379 | When Children Leave the Playroom and Parents Email Too Much: Two Questions Answered

Episode summary

In this episode, I answer two listener questions that highlight common challenges child-centered play therapists face in session and in communication with parents. First, I respond to a question about a child who unexpectedly leaves the playroom and begins knocking on another counselor's door. I explain how to think clearly about the actual limit in the situation, why identifying the correct limit is essential for offering effective choices, and how therapists can position themselves proactively once they know a child may try to leave the room. I also walk through examples of choices that map directly to the limit so the child can return to compliance while still maintaining the integrity of the play therapy process.

In the second question, I discuss how to handle parents who send frequent, lengthy emails analyzing their child's behavior. I explain why this often stems from parents' anxiety and their previous experiences with other systems like schools or medical providers. I emphasize the importance of clearly articulating communication expectations from the very first parent consultation and outline a simple script therapists can use to acknowledge emails without reinforcing constant communication. I also explain how to reset expectations with parents when boundaries were not clearly established at the beginning of the relationship.