In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Sarah Beth in North Carolina about handling a tricky situation with two siblings in therapy. Sarah Beth’s client feels jealous because his brother, who sees a different therapist with a more...
In this Session Savvy episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I discuss the importance of staying neutral and avoiding value-laden language when a child disagrees with us in the playroom. Often, therapists may respond with phrases like "I made a mistake" or "I got that...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I answer a question from Michelle in Texas regarding how child-centered play therapy (CCPT) aligns with the needs of children on the autism spectrum. Michelle asked about potential differences in themes, stages, and...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Melissa in Colorado about how to communicate upcoming absences to children and their parents. Melissa specifically asked about handling maternity leave and vacations that require taking time away...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to a question from Nicole in Indiana about finding research that compares child-centered play therapy (CCPT) with other types of therapy. Nicole, whose manager is skeptical of CCPT’s broad applicability,...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to a question from Deidra in Virginia, a first-year supervised therapist whose supervisor isn’t child-centered and often suggests teaching coping skills to young clients in play therapy sessions. I share my...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Suzanne in Maryland, who has been working with a six-year-old child that engages in repetitive dressing and undressing of Barbie dolls in each session. Suzanne wonders how to interpret this...
In this Session Savvy episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I discuss an important topic: not assuming that content is emotionally connected in child-centered play therapy (CCPT). I explain that therapists often make the mistake of reacting to play scenarios based on...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to Ethan from Virginia, who asked about writing in-session notes during child-centered play therapy (CCPT). Ethan wants to know what kinds of things to document and how to categorize them effectively. I explain my...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to Brianna from Texas, who asks about the process of sending birthday cards to clients while maintaining confidentiality. I explain the benefits of sending birthday cards and how it strengthens the relationship...
In this Session Savvy episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I discuss a common deviation in child-centered play therapy (CCPT)—using phrases like "you feel," "you must be," or "you seem" when reflecting a child’s feelings. These phrases, often used as buffers, can...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to Nneka from England, a returning listener who recently transitioned from being a mobile therapist to setting up a permanent play therapy space. Nneka asks about how to handle the shift in dynamics when children...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I answer a question from Sweeney in India about how to handle a 12-year-old client who frequently makes up elaborate stories in the playroom. Sweeney is concerned that the child’s storytelling might be problematic,...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to a question from Christina in Vermont regarding the first session with a child in the playroom and how to incorporate an intake assessment without deviating from the child-centered play therapy (CCPT) model....
In this Session Savvy episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I talk about the subtle impact of saying "OK" in the playroom. While it seems harmless in everyday conversation, in child-centered play therapy (CCPT), "OK" can unintentionally convey permission or agreement...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Sarah in Missouri about encouraging parents to commit to weekly play therapy sessions. Sarah has noticed that some families are scheduling sessions every other week or missing several weeks in...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I respond to a great question from Vicky in Canada about the language we use with children, particularly the phrases "good choice" or "bad choice." Vicky expressed concerns about hearing these terms frequently, especially...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Jonathan in Ohio, who is curious about how child-centered play therapy (CCPT) can be preventative in nature. Jonathan asks about how the skills learned in CCPT serve children long-term,...
In this Session Savvy episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I explore the subtle but significant impact of using value-laden words in child-centered play therapy (CCPT). While many therapists avoid praise statements, there are still value judgments that can slip into...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I answer a question from Theodore in the UK, who is preparing his playroom and wondering about incorporating games like Jenga and card games into child-centered play therapy. Theodore asks how to balance allowing children...
In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I answer a question from Kira in Texas about children who come into the playroom and do not play. Kira wonders if this behavior could be related to excessive screen use, a topic that resonates deeply with me. While screen...