Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy

In this lightning round episode, I tackle three listener questions about child-centered play therapy (CCPT). Cindy from California asked how to respond when parents say kids can learn academics, so why can't they learn coping skills the same way. I explain that academics are formulaic whereas emotions are non-linear, and the therapeutic relationship is key for learning coping, resilience and problem-solving skills. Melanie from Iowa, who has recently fully committed to CCPT after previously using other approaches, wonders if it's too late for play therapy to be effective with a particular child. I reassure her that it's never too late, though the relationship has to shift when transitioning to true CCPT. Trust and safety need to be re-established, so progress may be slower but not impossible. Finally, Julia from California asks how to handle kids requesting that the therapist not look at or talk to them during sessions. I discuss potential reasons like power/control, discomfort with reflections, or inability to receive the therapist's responses. I advise still doing our job of verbally engaging, but adjusting pace, volume and frequency to a level the child can manage, while explaining the purpose behind the skills we're using. 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://www.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.

Today I'm beginning my "Summer School" Series where we are going to go back to the classical texts of child-centered play therapy. In this episode, I dive into the challenges of truly understanding the meaning behind children's play, and the importance of grounding our work in the original theories and principles of child-centered play therapy. I share some passages from the seminal book "Innovations in Play Therapy" by Garry Landreth that offer valuable insights. A key takeaway is that we need to be cautious about jumping to label everything a child does as representing a "theme." For something to truly be a theme, it needs to recur multiple times within or across play sessions. Just because a child does something once, like burying a toy, doesn't automatically indicate a "theme of permanence." We have to observe the play over time. I also discuss how having knowledge of typical child development is critical for play therapists to determine if a child's play is normative or indicates something more significant going on under the surface. Some play is symbolic rather than thematic. My goal with this episode and series is to help bring us back to the roots and core intentions of the child-centered model. I believe we need to deeply understand the "why" behind what we do as play therapists and not dilute the child-centered model as it gains in popularity. I hope these insights from a leader in the field like Landreth are helpful reminders of what's most important in our work! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Episode Reference: Landreth, G. L. (Ed.). (2001). Innovations in play therapy: Issues, process, and special populations. Brunner-Routledge. 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://www.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 Common 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 answer a listener question about working with siblings in play therapy. I share that joint sessions can be beneficial if siblings experienced the same stressful event, but recommend having individual sessions first to build rapport. If a therapist is already seeing one sibling and the parent asks to start the other, I advise getting permission from the current child client first to preserve the relationship. If the child declines, it's best to wait until ending with the first child. I discuss scheduling options when seeing siblings individually: 30 minute split sessions Back-to-back full sessions Alternating weeks For parents wanting therapy for multiple children, exploring filial therapy to support the whole family may be warranted. 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, I dive into the proper use of "I wonder" statements and the whisper technique in child-centered play therapy. I've noticed these skills are sometimes being misused or overused, so I wanted to provide some clarification. I discuss how "I wonder" statements should be used sparingly and only when clinically necessary to gather information to facilitate play. Using them too frequently to get a child to discuss feelings, plans, or reasoning behind behaviors can become directive rather than child-centered. The statements work best when playing a role the child has assigned and more details are needed. I also explain how the whisper technique allows therapists to conspiratorially check in with a child during play to see how to respond while still honoring the child's lead. Whispering masks questions to keep a child emotionally engaged in the play. My goal is to help play therapists understand the originally intended purpose of these techniques so they can apply them skillfully to benefit their child clients. I'm hopeful these guidelines prove useful for informing your practice as a play therapist. 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 great question from Katie in Florida about what to do when kids seem unsure of what to play with in later play therapy sessions and gravitate toward the same activities each time. First, I discuss how this pattern could indicate the child is in a state of resistance or avoidance. They may be doing "safe play" to delay diving into deeper issues they don't feel ready to tackle yet. It's important to remember that even if a child isn't playing in the way we expect, it doesn't mean valuable work isn't happening. We have to trust the child-centered play therapy process and the child's own self-actualization. I share an illustrative story about a child who vacuumed every session, emphasizing the importance of allowing children to do what they need to do and not forcing the process. Finally, I touch on the topic of toy visibility and accessibility in the playroom. While it's ideal to have toys openly displayed, children will make do with what is available. The most important thing is providing a safe, accepting therapeutic environment. 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, 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.