384 | Stop Trying to Figure Out the Play: A Reminder for CCPT Therapists

Episode summary

In this episode, I address a growing trend I've been seeing among therapists—trying to interpret, analyze, and "figure out" what a child's play means. I understand the desire to make sense of themes, especially when we're trying to communicate progress to parents. But in child-centered play therapy, that instinct can actually pull us away from what matters most. When we start making assumptions or drawing conclusions, we move out of the present moment and into our heads, which takes us out of true engagement with the child.

I explain why it is not our job to interpret or assign meaning to a child's play, and how doing so can lead us down inaccurate or unnecessary paths. Instead, our role is to stay grounded in what we know—what the child is doing, saying, and feeling—and remain fully adherent to the model. CCPT works because of the relationship and the process, not because we understand every detail of what's happening. This episode is a reminder to release the pressure to figure it all out and to trust that fidelity to the model is enough.