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

The last of the 7 power and aggression category of play therapy themes... The Seeking theme.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor     References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Th...

Listener Anna, from Canada, emailed me a question regarding interpreting a child's play for interventions and advisement at schools, etc.  In this episode, I best try to answer her question through the lens of pure child-centered play therapy.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on...

Another theme in the power and agression category of play therapy theme is the devouring theme. In this episode, I discuss an overview of this theme and interpretations.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor     Refere...

Kate from South Australia emailed me the following question: "I am wondering what your thoughts are on children bringing in their own soft toys into sessions. I have a new client who has been bringing in his favourite toy and including it into his play. This has occurred for his last two sessions, we're only three sessions in to our therapeutic journey. Any insight would be greatly appreciated."  ...

This is the 4th in a series of power and control category of themes in play therapy. In this episode, I cover the powerful figure overcoming the weaker figure.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor     References: Coch...

In this episode, I answer a listener's question about supervision. Jeremy from the UK emailed me with the following question: "I am completing my training in the UK and I love every moment in my playroom, it's a bit small but I'm working on that. We are encouraged to attend supervision regularly, I recognize it's value but I'm wondering how to make the most of supervision, how to utilize this rela...

Another theme in the power and control category of themes is "death" play. I explain this multi-faceted theme, and also discuss how to share with parents in a way that maintains confidentiality, and also doesn't freak them out!   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekid...

Cindy from Australia emailed me with a questions asking how I handle children who shoot and use swords on me.    Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor     References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Chil...

In this episode, I'm continuing our discussion of Power and Control themes in play therapy with the Aggression and Aggressive Victim themes.   I discuss the difference between these two theme, as well as their difference between the Good vs Bad theme. Most importantly, I go into how we approach discussing these themes with parents.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Trai...

Jeremy from Illinois emailed me with the following question: "I have a six-year-old client who is getting angry and aggressive at school. History of witnessing domestic violence. I have had five sessions with him, and I would say we hit the resistance phase right on schedule. My question is the best way to handle his school counselors calling me and asking for "insight" in addition to the mom's an...

In this episode, we finally begin a series on themes in the playroom. I've been getting emails and feedback that so many of you wanted this content, so I'm glad we've finally made it! Within themes, there are categories of themes. Power and aggression are one of the major categories we'll start with. First, within the power and aggression category is Good vs Bad.   In addition to an overview of th...

I talk to a lot of play therapists, and I review a lot of sessions. I get a version of a question from everyone I interact with who is looking for advice in their play therapy practice: What is the one thing I need to know to be a better play therapist?   After thinking about that, it finally dawned on me that many play therapists are not as effective as they could be during their play sessions wh...

In the previous curriculum episode, we talked about the 4 phases of play therapy.  This week I'm focusing on the 4 STAGES of play therapy.  This differs from the phases, in the sense that the phases describe the therapeutic progress the child is working through. It is especially important to know and identify these stages when you communicate with parents.   The 4 stages of play therapy are: The w...

Jen in the UK emailed me with the following question: "I have several recent new clients who are choosing to be silent colorers in my room.  I'm spending a lot of time tracking coloring behaviour and wondering if I'm doing anything at all! That's not strictly true, as I do believe and feel that embodying the 'be attitudes' and being truly present with the children in relative silence is giving the...

In this episode I cover the 4 phases of the Landreth child-centered play therapy model. It's important to know these phases to recognize where a child is in the process. It's also helpful to know how to communicate these phases to parents.   The 4 phases are: Initiation Resistance Work Termination   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow...

Listener Ethan emailed me with another question. This time he asked my opinion on how I explain to parents why I allow cursing in the playroom. This is a fantastic question, and I'll do my best to explain the CCPT response and viewpoint. I'll also give you tips for how to go about explaining this to parents.   In this episode, I go over the following topics pertaining to cursing in the playroom:  ...

In this episode, I go over the last of the encouragement principles from CPRT, "Encourage Creativity And Freedom... With Freedom Comes Responsibility"   My three main points for this principle are: The child's autonomy Actions have consequences Self-regulation   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor....

This week's question comes from Yanna in Massachusetts. She poses the question: "I have been working with a 6 year old girl for over 6 months now, my interventions have consisted of child-centered play therapy with emphasis on promoting interoceptive skills. I feel like nothing is working L. She was initially referred to me due to behavioral outburst and aggression towards other children at school...

This is the third of four encouragement principles from CPRT, "Never Do For A Child That Which They Can Do For Themselves."   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor     References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J....

Alicia from Colorado wrote me an email saying "My background is actually Early Intervention, working with families with kids birth to three, so if you feel like discussing your thoughts on Filial/Child-Centered for toddlers, that would be amazing!!"  So in this episode I discuss general criteria for taking on clients, developmental appropriateness, and how the treatment lifecycle is generally shor...

The second encouragement principle "Encourage The Effort, Rather Than Praise The Product."  In this episode I will go over this principle and specifically touch on the following topics:   The difference between encouragement vs praise The difference between an internal locus of control vs an external locus of control Encouragement can always be given   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.co...

As a result of listening to the podcast on aggression in the playroom, listener Ethan emailed me "I was wondering if you have worked with a child who has ever played out the aggressive part but never seemed to move towards the nurture part?"  In this episode, I answer Ethan's questions.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email...

In this episode, I go over the first of the encouragement principles... "Noticing The Child Is A Powerful Builder Of Self-Esteem"   Topics I address: Attention is everything Kids being "lost in the sea of life" Self-fulfilling prophesy   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter:...

Tricia emailed me the following question: "Hello! I am currently a graduate student in mental health counseling in the state of New York. Unfortunately there aren't many resources for play therapy in the upstate area. I'm wondering if you could share your knowledge on the steps to becoming a registered play therapist. I will be graduating this August with my degree in mental health counseling but...

In this episode, I cover the last of the limit-setting principles. Limit-setting provides the security in which the relationship thrives.   Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com Play Therapy Training HQ: https://www.playtherapynow.com Email me: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Follow me on Twitter: @thekidcounselor   https://twitter.com/thekidcounselor