Play Therapy Podcast

In this episode, I discuss how to transition from a directive or eclectic play therapy approach to a fully child-centered play therapy model. I share tips for communicating this change to both parents and the child in a direct, transparent way. When making this transition with a child you're already working with, it's important to acknowledge the upcoming change in approach, explain the reasoning and benefits, and give them space to ask questions. Let them know that moving forward, they will be in charge during play sessions. The child may need an adjustment period to get used to this new dynamic. I also discuss what to expect during this transition. The strong therapeutic relationship you've already built will remain, but in some ways it's like restarting the process as the child acclimates to having full autonomy and control, which may feel unfamiliar at first. Trust the process and the child's innate capacity for self-direction. In time, you'll be amazed to witness the transformative power of fully child-centered play therapy. While we can't change the past, I encourage you to draw a line in the sand and commit to a completely child-centered approach moving forward. Seek support and training if needed. When we dedicate ourselves fully to one proven modality, that's when we can most effectively help the children we serve. Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice! Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

In this episode, I shared an inspiring email from Gabby, an art teacher in South Africa who has been applying child-centered play therapy principles in her classroom. Gabby stumbled upon my podcast "by accident" and found that the CCPT approach deeply resonated with her teaching style and beliefs about working with children. By implementing CCPT techniques like giving choices, limit-setting, reflecting feelings, and following the child's lead, Gabby has seen incredible transformations in her students and the overall classroom dynamic. Disruptive behaviors have diminished, the kids are developing greater emotional vocabularies and exhibiting more compassion for one another. Gabby beautifully captured the essence of CCPT when she wrote "I just have to hold the space, pay attention and follow where they're going." Gabby's story is a powerful testament to the effectiveness of child-centered principles, not just in the therapy playroom, but in any environment where adults interact with kids, like classrooms. Her experience shows that when we treat children with unconditional positive regard, respect their agency and feelings, and focus on the relationship above all else, they thrive. I'm so grateful that Gabby took the time to share her experience with me and allow me to share it with all of you. I hope it inspires you as much as it did me! Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice! Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

In this episode, I share some fascinating unofficial data I collected from my email subscribers about their journeys to finding child-centered play therapy (CCPT). I was curious to learn more after noticing a pattern of people mentioning they came to CCPT as a second or third career. The responses revealed an incredibly diverse range of prior careers - everything from nursing, teaching and social work to advertising, journalism, and even running a bed and breakfast! What united everyone was a deep desire to have a more direct therapeutic impact on children's lives. Many discovered CCPT almost by chance while researching how to effectively help kids. Across the board, finding CCPT was a pivotal, life-changing moment that brought profound personal and professional fulfillment. However, many also cited challenges in accessing quality CCPT training. This highlights the crucial need for more educational opportunities and supportive communities for aspiring CCPTs. The stories shared in this episode reinforce that while the path to CCPT looks different for everyone, we are united by our heartfelt dedication to helping children heal, grow and thrive through this powerful modality. I'm so grateful to be part of this special field with all of you! Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice! Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

Here are the listeners and topics of questions answered in this episode: Madison from Iowa - Scheduling parent consultations, child taking lots of medications Maria from California - Child pretends to be an animal in session Teri from California - Termination process Miray from Turkey - Child is asking personal questions Heidi from the UK - CCPT with children in residential care (attachment/trauma) Daniele from Georgia - What to do with specific presenting issues Callie from Texas - Complementary therapies to CCPT, Self-care recommendations If you would like to ask me questions directly and get live, immediate answers, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A.  You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

It was my pleasure to interview Dr. Brandy Schumann for today's podcast episode. Dr. Schumann is the creator/owner of the Bag of Air, the best quality and most durable "Bobo" in every play therapist's playroom! I have 4 Bags of Air, in my center (one over 9 years old), and I encourage every play therapist to invest in a quality Bobo. So I thought it would be enlightening to have Dr. Schumann on the show to talk about the significance of the Bobo in play therapy sessions, and other topics related to child-centered play therapy. Dr. Schumann wanted to offer a discount to the Play Therapy Podcast audience. Use Promo Code "PTP10" for $10 off your Bag of Air purchase at https://bagofair.com/ Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice! Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

In this episode, I address a therapist's question about working with a 9-year-old boy struggling with severe separation anxiety. The child's anxiety stems from an experience of an upset stomach while living in Tanzania, which he has now anchored to feeling safe only when his mother is present. I explain the importance of understanding the root cause of the anxiety and how it helps guide our approach. Rather than viewing it strictly as separation anxiety, I emphasize the somatic nature of the child's experience and the need to desensitize him gradually through empowering choices. I provide practical strategies for allowing the mother's presence in the playroom while slowly increasing the child's time without her. This involves giving the child choices about the duration of the mother's stay, thus fostering a sense of control and ownership over the process. I also highlight the necessity of coaching the mother on her role and expectations to ensure the child-centered model remains intact. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A.  You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

In this episode, we get into the fine details of limit setting in play therapy sessions. I emphasize the importance of the "limit setting pause" – a crucial moment where we take a beat to understand the child's underlying emotions, needs, and motivations before setting a limit. By taking this pause, we can set limits and offer choices that truly resonate with the child's "why". I share practical strategies to hone this skill, such as taking session notes to track the child's play themes and emotions and mental rehearsal—practicing limit-setting scenarios in our heads during routine activities like driving or exercising. This mental practice allows us to explore different "whys" behind a child's behavior and prepare effective reflections of feelings and appropriate choices. Throughout the episode, I stress the significance of understanding the "why" behind a child's actions, as it informs the choices we offer and ensures they align with the child's original need or desire. By mastering this skill, we can set limits more effectively, maintain acceptance of the child, and create a safe and supportive environment for their therapeutic growth. Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice! Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.

In today's episode, I got to sit down with Dr. Jodi Mullen and talk about CCPT supervision. Dr. Mullen is an RPT-S and CCPT-Master and brings decades of experience to this conversation. I know you hear this from me often, but I wanted you to hear the message from someone else, who is an actual RPT-S, of why and how important it is to have a supervisor who is also wholly child-centered play therapy orientated.    During our conversation, Dr. Mullen and I hit on some topical gems of wisdom about CCPT supervision. I hope you enjoy this special episode as much as I enjoyed making it.  It was a pleasure to "talk shop" with Dr. Mullen and share stories and inspiration with her. Follow Dr. Jodi Mullen! https://www.integrativecounseling.us/ https://www.instagram.com/integrativecounseling/ https://www.facebook.com/integrative.counseling.7 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-mullen-phd-lmhc-rpt-s-748ba521/ https://www.youtube.com/@IntegrativeCounselingServices   Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast

In today's episode, I got to sit down with Dr. Jodi Mullen and talk about the world of CCPT, and specifically, Dr. Mullen's specialty of childhood trauma.   I hope you enjoy this special episode as much as I enjoyed making it. It was a pleasure to "talk shop" with Dr. Mullen and share stories and inspiration with her.   Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast

In this episode, we tackle a sensitive but common issue faced in child-centered play therapy: managing enuresis and encopresis among young clients. I answer a question from Juliette in Georgia, addressing how therapists can maintain a child-centered approach while dealing with bathroom accidents during therapy sessions. First I discuss the underlying factors of bathroom accidents, such as control, anxiety, and somatic responses, and practical strategies for handling these incidents both in the therapy room and when communicating with parents. I also talk about the importance of normalizing these accidents and providing reassurance to both the child and their parents, emphasizing that such incidents are common and manageable with the right approach. Key points include: The dual approach to acknowledging accidents in therapy: either neutrally bringing them up as observations or choosing not to mention them unless the child does, depending on the therapist’s assessment of the situation. The necessity of having spare clothes and understanding the logistics and ethical considerations involved in helping a child manage an accident. Strategies for discussing these issues with parents to ensure they understand the emotional and physiological factors driving their child’s behavior, thereby reducing stigma and anxiety around the topic. This episode is essential for any play therapist seeking effective techniques for handling one of the more challenging aspects of working with children, providing both theoretical insights and practical advice to enhance your therapeutic practice. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A.  You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions:  Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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.