335 | Art of the Session: Play Session Guidelines – Labeling, Following the Metaphor, & Neutrality

Sep 8, 2025

In today’s episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I continue our Art of the Session series by outlining three key session guidelines that don’t fall into the typical “skills” category, but are essential to ensuring we remain adherent to the CCPT model. These are not techniques, but foundational principles we must uphold in every session: (1) Don’t label—follow the child’s metaphor, (2) Maintain neutrality, and (3) Never possess knowledge the child doesn’t possess.

I break each of these down with specific examples and explain why they’re so critical to creating a therapeutic environment that respects the child’s autonomy, encourages self-trust, and preserves the purity of the CCPT approach. These guidelines help safeguard the therapeutic process and remind us that even small deviations—like labeling a toy or defining a word—can have significant impact on the child’s experience in the playroom. This is a vital reminder that our job is not to teach, but to create space for children to discover, express, and grow.

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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: [email protected]
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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. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

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