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Play Therapy Podcast

Play Therapy Podcast

By: Dr. Brenna Hicks
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Your source for centered and focused Play Therapy coaching.© 2023 Education
Episodes
  • 402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and Trusting the CCPT Process

    402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and Trusting the CCPT Process
    Jun 4 2026
    In this episode, I answer a question about a 7-year-old child whose play therapy sessions have been marked by extreme dysregulation, constant limit setting, destruction of materials, and very little observable progress after 16 sessions. I explore several possible explanations for this kind of presentation, including neurodivergence, developmental immaturity, a complete lack of experience with self-regulation and autonomy, and the possibility that the child is testing whether the therapeutic relationship can withstand his most challenging behaviors. I also discuss why children who appear chaotic externally are often revealing the chaos they experience internally, and why those behaviors can provide valuable insight into what is happening beneath the surface. Most importantly, I address the therapist's understandable concern that the process feels "clunky" and ineffective. When a child is this dysregulated, progress is often slower and less obvious, but that does not mean change is not occurring. I explain why these cases require extraordinary patience, trust, and adherence to the model, even when there is little external evidence that things are improving. Sometimes our most challenging clients become our most remarkable transformation stories. This episode is a reminder that CCPT is enough, that self-actualization is always occurring, and that our role is to trust the child, trust the process, and remain faithful to the model even when the journey is difficult. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. 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: brenna@thekidcounselor.com 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.
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    18 mins
  • 401 | CCPT Mythbusters: What the Child Is Doing Isn't Enough

    401 | CCPT Mythbusters: What the Child Is Doing Isn't Enough
    Jun 2 2026
    In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a belief that quietly shows up in many therapists' thinking: that what the child is doing in session isn't enough. Whether it's a child who only draws, only colors, only builds with Legos, or simply sits quietly week after week, there is often an underlying assumption that the child should be doing more. I challenge that assumption and explore how these thoughts reveal subtle agendas, expectations, and a lack of trust in the child's process. In child-centered play therapy, every behavior, every choice, and every moment in the playroom is meaningful. What the child is doing is enough because it is exactly what the child is choosing and able to do in that stage of their therapeutic journey. I also discuss how this myth can lead therapists away from full adherence to the model. When we begin believing that children should be talking more, playing differently, or progressing faster, we risk interfering with the very process we claim to trust. Instead, I encourage therapists to view every session through a lens of curiosity and confidence. The child who draws for twenty weeks, the child who makes a mess, the child who resists, and the child who sits in silence are all communicating something important. The more deeply we trust the child, the process, and the model, the more we can celebrate what is unfolding rather than wishing it were something else. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. 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: brenna@thekidcounselor.com 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.
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    14 mins
  • 400 | 400 Episodes of CCPT: Reflections, Vision, and Live Q&A

    400 | 400 Episodes of CCPT: Reflections, Vision, and Live Q&A
    May 29 2026
    This week's episode is a special one—the recording of our 400th Play Therapy Podcast livestream celebration. What began as an experiment with six episodes has grown into a global community of child-centered play therapists, with listeners in more than 120 countries and nearly one million downloads. In this episode, I share some reflections on that journey, celebrate what we have built together, announce the launch of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy book, and discuss my hopes for the future of the child-centered play therapy community. One of the central themes of this conversation is the difference between consuming knowledge and taking action. I challenge therapists to move beyond simply learning CCPT and to begin sharing it—through mentoring, supervision, writing, speaking, advocacy, and leadership. I also discuss why no one drifts toward mastery, why competence requires intentional effort, and why our responsibility extends beyond our own playrooms. As our profession gains greater credibility and influence, I encourage listeners to see themselves not only as therapists, but as stewards of the model and advocates for children. The second half of the episode is an extended Q&A session covering a wide range of topics submitted by listeners. We discuss trusting the CCPT process when self-doubt creeps in, helping parents explain therapy to children, role-play dynamics in the playroom, graduate training options for CCPT therapists, screen addiction and its impact on children, termination criteria, unrealistic parental expectations, common therapeutic buzzwords, and much more. Whether you joined us live or are listening afterward, this episode captures the heart of what the Play Therapy Podcast has always been about: equipping, encouraging, and supporting therapists who are committed to helping children through the child-centered model. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. 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: brenna@thekidcounselor.com 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.
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    1 hr and 21 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
Excellent resource for play therapists. I use a sandtray in my room and it’s difficult to get much useful info about possible interpretations of play in it. The podcast has been valuable in this sense.

Newly qualified play therapist

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I’m a mental health therapist and manage other therapist. I promote child-led and direct all my staff to this podcasts. The only issues I have if the fairly frequent mention of God and Christianity, although this isn’t directly related to being a play therapist.

Life changing

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