389 | Building Buy-In for CCPT with Teachers and Staff

Apr 17, 2026

In this episode, I answer a question about how to effectively communicate child-centered play therapy to teachers and school staff—especially when they are expecting quick, directive results. I explain why this is such a challenge, given that educational systems often operate from a very different framework than CCPT. I share practical strategies for bridging that gap, including building strong relationships with faculty, finding opportunities to introduce CCPT principles in small, accessible ways, and aligning your communication with outcomes that matter to the school environment, like regulation and self-control.

I also emphasize the importance of helping teachers see that we are working toward the same goals, even if the process looks very different. By focusing on shared outcomes and consistently reinforcing trust in the process, we can reduce resistance and increase buy-in over time. Finally, I address a few follow-up questions about growing in CCPT, including recommendations for foundational learning and thoughts on pursuing the RPT credential. This episode is a reminder that how we communicate the model is just as important as how we implement it.

PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click!

Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.

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]
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
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. (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.

Listen to the Play Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Listen to the Play Therapy Parenting Podcast on Spotify

Subscribe to my email newsletter JUST FOR THERAPISTS!

Join the CCPT Collective Online Community just for Child-Centered Play Therapists!

We bring together aspiring and seasoned child-centered play therapists to support and inspire each other with the shared goal of preserving and advancing the effectiveness of the child-centered model so that we can positively impact children and families worldwide.

Join the Collective!

Discover The Kid Counselor® Family

Get Brenna’s Latest Book

Device Detox: A Parent’s Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids.

Buy Now

“Dr. Brenna Hicks does an excellent job of sketching the problem, but the book shines brightest when Dr. Hicks offers a suite of practical, evidence-based strategies for coping with screen overuse in children. A valuable book that deserves to be read by parents everywhere.”

ADAM ALTER

New York Times bestselling author of IRRESISTIBLE and DRUNK TANK PINK