The Art Of Understanding Children: A "Back To Basics" Refresher Of The Play Therapy Parenting Model

Nov 1, 2023

This episode of the Play Therapy Parenting Podcast takes a deep dive into the foundations of the child-centered play therapy model. It emphasizes the importance of understanding that children are driven by emotions, not cognitive reasoning. The podcast discusses building self-esteem and encouraging independence, repairing relationships through apologies and responsibility, and provides practical applications of the model. The episode concludes by highlighting the charity organization Hope Children's Home.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Understanding the Child-Centered Play Therapy Approach

02:22 • 11min

Building Self-Esteem and Encouraging Independence

13:03 • 3min

Repairing Relationships Through Apologies and Responsibility

15:35 • 3min

Foundational Concepts and Practical Applications

18:32 • 13min

Wrapping Up the Crash Course and Highlighting a Charity Organization

31:52 • 2min

In this episode of the Play Therapy Parenting Podcast, we get "back to basics" of the Play Therapy Parenting model. I've shared an extensive range of insights over the last 124 episodes and as more listeners join the podcast family, I thought it was time to reflect on the basics. Recently, I had the privilege of conducting a 7-hour training of the house parents and staff at Hope Children's Home (https://hopechildrenshome.org/), a remarkable foster care agency. The experience inspired me to reflect on the foundations of my approach and the child-centered play therapy model. This episode takes a deep dive into critical concepts. Kids aren't rational—they're driven by emotions, not cognitive reasoning. Understanding this shapes the approach to interactions. It's about reflecting feelings, offering choices, setting limits, and providing encouragement. The goal is always preserving a healthy relationship with our kids. If you're catching this for the first time or need a refresher, these principles are pivotal. They create a framework to interact with our children effectively. Remember, the relationship with our kids stands above all else. In case you'd like to get in touch, feel free to reach out at brenna@thekidcounselor.com. I'm here to support you. Mentioned in this episode:

Hope Children's Home - https://hopechildrenshome.org/
Rules of Thumb all come from Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents by Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006)

Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/ References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.