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PODCAST

Playful Beginnings

Maggie Parker and Kristie Opiola

Welcome to playful beginnings. Within this podcast, Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker explore the magic of play therapy, the why behind what we do, and how play therapy helps children heal and grow. This podcast is helpful for current play therapists, students and professionals interested in working with children or becoming play therapists, and anyone who is interested in creating transformative relationships with children. Parents and teachers can gain insights into what play therapy is,

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All Episodes

12:36

Understanding Our Listeners

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/10/05

Hi everyone! In this episode, we're trying to address your questions about note taking. We want to ask your questions to the best of our abilities, and we are working on it. Here is our processing of the experience and how we can engage with our own note taking! Take a listen, we hope it's helpful!

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19:32

Notes that Make Sense: The WHY behind our CCPT Skills

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/09/28

We heard you- you are having a hard time knowing what to say in your notes. We've got you! There isn't a script you can use for CCPT notes- it is dependent upon the child, the relationship, the play- but we can help you conceptualize how it may work! Listen in for examples!

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15:47

The Rest of the Clinical File: Custody, Informed...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/09/21

Notes include a lot more than what happens in sessions and the conceptualization of clients. These include custody agreements, divorce decrees, releases of information, auxiliary notes detailing conversations, emails, CPS reports. All of these things are vital, but we don't always talk about them. This week, Dr. Kristie and Dr. Maggie share this and more to support you, the clinician, in ensuring you are exploring all aspects of note taking!

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16:50

To Note, or Not to Note? 📝

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/09/14

Clipboard in hand or fully in the moment? 🧸✨In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we’re diving into one of the most debated topics in child therapy: Should play therapists take notes during a session?On one hand, real-time documentation captures the brilliant, subtle moments of play while they’re fresh. On the other hand… nothing breaks a child’s flow quite like a therapist constantly looking down at a notepad.We’re breaking down:🎯 How note-taking impacts the therapeutic alliance and child

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31:04

From Playroom to Page: Effective & Efficient...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/09/07

How do you capture non-verbal play, behavioral themes, and clinical progress clearly in a progress note? 🎨📋In this week's episode of Playful Beginnings, we dive deep into the fundamentals of play therapy documentation. We share simple frameworks for structuring notes, translating play behaviors into objective clinical language, and optimizing your documentation workflow.Listen in on your preferred podcast platform! 🎙️

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25:48

The Nuts and Bolts of Note Taking: CCPT Edition

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/08/31

A complete play therapy record is so much more than just weekly progress notes! 📂✨ In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we’re taking a deep dive into the essential aspects of notetaking from the initial contact to the subsequent parent consultations. We break down how to read and navigate complex parenting plans, set clear legal and clinical boundaries with caregivers up front, translate intake assessment findings into child-centered treatment goals, and write clean, objective addendums when

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27:42

Understanding Evidence Based. What does it mean and...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/08/24

In this episode, Drs. Kristie and Maggie break down what it means to be evidenced based and why you can't say that you are CCPT and CBT. We go through what that actually means and how it may not be as helpful as one would think. Sometimes, putting together two good things doesn't create something better. Same goes with theory. Listen to this week's episode to learn why. Have questions about play therapy, child development, or child mental health? Send us your questions and videos to

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31:42

Structured Doll Play: Supporting Kids Through...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/08/17

Ever wonder why kids melt down before a field trip, panic over substitute teachers, or struggle with simple routine changes? 🧸👇Transitions are hard—for kids, parents, teachers, and therapists alike. But there is a proven tool that bridges the gap between fear and feeling safe: Structured Doll Play.In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Dr. Kristie and Maggie break down this powerful intervention from the Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) Manual (Landreth & Bratton, 2006).Inside this

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21:51

Back to School Part 2: Making Space for Big Feelings

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/08/11

In this week's Playful Beginnings, Drs. Kristie and Maggie get practical — the routines worth shifting now, the logistics that quietly ease anxiety, and the one thing almost every family over schedules away without meaning to. Below, we've pulled the most useful pieces into two sections: one for parents in the thick of it, and one for fellow play therapists supporting families through it.Parents, you can use these at home. Play therapists, you can provide these to parents in your next

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19:38

Back to School Transition: Adapting to a new normal

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/08/03

As the summer season draws to a close, some children may experience difficulties with the back to school transition, with anxiety and fears potentially manifesting prior to the start of the academic year. In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Kristie and Maggie delve into the ways in which children may respond and exhibit behaviors at home and in the playroom, providing valuable insights for parents and play therapists to better understand the needs of their young clients. This episode serves as a

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38:11

Demystifying CCPT and Parent Consultations with Dr....

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/07/27

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ahou Line to dive into one of the most critical—and often daunting—aspects of being a play therapist: working with parents and caregivers. Dr. Line shares insights from her new Routledge textbook, Working with Parents in Play Therapy, offering clinicians a roadmap to transform parent consultations from nerve-wracking updates into culturally attuned, highly collaborative partnerships.

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26:33

Child Centered Play Therapy and Internalizing...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/07/20

Listen in to hear more from Dr. Jenna Taylor on children who experience internalizing behaviors. Dr. Taylor engaged in a large meta-analysis to better understand the effect of CCPT on children who experience anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, among others. Listen in to learn more about how to speak with parents and teachers about childhood depression and anxiety, how internalizing behaviors can present in the school setting and at home, and how CCPT can benefit!

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26:33

Getting to know Dr. Jenna Taylor and her research...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/07/13

Join us as we speak with Dr. Jenna Taylor, author of a newly published meta analysis of CCPT and Internalizing Behaviors. Drs. Kristie and Maggie speak with Dr. Jenna about her entry into Child Centered Play Therapy, her experience as a CCPT therapist, and her dissertation. We hope you enjoy this episode and look forward to learning with you!

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31:43

Childhood Depression: Symptoms to look out for and...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/07/06

When we think of depression in adults, we picture sadness, withdrawal, and low energy. But in children, depression rarely looks like a miniature version of adult despair. Instead, it frequently masks itself as irritability, physical somatic complaints, or behavioral outbursts. In this episode, we break down the complex symptomology of childhood depression, discuss why these signs are so easily mislabeled by schools and parents, and explore how Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) offers children a

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43:28

Unlocking Potential—How Child-Centered Play Therapy...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/06/30

Episode 2: Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Kristi Perryman as we delve into the transformative power of Child-Centered Play Therapy in schools. Discover how this approach not only enhances the school experience but also nurtures emotional growth and resilience in children. Tune in to learn why play is more than just fun—it's a vital tool for development and understanding.

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35:11

🧸 Honoring a Legend: Remembering Dr. Garry Landreth 🕊️

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/06/22

"Toys are children's words and play is their language."It is with heavy hearts, but profound gratitude, that we dedicate this episode to the father of Child-Centered Play Therapy, Dr. Garry Landreth. The play therapy community lost a giant, but his legacy lives on in every playroom, every therapeutic relationship, and every child who has ever been truly seen and heard through the power of play.In this special tribute episode, we look back at the radical empathy, wisdom, and warmth Dr. Landreth

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30:39

Healing in the Hallways: Bringing Play Therapy into...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/06/15

What happens when we meet children where they spend the majority of their lives—not in an isolated clinic, but right in the school building?In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Kristi Perryman, Director and Founder of the Office of Play Therapy Research and Training at the University of Arkansas and Chair-Elect for the national Association for Play Therapy (APT) Board. Long before she was a leading researcher and counselor educator, Dr. Perryman was on the front lines as a special

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22:20

Dr. PJ Blanco provides Tips and Insights for CCPT in...

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/06/08

In this episode, the hosts sit down with prominent child-centered play therapy (CCPT) researcher Dr. PJ Bianco to discuss the complex real-world challenges of practicing in school environments. The conversation centers heavily on a common point of friction for school counselors and contracted clinicians: navigating school administrations that ban or restrict aggressive toys from the playroom. The guest and hosts share clinical anecdotes, strategy adaptations, and therapeutic mindsets for maintaining

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14:00

CCPT and Academic Success with Dr. PJ Blanco

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/06/01

Play Therapy & Academic SuccessIn this episode of Playful Beginnings, the hosts sit down with Dr. PJ Blanco to unpack his groundbreaking research on the correlation between Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) and academic achievement.Key Takeaways from the Conversation:The Academic Disconnect: Schools frequently pour resources into traditional academic interventions (tutoring, extra drills, remedial classes). However, Dr. Blanco’s research reveals that for many children, academic struggles are

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26:42

Child Centered Play Therapy and Academic Achievement

Playful Beginnings ·

2026/05/25

Play Heals and Helps Kids Thrive in School! 🧸📈When people think of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), they usually think about emotional regulation, trauma healing, and behavioral growth. But did you know it also has a massive, evidence-based impact on academic achievement?On this week’s episode of Playful Beginnings, we are thrilled to sit down with the incredible Dr. PJ Blanco to talk about his groundbreaking research on school-based play therapy! 🎒✨Dr. Blanco’s work bridges the gap between

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