Play Therapy Podcast

By: Dr. Brenna Hicks
  • Summary

  • Your source for centered and focused Play Therapy coaching.
    © 2023
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Episodes
  • Why Children Ask ‘How Much Time Is Left?’ and Recognizing Termination Readiness
    Nov 13 2024

    In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I answer two questions from Chris in the Virgin Islands. First, Chris asks about how to respond when children frequently ask how much time is left in their session. I explain how this can indicate various needs, such as a desire for control, anxiety, or simply curiosity, and share strategies for reflecting their question and, if necessary, providing a neutral, factual answer to help them feel secure.

    Chris’s second question focuses on recognizing when a child is ready for the termination phase. I discuss the signs that indicate a child has reached emotional stability, including resolved issues and no new play themes. I also emphasize the importance of a healthy termination process, which acknowledges the therapeutic relationship while equipping the child to move forward independently.

    Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice!

    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
    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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    15 mins
  • Session Savvy: Staying Neutral and Avoiding "Body" Commentary in CCPT
    Nov 12 2024

    In this Session Savvy episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I talk about the importance of avoiding commentary on a child’s body or physical actions in the playroom, such as saying, “Your body is telling you it needs to move.” While well-intentioned, these types of remarks can lead to interpretation and assumptions, which go against the neutrality required in child-centered play therapy (CCPT). I discuss the need to simply track behavior or reflect content without imposing our own ideas on the child’s experience.

    I provide examples of CCPT-adherent responses that avoid assumptions, highlighting how neutrality supports the therapeutic process by allowing the child to fully own their actions and feelings. This approach helps therapists stay true to CCPT principles and fosters a supportive environment where the child feels free to express themselves without judgment or imposed meaning.

    Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice!

    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
    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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    7 mins
  • Revisiting SMART Goals with CCPT for School Settings
    Nov 11 2024

    In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I answer a question from Sandy in Iowa about creating SMART Goals, referencing the four universal outcomes in child-centered play therapy (CCPT). Sandy wanted guidance on how to document data to share with parents and teachers in a school setting. I explain how each universal outcome—such as increased self-regulation, self-esteem, emotional vocabulary, and worldview—can be broken down into observable behaviors both in the playroom and in the child’s broader environment.

    I also discuss how to communicate these outcomes effectively, highlighting the importance of linking observed themes and shifts in play back to the child’s goals. For example, shifts from power and control themes to balanced play can indicate progress in self-regulation. Finally, I provide tips on differentiating between psychotherapy notes and progress notes, emphasizing the unique purpose each serves in CCPT documentation.

    Related Episode:
    SMART Goals and Child-Centered Play Therapy: How to Bridge the Gap in a School Setting

    Sign up for my exclusive newsletter at playtherapynow.com. Stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice!

    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
    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.

    Show more Show less
    8 mins

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Very Helpful!

Ive learned so much from listening to your podcast. I am not a
Registered play therapist, but I work with kids in the achool system and this has been a lifesaver.

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Incredible

This has been life changing for me! Thank you for the time and dedication put into this podcast!

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Thank you

Been looking for something to guide me down the right track of play therapy. You did that for me, thank you, I’ll keep researching and listening. This has helped only on episode 3

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