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

This is the third of a six-part series from a FAPT conference workshop. In this third part, I go over the Foundations of Play Therapy: Core Beliefs of Play Therapy. The Foundations of Play Therapy are broken into two parts.  This is the second part addressing the Core Beliefs of Play Therapy.   Download the slides PDF here: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/fapt   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com   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.

Dive into the world of child-centered play therapy, where play becomes the key language for children. Discover how therapists uniquely facilitate emotional expression, allowing kids to explore their feelings freely. The importance of strong therapeutic relationships shines through, as unconditional acceptance fosters healing. Learn how balance in control empowers children to navigate their struggles, enhancing self-regulation and understanding. It's a captivating look at how play transforms therapy!

Explore the world of child-centered play therapy as the speaker shares a personal journey into this transformative field. Discover the foundational principles and the rich history behind the practice. Non-directive approaches take center stage, emphasizing the importance of empathy in therapy. This introduction sets the groundwork for a deeper dive into the model in future discussions. Get ready to unravel the four pillars essential for effective therapy with children!

In this episode, I move from "Why Play?" into specifically why play therapy works so well for kids. I encourage you to get the book Child-Centered Play Therapy by Rise VanFleet, et al, as well as foundational, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship by Garry Landreth. Many of the topics I discuss from these books, as well as stories, examples, and case studies from my practice.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com

In this episode we start with the fundamental question, why play? I know there may be seasoned play therapists that listen to this, but whether you are new to play therapy, or experienced, we start our journey into play therapy explaining why play is critical to the well-being of kids. There's something in this episode for everyone, so let's start with play, and then in the next episode we'll focus in on "Why Play Therapy?"   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com

In this first episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I talk about my vision for the podcast and where we will go along this journey together. Consider this podcast like a Masterclass of Child-Centered Play Therapy. My goal is to equip you to be knowledgable and effective, and inspire you to be the best play therapist you can be. Thank you for joining me on this podcast journey!   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com