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

12:24

418 | CCPT Mythbusters: You'll Eventually Be 100%...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/21

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 understanding of why we do what we do. True mastery doesn't come from repetition alone—it comes from purposeful,

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14:39

417 | Expectancy, Not Expectations: The Heart of...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/16

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 playroom, how to approach the child's choice to take projects home or leave them with the therapist, and why

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17:06

416 | CCPT Mythbusters: Kids Are Manipulative

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/14

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 learn through emotional experiences and repeated interactions with the adults in their lives. When we view

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14:51

415 | Advanced "I Wonder" and Whisper Technique in...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/10

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 remaining fully adherent to the CCPT model. Sometimes the most therapeutic response isn't another question or

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13:16

414 | When a Child Narrates Their Own Play - Trusting...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/09

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 simple activities can be important parts of the therapeutic process, especially early in treatment. Rather

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13:11

413 | CCPT Mythbusters: Child-Centered Play Therapy...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/07

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 older children may express themselves differently and rely more on conversation and activity-based play,

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12:17

412 | When an Anxious Child Won't Stay in the Playroom

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/03

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 to end the session. I walk through how to establish and enforce limits around staying in the playroom

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12:13

411 | When Parents and Grandparents Aren't on the...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/07/01

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 viewing these differences as obstacles, I share practical strategies for bringing everyone into the

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13:37

410 | CCPT Mythbusters: Diagnosing and Medicating...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/30

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 are rare situations where diagnosis and medication are appropriate, I challenge the idea that they should

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22:21

409 | Why the Hardest CCPT Cases Need the Most Trust...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/25

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 these behaviors are not signs that therapy is failing, but rather evidence of the child's desperate need

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16:42

408 | What If the Child Isn't Finished When Time Is Up?

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/24

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 that whatever happens at the end of a session—even disappointment, frustration, or unfinished work—is

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15:39

407 | CCPT Mythbusters: You Have to Figure Out What...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/23

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 certainly exist, I explain why understanding the meaning of the play is not what makes CCPT effective

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14:31

406 | When an Intern Sits In: Best Practices for CCPT...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/18

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 practices for introducing another person into the playroom, including obtaining permission from both the

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16:32

405 | What Happens Now? Preserving Garry Landreth's...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/16

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 stories from my interactions with Garry, including my first conversation with him, a memorable discussion

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14:12

404 | What If a Child Brings Schoolwork Into the...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/11

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 communication. Rather than focusing on whether an item is traditionally considered a "play therapy toy," I

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11:53

403 | CCPT Mythbusters: Children Need Guidance to Change

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/09

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 beginning, Carl Rogers challenged the idea that people need an expert to tell them how to grow

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17:37

402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/04

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 self-regulation and autonomy, and the possibility that the child is testing whether the therapeutic

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14:08

401 | CCPT Mythbusters: What the Child Is Doing Isn't...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/06/02

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 explore how these thoughts reveal subtle agendas, expectations, and a lack of trust in the child's process

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01:20:52

400 | 400 Episodes of CCPT: Reflections, Vision, and...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/05/29

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, announce the launch of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy book, and discuss my hopes for the future of

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15:01

399 | Signs a Child Has Too Much Screen Time: What It...

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in... ·

2026/05/21

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 dysregulation, and struggles in school. I also explain how heavy screen exposure impacts the nervous

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