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Latest podcast episodes
390 | Room Wrecks: The Moment That Tests Every Child-Centered Play Therapist (A CCPT Guide for Understanding and Handling Them)
When Kids Wreck the Playroom: Understanding Room Wrecks in Child-Centered Play Therapy Room wrecks are one of the most challenging—and inevitable—parts of practicing child-centered play therapy. At some point, a child is going to dump shelves, scatter toys, and leave...
389 | Building Buy-In for CCPT with Teachers and Staff
In this episode, I answer a question about how to effectively communicate child-centered play therapy to teachers and school staff—especially when they are expecting quick, directive results. I explain why this is such a challenge, given that educational systems often...
388 | Why Are These Kids So Happy?: What I Learned About Parenting (and CCPT) from Japan
In this episode, I share some observations from my recent trip to Japan and reflect on what I noticed about children and their parents. What stood out to me most wasn’t a specific experience or attraction—it was the consistent presence of calm, content, and genuinely...
387 | Stop Overloading Parents: How to Drip Feed CCPT Skills
In this episode, I talk about a common mistake we make in parent consults—giving parents too much, too fast, and expecting them to implement it successfully. I explain how this often comes from our own desire to “have something to say” or to be helpful, but it...
386 | Adulthood Bias and Piaget: Why Adults Misunderstand Children
In this episode, I revisit the concept of Adulthood Bias and explain why it continues to show up so frequently in how adults interact with children. At its core, Adulthood Bias is the tendency to forget what it’s like to be a child—emotional, present-focused, and...
385 | How to Talk to Kids About Parent Meetings and Notes in CCPT
In this episode, I answer a question about how to communicate with children regarding two important parts of the play therapy process: meeting with parents and taking notes during sessions. I explain why it’s critical to set clear expectations from the very first...
384 | Stop Trying to Figure Out the Play: A Reminder for CCPT Therapists
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...
383 | The Parent Factor in CCPT: Can a Child Fully Heal If the Parent Doesn’t Change?
In this episode, I answer a question about how a parent’s own anxiety, stress, or perfectionism impacts a child’s progress in play therapy. I talk through the reality that while children often absorb what they are around, their growth in CCPT is not dependent on their...
382 | “Imposter Syndrome” in Therapy: Why It’s Time to Let It Go
In this episode, I challenge the widespread use of the phrase “imposter syndrome” in the therapy field and invite you to reconsider what you’re saying—and believing—about yourself as a clinician. I explain how this language often gets introduced early in training and...
381 | When Kids Ask Questions in the Playroom: How CCPT Therapists Should Respond
In this episode, I answer a listener question about working with an inquisitive 11-year-old who frequently asks questions during sessions. Many child-centered play therapists struggle with how to respond when children ask for information, especially because the model...
380 | From Playing Alone to Playing Together: Understanding the Shift in CCPT
In this episode, I talk through the differences between independent play and collaborative play in child-centered play therapy sessions, and why understanding the distinction is so important. Early in the therapy process, children often play independently as they are...
379 | When Children Leave the Playroom and Parents Email Too Much: Two Questions Answered
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...
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