Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy

436 | Should You Ever End a CCPT Session Early? (Clarifying Ultimate Limits in CCPT)

In this episode, I clear up an important misconception about ultimate limits in child-centered play therapy: Can a child ever "choose" to lose the rest of their play sess

435 | When a Child Cheats Because They Have to Win: What's Really Happening in the Playroom?

In this episode, I answer a question about an 8-year-old who loves playing games but will do almost anything to make sure he wins—including cheating, changing the rules,

434 | What's Wrong With Our Field? Research. (A Call for the Next Generation of CCPT Research)

In this final episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I tackle what I believe is a significant gap in child-centered play therapy: research. We have decades o

433 | What Do You Say When a Child Asks If You Actually Like Them?

In this episode, I answer a question about an 11-year-old who repeatedly tells his therapist, "You don't really want to spend time with me," "You'd rather be somewhere el

432 | The Missing Piece in Your CCPT Training

In this episode, I talk about something I hear constantly from child-centered play therapists: "I'm the only CCPT in my office, I wasn't prepared to work with children, a

431 | What Do You Do When a Child Says 'I'm Bored' in the Playroom?

In this episode, I answer a question about something nearly every child-centered play therapist will eventually hear: "I'm bored." When a child complains that there's not

430 | What's Wrong with Our Field? Supervision

In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I tackle a major challenge for child-centered play therapists: supervision from someone who doesn't understand

429 | "All We Do Is Play": When an Anxious Child Wants to Quit Therapy

In this episode, I answer a question about an 11-year-old with significant social anxiety who, seven sessions into CCPT, tells a parent that therapy is a waste of time be

428 | What's Wrong with Our Field? Novelty and "Innovation"

In this episode, I continue the What's Wrong with Our Field? series by looking at our profession's fascination with novelty and innovation. I challenge the assumption tha

427 | How Anxiety Shows Up—and Changes—in the Playroom

In this episode, I answer several questions about two anxious girls whose play is giving us a fascinating look at what happens when children begin confronting the very th

426 | What's Wrong with Our Field? CCPT-ish

In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I tackle something I've been talking about for years: CCPT-ish. We have a complete, empirically supported mode

425 | How to Coach Parents Through Severe Power Struggles

In this episode, I answer a question about helping parents whose child has gradually taken control of the entire home. When a child constantly interrupts conversations, m

424 | What's Wrong with Our Field? The Problem with ABA

In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I examine why I believe Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) remains one of the most concerning practices in pediat

423 | What If a Child Tells You to Stop Talking?

In this episode, I answer a question about one of the most uncomfortable moments a child-centered play therapist can experience: when a child tells you to stop talking be

422 | What's Wrong with Our Field?: Universities and Graduate School

In this episode of the What's Wrong with Our Field? series, I tackle what I believe is one of the greatest shortcomings in graduate mental health education: the lack of m

421 | Does Birth Order Matter in CCPT? (Especially for Only Children)

In this episode, I answer a question about birth order and, specifically, what research and clinical experience tell us about only children. While birth order doesn't cha

420 | What is Wrong With Our Field? (New Series) Have We Lost Our Heart?

In this episode, I begin a new series exploring what I believe is wrong with the play therapy field today. I share a surprising piece of anonymous conference feedback tha

419 | Returning Responsibility During Regressive Play

In this episode, I answer a question about one of the most nuanced aspects of child-centered play therapy: knowing when to return responsibility to a child and when to st

418 | CCPT Mythbusters: You'll Eventually Be 100% Adherent to the Model

In this final episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a myth that many child-centered play therapists quietly carry with them: the belief that if we practice lon

417 | Expectancy, Not Expectations: The Heart of Unconditional Acceptance in CCPT

In this episode, I answer a question about what to do when children create artwork or craft projects during child-centered play therapy. Should they take their creations