Q&A: What Is The ONE THING I Need To Know To Be A Better Play Therapist?

May 5, 2023

I talk to a lot of play therapists, and I review a lot of sessions. I get a version of a question from everyone I interact with who is looking for advice in their play therapy practice: What is the one thing I need to know to be a better play therapist?

After thinking about that, it finally dawned on me that many play therapists are not as effective as they could be during their play sessions when they deviate from the child-centered model. So I’m going to make a bold statement… Deviation is the “death” of child-centered play therapy.

So the “one thing” you should know is don’t deviate from the child-centered model. It’s that simple. It’s hard, but it’s simple, and I explain the framework for staying true to the child-centered model in this episode.

In this episode, I talk about the following topics:
– What deviation looks like in the playroom
– What deviation does in the playroom
– Why do we deviate in the first place

Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com
Email me: [email protected]
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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. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2nd ed.). Brunner-Routledge.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

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