When Therapy is Cut Short: Understanding the Impact on Stages and Phases
I emphasize that while the stages and phases of child-centered play therapy can guide us, they should not be viewed as rigid rules. Each child progresses at their own pace, and changes in their play or behavior often signify important shifts in their therapeutic journey. We also discuss how children may skip stages or phases, only to return to them later, and how critical it is to focus on the significance of any changes in their play rather than trying to precisely categorize their progress.
If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.
Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: [email protected]
Brenna’s CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com
CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com
Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com
APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com
Twitter: @thekidcounselor https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor
Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast
Understanding the Non-Linear Path of Child-Centered Play Therapy
Child-centered play therapy is a unique and powerful approach that allows children to communicate and process their experiences through play. However, the journey through therapy is not always straightforward, and the stages and phases we use as guides are not always as predictable as we might hope. In this episode of my the Play Therapy Podcast, I answered a question from Terri in Ireland about the complexities of navigating a truncated therapeutic process.
The Challenge of Truncated Therapeutic Processes
Terri, a play therapist, found herself in a challenging situation: she was only able to work with her clients for a limited number of sessions due to extraneous circumstances. This raised concerns about how this truncated timeline would affect the natural progression of therapy, particularly in terms of the stages and phases that children typically move through. Terri observed significant shifts in her clients’ play around the 14th session mark and wondered if this indicated that they were missing or skipping certain stages, or if these changes signaled a transition into a different phase of their therapeutic work.
Stages and Phases: Guides, Not Rules
One of the most important points I emphasized in response to Terri’s question is that the stages and phases of child-centered play therapy are intended to be guides, not rigid rules. While it is true that children move through four stages and phases, this process is not always linear or predictable. Children are not “sardines in the same box,” and therefore, we cannot expect them to progress through therapy in the exact same way or within the same timeframe.
It’s crucial to approach the stages and phases with caution, recognizing that they are tools to help us understand the therapeutic process, but they should not become the sole focus of our work. Children will not always move from stage one to stage two in a neat, orderly fashion. Instead, their progression may involve skipping stages, moving quickly through certain phases, or even revisiting stages they initially bypassed.
The Impact of a Shortened Timeline on Therapy
When the therapeutic process is shortened, as was the case with Terri’s clients, children may still process the issues they need to, but they will do so in a condensed fashion. For example, a child who would typically spend several weeks working through aggressive play might instead compress that work into just a few sessions because they subconsciously recognize that they have a limited amount of time. This naturally modifies the traditional stages and phases of therapy, as children adapt their play to fit the available timeframe.
In some cases, children may even skip a stage or phase initially, only to backtrack and revisit it later. This is particularly common when children dive into therapy with a high level of enthusiasm, only to realize that they’ve moved too quickly and need to slow down or revisit earlier work. The therapeutic process, much like life, is full of twists and turns, and it’s important for therapists to be flexible and responsive to these changes rather than rigidly adhering to a predetermined path.
Recognizing the Significance of Shifts in Play
Throughout the therapeutic process, it’s essential to pay close attention to any shifts or changes in a child’s play. For example, Terri noticed that one of her clients transitioned from playing nurturing and caregiving scenarios with a baby doll to playing with themes of robbers, guns, and arrests. This shift in storyline is significant because it indicates a change in how the child is processing their experiences, even though the baby doll remained a consistent element in their play.
Similarly, when another client abruptly stopped playing and started talking instead, this change was noteworthy. Whether the child felt compelled to talk due to external influences (such as a parent) or whether it was a spontaneous decision, what they choose to discuss is always relevant and significant. As therapists, we must remain attuned to these changes and understand that they are often more important than the specific stage or phase the child is in.
Moving Beyond Stages and Phases
Ultimately, while it is helpful to understand and recognize the stages and phases of child-centered play therapy, it is even more important to focus on the overall progression of the child’s play and the shifts that occur within it. Whether a theme disappears, evolves, or is temporarily set aside, each of these changes is significant and offers valuable insights into the child’s therapeutic journey.
In my own practice, I’ve observed dramatic shifts in children’s play that signal important developments in their therapy. For example, a client who had been consistently engaging in nurturing and caregiving play for over a year suddenly shifted to aggressive, power-based play. This change was not about identifying which stage or phase she was in; it was about recognizing the significance of this new direction in her therapeutic work.
In child-centered play therapy, the journey is often non-linear, and each child’s path is unique. While stages and phases provide helpful frameworks, they should not become the primary focus of therapy. Instead, therapists should remain flexible and responsive, paying close attention to the shifts and changes in a child’s play, which often hold the key to understanding their therapeutic progress.
