A FREE Master-Class Education in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
Listen to the latest episode
Subscribe to my email newsletter JUST FOR THERAPISTS!
Latest podcast episodes
328 | When They Want It Left Just the Way It Was – Permanence Response in CCPT
In this episode, I respond to a listener question about how to handle situations where children want their creations or work in the playroom to remain untouched between sessions. Whether it’s a LEGO build, a coloring page, or a carefully constructed scene, children...
327 | Art of the Session: Reflecting Feelings with Effectiveness and Precision in CCPT
In this episode of the Art of the Session series, I walk through one of the most important and most underutilized CCPT skills: reflecting feelings. Despite its central role in both the reflective responses and the four pillars of CCPT, reflecting feelings is...
326 | Setting Up for Success: HTP Assessments and the Glue Dilemma in CCPT
In this Q&A episode, I answer two questions from Mara in North Carolina—one about the House-Tree-Person drawing assessment and one about the use of consumables like glue and paint in the playroom. I clarify when the HTP assessment is developmentally appropriate...
325 | Art of the Session: Why Reflecting Content Keeps You Engaged Without Taking Over
In this episode of the Art of the Session series, I focus on the skill of Reflecting Content—what it is, when to use it, and how to do it well. Reflecting content helps us stay connected and engaged in the session even when we’re not active participants in the child’s...
324 | Art of the Session: Tracking Behavior—The Skill You Can Always Use In Any Given Moment
In this episode of the Art of the Session series, I focus on one of the most foundational yet misunderstood CCPT skills: tracking behavior. I explain what it is, when to use it, and why it matters—even when it seems like “nothing is happening” in the playroom. I walk...
323 | What to Do When Time Is Up But the Child Isn’t Regulated Yet
In this episode, I respond to a question from Crystal, a school-based clinician in Minnesota, about how to end sessions when a child is emotionally dysregulated. Especially in settings like schools, where transitions can be abrupt and expectations are high, it can be...
322 | Art of the Session: The CCPT Therapist’s Shortlist—11 Responses That Work In Any Given Moment In A Session
In this Art of the Session episode, I walk through one of the most empowering and clarifying truths about CCPT: there’s a finite list of responses we use in session—and mastering those is enough. I outline what I consider to be the 11 foundational responses we pull...
321 | Managing Repetitive, Attention-Seeking Behaviors in the Playroom: Staying Neutral in CCPT
In this episode, I answer a unique and surprisingly common question from Zoe in Texas: what do you do when a child in CCPT is consistently farting in session—and seems to be doing it on purpose? We unpack how repetitive, attention-seeking behaviors like this often...
320 | Art of the Session: The Exact Words You Say When Entering the Playroom
In this episode of the Art of the Session series, I focus on a key moment that sets the tone for every CCPT session: the exact phrase you say when entering the playroom. While it may seem like a small detail, how we introduce the session either preserves or undermines...
319 | Art of the Session: Empowerment on the Way to the Playroom
In this episode of the Art of the Session series, I walk you through a phase of the play therapy process that’s often overlooked—what happens on the way to the playroom. This moment may feel small, but it holds tremendous power to reinforce the child’s sense of...
316 | When Parents Join the Session: Why It Compromises the CCPT Model
In this episode, I answer a question from Hope in Kentucky about incorporating parents into the CCPT process. Her case involved a foster mom participating in session—and the outcome revealed why that’s not aligned with the CCPT model. I explain how parent presence in...
315 | Theoretical Integrity in Play Therapy: Why One Model Matters (The Case Against Integrative Play Therapy)
In this episode, I respond to a thoughtful question from Cassie in North Carolina about integrative play therapy and the belief that there’s no “one size fits all” approach. As a CCPT purist, I explain why I believe in full adherence to a single theoretical model and...
Get Brenna’s Latest Book
Device Detox: A Parent’s Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids.
“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.”