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

In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle the belief that "play therapy isn't enough" unless children verbally talk about their problems. I explain why this myth is rooted in adulthood bias and the false assumption that children process experiences cognitively and verbally the way adults do. In reality, children are experiential and emotional beings who naturally work through their world through play. Talking is not required for healing to occur, and in many cases, insisting that children verbally discuss something actually interferes with their process.
I also discuss why words themselves are not the source of therapeutic change in CCPT. Children do not even need to speak in the playroom—or share the same language as the therapist—for meaningful healing to happen. Through relationship, environment, emotional attunement, and trust in the child's process, children reveal exactly what they need to work through. This episode is a powerful reminder that our role is not to direct, interrogate, or force insight, but to faithfully provide the conditions that allow children to self-actualize in their own way and in their own time.
Join me for our LIVE 400th Episode!
Register by clicking the following link to join me LIVE on a Zoom call on May 28, 2026 12:00 PM EST. (please note the time zone) www.playtherapypodcast.com/400
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!
Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.
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
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.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode, I answer a thoughtful question about how child-centered play therapy works if children are not yet capable of abstract reasoning. I explain the important distinction between children being able to memorize and learn information versus having the cognitive ability for true introspection, logic, and abstract thought. Drawing from Piaget's developmental framework, I discuss why children under approximately age 12–13 are primarily experiential and emotional learners, not cognitive processors in the way adults are. This is exactly why CCPT is so developmentally appropriate—it meets children where they are, rather than expecting them to function like miniature adults.
I also explore why some older children, especially ages 9–11, may appear reflective or want to sit and talk during sessions. While preteens begin developing more self-awareness and verbal sophistication, their primary mode of growth is still emotional and experiential. In CCPT, children heal not because they intellectually analyze themselves, but because they experience unconditional acceptance, emotional attunement, and relationship in a way that changes how they feel about themselves and others. This episode dives into the deeper "why" behind the model and reinforces why trusting development is essential to effective play therapy.
Join me for our LIVE 400th Episode!
Register by clicking the following link to join me LIVE on a Zoom call on May 28, 2026 12:00 PM EST. (please note the time zone) www.playtherapypodcast.com/400
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!
Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.
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
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.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle the belief that "it's not play therapy if the child isn't in the playroom." I explain why a child refusing to go back to the playroom is not a problem to solve, but simply another behavior to understand within the child's process. Whether a child sits in the lobby, hallway, parking lot, or refuses to engage at all, our role does not change. We remain fully adherent to the model, trusting the child's pace, honoring their autonomy, and preserving the relationship above all else.
I also discuss the importance of recognizing our own expectations and agenda when children resist the playroom. Too often, therapists unintentionally rank behaviors as "good" or "bad," viewing engagement, symbolic play, and enthusiasm as success while seeing silence, avoidance, or lobby sessions as failure. But in CCPT, every behavior is equally meaningful. This episode is a reminder that the healing power of child-centered play therapy is not confined to four walls or a room full of toys—it exists in the consistency of the relationship, the unconditional acceptance we provide, and our unwavering trust in the child's process.
A new Play Therapy Professional cohort will be opening enrollment on 5/18!  Get on the waitlist to get first access before the general public! https://www.playtherapypro.com/get-certified/
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!
Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.
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
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.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode, I answer a question about helping children navigate a difficult divorce and discuss how to guide parents in communicating hard truths in developmentally appropriate ways. I explain why shielding children from reality often creates more confusion and anxiety, because children are already aware that something is wrong. When adults avoid conversations, children fill in the gaps themselves—and unfortunately, they often do so with self-blame, shame, or distorted conclusions. I emphasize the importance of "age-appropriate truth": saying enough to provide clarity and security, without overwhelming the child with adult details.
I also talk about coaching parents to remain calm, neutral, and emotionally regulated when discussing difficult situations with their children. Whether the issue is divorce, illness, learning differences, or family conflict, children need truthful preparation and emotional safety—not secrecy. I explain how openness preserves trust, allows children to process what's happening over time, and prevents resentment from forming later. This episode is ultimately about helping children feel secure enough to face hard realities without feeling responsible for them.
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!
Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.
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
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.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I address one of the most persistent and widely accepted myths in the field: that therapists have to do something for therapy to be effective. I unpack how this expectation shows up—from parents, schools, and even our own training—and why it creates pressure to intervene, direct, or "produce" visible results. I explain how this mindset is rooted in an adult framework that assumes we know what the child needs and how to get them there, when in reality, that belief directly conflicts with the core principles of child-centered play therapy.
I then reframe what our role actually is in CCPT. Rather than doing something to the child, we provide the conditions that allow the child to do their own work—through relationship, environment, and full adherence to the model. I emphasize that staying out of the child's way is not passive; it is intentional, structured, and grounded in trust of the process. This episode is a reminder that the pressure to "do" is often where therapeutic drift begins—and that true effectiveness in CCPT comes not from intervention, but from unwavering commitment to the model.
Join me for our LIVE 400th Episode!
Register by clicking the following link to join me LIVE on a Zoom call on May 28, 2026 12:00 PM EST. (please note the time zone) www.playtherapypodcast.com/400
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!
Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.
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
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.
Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.