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Play Therapy Podcast

Dr. Brenna Hicks
Play Therapy Podcast
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  • CCPT Purism: The Child Knows the Way—A Call to Re-Center
    In this final episode of the CCPT Purism series, I wrap up our 11-episode journey with a reflection on what it truly means to live and practice Child-Centered Play Therapy with integrity. I walk through the full arc of the series—from Rogers’ foundational truths to Landreth’s structural clarity—and revisit the themes that unify and ground us in the model. This episode is both a recap and a rally cry to remain anchored in the belief that the child knows the way. I also challenge you to reflect on your own CCPT journey. Where are you confident? Where are you still wrestling? And what specific change do you feel called to make in how you show up in the playroom? CCPT demands humility, patience, presence, and trust—and these aren’t just difficulties, they’re what make the model transformational. If you’ve drifted, this is your invitation to re-center. And if you’re all in, this is your encouragement to stay the course. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! 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 Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
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  • Responding to Suicidal Statements in CCPT Sessions
    In this episode, I respond to powerful questions from Angelica and Mikayla about how to approach suicidal statements made by children in CCPT sessions. These statements—like “I want to die” or “I wish I was never born”—can be deeply unsettling. But they don’t always mean what they seem. I walk through how to interpret these expressions through a child-centered lens and how to respond while remaining fully adherent to the model. I explain the difference between a child expressing emotional overwhelm versus having intent to harm themselves, and why reflecting feelings and content—rather than probing or redirecting—is critical in preserving the relationship. I also share how to document these moments, communicate with parents, and maintain the therapeutic alliance without overreacting or breaking from the model. This episode is a reminder that we can hold space for big emotions without abandoning the principles that make CCPT so effective. 300th Episode LIVE Event! - Friday, May 16th @ 1:30pm EST Register here: www.playtherapypodcast.com/live PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! 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 Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
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  • Confidentiality, Character Toys, and Religious Topics in CCPT
    In this episode, I answer a thoughtful series of questions from Mikayla in Illinois that touch on several important topics in CCPT practice: confidentiality when sharing success stories, using neutral versus character-based toys, the use of books and bibliotherapy, and how to respond to religious topics in sessions. I talk through how we define confidentiality based on whether a client can be identified—not whether we reference general age, issues, or outcomes. I also explain the rationale for keeping toys neutral in the playroom and why CCPT does not include books as part of session work. Finally, I discuss how religious topics naturally emerge in play when a child has a faith background and how to observe and reflect that content neutrally. Each of these questions highlights the nuance and intentionality behind staying fully aligned with the CCPT model. 300th Episode LIVE Event! - Friday, May 16th @ 1:30pm EST Register here: www.playtherapypodcast.com/live PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! 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 Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
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  • CCPT Purism: Practicing CCPT in a Directive World
    In this episode of the CCPT Purism series, I talk about the reality of practicing child-centered play therapy in a world that doesn’t understand it. From insurance documentation and school interventions to parent expectations and supervisor pushback, we’re constantly surrounded by pressure to explain, modify, or justify our model. These pressures don’t just challenge our clinical stance—they create dissonance that can lead to burnout, confusion, and drifting from the model we believe in. I walk through the most common external pressures we face and how to respond to each one while holding the line. From using intentional language and redefining progress to setting clear expectations and surrounding ourselves with supportive community, this episode is a call to courage and clarity. We may not be understood by everyone—but the child always gets it. And that’s who we’re here for. 300th Episode LIVE Event! - Friday, May 16th @ 1:30pm EST Register here: www.playtherapypodcast.com/live PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! 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 Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
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  • CCPT Purism: Why Non-Directivity Works
    In this episode of the CCPT Purism series, I take a deep dive into one of the most foundational—and often misunderstood—truths of our model: non-directivity works. I respond to common questions and doubts, like “But what if the child needs to learn something?” or “How can they grow if I don’t help them make sense of what they’re doing?” These questions come from a directive mindset, and I explain why we have to challenge those instincts and stay grounded in the CCPT framework. I explore five key concepts that explain why non-directivity is not passive—it’s deeply responsive to how children grow and heal: self-actualization, symbolic play, insight through experience, the therapeutic relationship as the change agent, and developmental repair. I also share research-based evidence and personal encouragement for staying the course, even when the process looks quiet or messy. This episode is a reminder that doing nothing is doing something—and that’s what makes this model so powerful. Episode References: Bratton, S. C., Ray, D., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2005). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(4), 376–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.36.4.376 Ray, D. C. (2011). Advanced play therapy: Essential conditions, knowledge, and skills for child practice. New York, NY: Routledge. Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. Cochran, N. H., Nordling, W. J., & Cochran, J. L. (2010). Child-centered play therapy: A practical guide to developing therapeutic relationships with children. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications and theory. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! 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 Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
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Your source for centered and focused Play Therapy coaching. A "Master-Class" in Play Therapy. Breaking down the barriers to high-quality Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) education. No paywalls, no ads, no fluff... all content — just expert, accessible training for every play therapist, free of charge.
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