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Latest podcast episodes
“You Be the Baby!” — What to Do When Kids Assign You Roles — Staying Child-Centered During Dramatic Play
In this episode, I answer a question from Laura, a grad student in Canada who’s navigating how to stay fully adherent to the CCPT model during dramatic play—especially when a child assigns her a role and expects her to act it out. I walk through how we maintain a...
CCPT Purism: How Garry Landreth Established and Preserved the Integrity of the Child-Centered Play Therapy Model
In this episode of the CCPT Purism series, I focus on Garry Landreth and the essential role he played in shaping modern Child-Centered Play Therapy. While Rogers, Axline, and the Guerneys laid the philosophical and practical groundwork, Landreth gave the model a clear...
Q&A Lightning Round #8: Four Questions From Three Listeners Answered
In this episode, I answer four questions from three different listeners in another Q&A Lightning Round. I talk with Megan in Pennsylvania about how to present CCPT case conceptualizations in group supervision meetings when others don't understand or support the...
CCPT Purism: How The Guerneys and Filial Therapy Extended the CCPT Model
In this episode of the CCPT Purism series, I explore the work of Bernard and Louise Guerney, who extended the principles of child-centered play therapy beyond the playroom through the development of filial therapy. Their innovation marked a major turning point in the...
Supporting Parents Through Divorce: A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
In this special episode, I’m joined by Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby—licensed psychologist, marriage and family therapist, and founder of Growing Self Counseling & Coaching—to talk about one of the most challenging dynamics we face as CCPTs: supporting children of divorce...
CCPT Purism: From Rogers to Axline and the Eight Principles That Shaped the Child-Centered Play Therapy Model
In this episode of the CCPT Purism series, I take you through the foundational role of Virginia Axline in translating Carl Rogers’ person-centered theory into what we now know as Child-Centered Play Therapy. Axline worked closely with Rogers and applied his concepts...
Playroom Representation: Sensitivity Without Over-Complication
In this episode, I answer a question from Mia in California about how to approach dollhouse families and representation in the CCPT playroom. We don’t often talk about specific toys, so I enjoyed diving into how children use dolls and figures to create family...
When Kids Say “Stop Copying Me”, Session Outside? Sandtray Use? Can I Take This Toy Home? Answering Real CCPT Questions
In this episode, I answer questions from Heather, who provides play therapy in a boys’ home setting for ages 10–12. We cover a wide range of topics, including how to respond when a child says “stop copying me” during reflective responding, how to handle requests to do...
CCPT Purism: The Core Tenets & Conditions That Shaped Child-Centered Play Therapy
In this episode, I continue the CCPT Purism series with a deep dive into the core tenets and core conditions of Child-Centered Play Therapy. I walk through Rogers' foundational ideas—including the tendency to actualize, self-concept, and the organismic valuing...
When Directive Play Therapy Backfires: A Case for CCPT
In this episode, I respond to a question from Sasha in Oregon about a challenging session with a 9-year-old client. She attempted to incorporate directive techniques to help him process his anger, but he resisted by shutting down and saying "no" to everything. This...
CCPT Purism (New Series): How Rogers Broke the Rules—And Changed Child-Centered Play Therapy Forever
In this episode, I kick off a brand new series: CCPT Purism—a deep dive into what it truly means to be a pure Child-Centered Play Therapist. I’ve seen a growing trend where therapists think they are practicing CCPT, but in reality, they’ve drifted from full adherence...
Room Wrecking, Risk-Taking, and Sensory-Seeking: What’s Behind the Play?
In this episode, I answer a question from Danielle in Georgia about a six-year-old child processing grief after the loss of his father. His play includes room wrecking, risk-taking, and sensory-seeking behaviors, and Danielle wanted insight into how these might relate...
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