn't a specific experience or attraction—it was the consistent presence of calm, content, and genuinely happy children. Over the course of two weeks, I observed something very different from what we often see: children who were regulate
387 | Stop Overloading Parents: How to Drip Feed CCPT Skills
In this episode, I talk about a common mistake we make in parent consults—giving parents too much, too fast, and expecting them to implement it successfully. I explain how this often comes from our own desire to "have something to say" or to be helpful, but it actually sets parents up for failure. Instead of equipping them, we overwhelm them. I walk through why parent engagement matters so much in
386 | Adulthood Bias and Piaget: Why Adults Misunderstand Children
In this episode, I revisit the concept of Adulthood Bias and explain why it continues to show up so frequently in how adults interact with children. At its core, Adulthood Bias is the tendency to forget what it's like to be a child—emotional, present-focused, and without the capacity for abstract reasoning—and instead expect children to think and respond like adults. I connect this idea back to Pi
385 | How to Talk to Kids About Parent Meetings and Notes in CCPT
In this episode, I answer a question about how to communicate with children regarding two important parts of the play therapy process: meeting with parents and taking notes during sessions. I explain why it's critical to set clear expectations from the very first session, using that brief window to establish predictability, transparency, and trust. When children understand upfront that I meet with
384 | Stop Trying to Figure Out the Play: A Reminder for CCPT Therapists
In this episode, I address a growing trend I've been seeing among therapists—trying to interpret, analyze, and "figure out" what a child's play means. I understand the desire to make sense of themes, especially when we're trying to communicate progress to parents. But in child-centered play therapy, that instinct can actually pull us away from what matters most. When we start making assumptions or
383 | The Parent Factor in CCPT: Can a Child Fully Heal If the Parent Doesn't Change?
In this episode, I answer a question about how a parent's own anxiety, stress, or perfectionism impacts a child's progress in play therapy. I talk through the reality that while children often absorb what they are around, their growth in CCPT is not dependent on their parent "fixing" themselves first. The child will continue to move toward self-actualization through the relationship and the playro
382 | "Imposter Syndrome" in Therapy: Why It's Time to Let It Go
In this episode, I challenge the widespread use of the phrase "imposter syndrome" in the therapy field and invite you to reconsider what you're saying—and believing—about yourself as a clinician. I explain how this language often gets introduced early in training and can quietly shape how therapists view their competence, especially when they're new. But in child-centered play therapy, if you are
381 | When Kids Ask Questions in the Playroom: How CCPT Therapists Should Respond
In this episode, I answer a listener question about working with an inquisitive 11-year-old who frequently asks questions during sessions. Many child-centered play therapists struggle with how to respond when children ask for information, especially because the model encourages us to feign ignorance, avoid teaching, and return responsibility to the child. I explain why our adherence to the CCPT mo
380 | From Playing Alone to Playing Together: Understanding the Shift in CCPT
In this episode, I talk through the differences between independent play and collaborative play in child-centered play therapy sessions, and why understanding the distinction is so important. Early in the therapy process, children often play independently as they are still orienting to the playroom, building trust, and determining whether the relationship feels safe. Independent play is not a prob
379 | When Children Leave the Playroom and Parents Email Too Much: Two Questions Answered
In this episode, I answer two listener questions that highlight common challenges child-centered play therapists face in session and in communication with parents. First, I respond to a question about a child who unexpectedly leaves the playroom and begins knocking on another counselor's door. I explain how to think clearly about the actual limit in the situation, why identifying the correct limit
378 | Stop Rescuing Children in the Playroom
In this episode, I address something I see far too often in child-centered play therapy: therapists struggling to let children struggle. If it is painful for you to watch a child wrestle with frustration, anger, failure, or confusion in the playroom, we need to examine that. Returning responsibility is not a technical skill we check off a list — it is a philosophical commitment. When we subtly res
377 | The Therapist Trust Triad & Parent Partnership Pathway: Frameworks for Parent Engagement and Client Retention
In this episode, I recap the second day of Field of Dreams and focus specifically on what I believe is one of the most crucial — and often overlooked — aspects of our work: engaging parents. We know CCPT works. We know the research supports it. But none of that matters if families drop out before the process has time to unfold. Attrition rates in CCPT are high, and most parents leave before the se
376 | Q&A Lightning Round #9: Six Questions from Four Listeners Answered
In this lightning round episode, I tackle four listener questions that each highlight common pressure points in CCPT practice. First, I address a question about children who consistently want the lights turned off in session — particularly in the context of suspected trauma. I walk through the most common meanings behind darkness in play (power and control, fear, trauma associations, or simple sym
375 | Why Most CCPT Therapists Crumble Under Pressure (And What To Do About It!)
In this episode, I walk you through the Summit Framework — the developmental roadmap for mastery in child-centered play therapy that I presented at the Field of Dreams training. I believe one of the greatest challenges in our field is that we've never clearly defined how a therapist progresses toward true mastery. We learn the skills. We memorize the principles. But we're rarely shown how to stabi
374 | What to Do When Children Want to Save What They Built - A CCPT Q&A
In this Q&A episode, I respond to a question from a school-based, mobile play therapist navigating what to do when children want to preserve, hide, or protect things they build in session. I unpack how this dynamic shifts when you are not in a static playroom and instead are setting up and tearing down each week. I explain how setting clear expectations from the very beginning protects the therape
373 | Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, and Fear of Vulnerability
In this episode, I respond to a question about a nine-year-old who presents as mature, responsible, and "put together," yet shows strong perfectionistic and people-pleasing tendencies in session. I unpack what is often happening beneath that polished exterior — faking good, fear of judgment, low self-esteem, and a deep resistance to vulnerability. When a child thrives in collaborative activities b
372 | Why This Podcast Is Unapologetically Child-Centered: The Purpose of the Play Therapy Podcast
In this episode, I pause and recenter on the why behind this podcast and the work I'm committed to in the play therapy field. With a recent surge of new listeners, I felt it was important to clearly articulate what this space represents and why Child-Centered Play Therapy matters now more than ever. I reflect on the origins of play therapy, the shift toward integrative and eclectic approaches, and
371 | OCD Behaviors in Children: What We're Really Treating in CCPT
In this episode, I address a topic I've been getting more and more questions about: children who present with obsessive or compulsive behaviors that mirror OCD. I explain why I feel OCD is often not an appropriate childhood diagnosis and why these behaviors are best understood as manifestations of unmanageable anxiety combined with perfectionism and an intense need for control. When parents come i
370 | CCPT Gamechangers: How to Respond When Adults Say Kids Are Rational
In this Game Changers episode, I tackle one of the most common objections we hear from adults: "If children aren't rational or cognitive, how do they learn in school?" I explain why this question reflects an adulthood bias and how academic learning is often misunderstood as evidence of reasoning, logic, and abstract thinking. I break down the critical distinction between conditioned, repetitive le
369 | Understanding Time and Touch in Child-Centered Play Therapy
In this episode, I answer two questions that touch on both the clinical and relational demands of child-centered play therapy. First, I address why the average number of CCPT sessions has shifted over time from 20–30 to more commonly 30–40 sessions. I share my perspective on what has changed in children's lives—screen exposure, loss of free play, increased anxiety, overdiagnosis, and broader cultu
368 | CCPT Gamechangers: The Hidden Problem with Battery-Operated Toys
In this episode of the CCPT Game Changers series, I take a close look at battery-operated toys in the playroom and why they require much more intentional consideration than we often give them. I explain how toys are selected—not collected—and why simplicity, creativity, and non-prescriptive design are essential for preserving true child-centeredness. Many battery-driven toys introduce noise, music
367 | Night Terrors, Adoption, and Age-Appropriate Truth
In this episode, I respond to a question about a six-year-old client with a history of early instability who has experienced recurring night terrors. I explain why night terrors are not always trauma-based and how frequency, intensity, and impact on daily functioning matter far more than the behavior itself. I also discuss why periods of regression—especially after significant gains—are developmen
366 | CCPT Gamechangers: Why 'You Wanted Me to Know' Isn't Truly Child-Centered
In this episode of the CCPT Game Changers series, I take a close look at a group of phrases I hear frequently in play sessions, such as "You wanted me to know…", "You wanted to tell me…", or "You wanted to show me…". While these statements may seem harmless, I explain how they subtly shift the focus away from the child and toward the therapist, which undermines true child-centeredness. Even small
365 | Just Because They're Older Doesn't Mean We Change the Model
In this episode, I answer a thoughtful question about working with tweens and teens—particularly neurodivergent clients—and whether it's ever appropriate to "check in" verbally about things like school. I explain why, even with older children and adolescents, directly asking questions introduces an agenda, pulls the child into their head, and shifts us out of true child-centeredness. While play ma
364 | CCPT Gamechangers: How to Handle Children Who Dart Out of the Playroom
In this Game Changers episode, I address one of the most stressful moments for play therapists: children who dart out of the playroom. I explain why "runners" are not a failure of the model and why a child leaving the room is sometimes developmentally, emotionally, or practically driven—not always resistance or defiance. Before jumping to limits, I emphasize the importance of understanding the why
363 | Reducing Attrition by Preparing Parents for Resistance
In this episode, I respond to Elliott's question about children who strongly resist play therapy from the very beginning and parents who eventually give up and terminate early. I explain why early resistance is not a red flag for CCPT failure, but often a clear indicator of high anxiety, a deep need for control, and a child who desperately needs the therapeutic process. The real issue isn't the ch
362 | CCPT Gamechangers: Why Overanalyzing the Play Becomes a Therapist Trap (Symbolic Play & Themes)
In this Game Changers episode, I address a pattern I've been seeing everywhere: therapists becoming overly focused on identifying, interpreting, and assigning meaning to themes and symbolic play. I explain why this pulls us out of attunement, distracts us from the child, and risks turning CCPT into an interpretive exercise rather than a relational, child-centered process. Themes can absolutely be
361 | Pricing Your Practice: The Real Math Behind Free Parent Consultations
In this episode, I respond to Sarah's question about how to structure and charge for parent consultations in a child-centered private practice. I explain why free parent consults are not only clinically best practice but also essential for sustaining parent engagement, maintaining buy-in throughout the 30–40-session treatment arc, and ensuring parents feel informed despite not having access to cli
360 | CCPT Gamechangers: "Mom Said I'm Supposed To…" What You Do Next Matters
In this Game Changers episode, I tackle a common but tricky moment in the playroom—when a child walks in and says, "Mom said I'm supposed to…" or repeats a parent's explanation for why they're in therapy. I explain why this creates an immediate rupture in child-centeredness and how it threatens the therapist–child relationship by signaling that the therapist and parent are aligned in an agenda. I
359 | Mobile Play Therapy Challenges: Keeping Kids in the Play Space
In this episode, I answer Andrea's question about providing CCPT in a client's home and navigating the challenges that arise when the play space isn't a traditional playroom. In mobile or in-home CCPT, the environment itself can make limit-setting and structure harder, especially when there are no doors, clear boundaries, or physical containment. I walk through how to intentionally choose the best
358 | CCPT Gamechangers: How a Language Shift Changes Everything in Feeling Reflections
In this first episode of the CCPT Game Changers series, I break down one of the smallest—but most transformative—shifts you can make in the playroom: how you phrase your feeling reflections. Many therapists unknowingly default to phrases like "that felt…" or "it seems like…" which subtly shift the focus away from the child and onto the circumstance. I explain why these versions dilute the power of
357 | No Parents Allowed! - The Ripple Effect of a Parent Entering Session
In this episode, I respond to Dovi's question about an older child whose session became dysregulated when his dad joined the playroom. I explain why parent presence fundamentally disrupts the CCPT process, breaks the therapeutic dyad, and immediately alters safety, consistency, and the child's ability to do meaningful work. Even when a child demands that a parent come in, that demand is almost nev
356 | Attrition: The Hidden Crisis in Play Therapy (Special Episode)
In this special episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address what I believe is one of the most unrecognized threats to effective play therapy: high attrition and the lack of natural termination. After years of speaking with therapists around the world, I've realized how few children actually complete the full therapeutic process, and how often families quietly pull their child long before meanin
355 | Costumes, Playroom Essentials, and First-Person vs. Third-Person
In this episode, I answer two great listener questions from Mikaela in Illinois. First, we dive into costumes in the playroom—what's essential, how to think creatively with limited space, and how to make costume play meaningful for kids without overloading your office. I explain why accessories and character-based props are more versatile than full costumes and share practical storage solutions an
354 | The Resistance Phase No One Talks About — And Why YOU Must Go Through It
In this episode, I talk honestly about the struggles we all face as child-centered play therapists — not as problems to be avoided, but as essential parts of our own therapeutic journey. After two meaningful conversations this week, and in the context of my own recent grief, I've been reflecting on how CCPT doesn't just grow our clients; it grows us. I share how every CCPT clinician eventually hit
353 | Selective Mutism and CCPT: Trusting the Process
In this episode, I respond to Erin's question about working with a selectively mute child. I explain that selective mutism isn't a separate diagnosis—it's rooted in paralyzing anxiety. Once we understand that, we can approach it with CCPT through safety, trust, and pacing. I share how progress often begins with small steps like laughter, gestures, or simple sounds, and why those moments signal mea
352 | Power, Control, and Anxiety: Unpacking the Child's Need for Dominance
In this episode, I respond to Heather's question about a client who returned to therapy after a higher level of care. This child's play is dominated by themes of money, power, and control — and I explain how these themes often reflect underlying anxiety and a need to avoid vulnerability. I discuss how aggression frequently serves as a mask for powerlessness and how self-aggrandizing behaviors, lik
351 | Ending Well: How to Structure the Final Session in CCPT
In this episode, I walk through the final phase of Child-Centered Play Therapy—the countdown and last session. Once a child is ready to terminate, our focus shifts to helping them process and celebrate the end of therapy in a healthy, meaningful way. I explain how to introduce the countdown, invite reflection, and give the child space to share memories of your time together without any pressure or
350 | Two Common Challenges: Self-Esteem Work and Separation Anxiety
In this episode, I respond to two questions from Megan in D.C.—one about navigating self-esteem work and another about handling separation anxiety in school settings. I explain how to respond when a child asks for praise or directs you to say something specific, such as "Say yes." Rather than refusing or complying without context, I share how to reflect the request first ("You want me to say that
349 | When to End: Evaluating Client Readiness for Termination
In this episode, I discuss how to determine when a child is truly ready to terminate therapy. While we often focus on the beginning and middle of the CCPT process, understanding when and how to end is equally important. I walk through the four key questions that guide termination readiness — two clinical and two environmental — to help you evaluate both the child's internal progress and external r
348 | When Families Stop Coming: Understanding Attrition in CCPT
In this episode, I respond to Sally's question about attendance and attrition in Child-Centered Play Therapy. Many therapists are noticing families stop coming around the fifth or sixth session, and I explain why this usually reflects a breakdown in articulation. When parents don't fully understand what's happening in CCPT, they lose confidence, make excuses, or believe they've seen enough progres
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