392 | CCPT Mythbusters: The "Innovation" Myth in Play Therapy

About this episode

This episode introduces the CCPT Mythbusters series, addressing the myth that child-centered play therapy requires innovation and emphasizing the importance of delivering existing models effectively.

In this episode, I introduce a new series on the podcast—CCPT Mythbusters—and we begin by tackling what I believe is one of the most pervasive myths in the field: that child-centered play therapy needs innovation. I explain how the field often defines "innovation" as applying models to new populations, integrating multiple theoretical approaches, or repackaging techniques. While those efforts may be creative, they are not innovation within the model itself. If a model is effective, empirically supported, and grounded in a solid theoretical foundation, changing it is not progress—it's a loss of integrity. I then shift the conversation to where innovation actually belongs: in the professional delivery of play therapy services. I discuss key areas where we can and should improve—how we communicate CCPT to parents, how we front-load clarity to reduce attrition, how we elevate our professional identity and confidently advocate for the model, and how we translate our work into language that others can understand. I also emphasize the need for systems and consistency in how we deliver services across the entire client experience. This episode sets the foundation for the series by making…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Brenna Hicks

Topics covered

• child-centered play therapy
• myths in play therapy
• innovation in therapy
• professional delivery of services
• communication with parents
• client experience

Keywords

• child-centered play therapy
• innovation
• myths
• professional identity
• communication
• client experience
• therapy techniques

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PlayTherapyNow.com

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• 402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and Trusting the CCPT Process · June 4, 2026 · 18 min
• 401 | CCPT Mythbusters: What the Child Is Doing Isn't Enough · June 2, 2026 · 14 min
• 400 | 400 Episodes of CCPT: Reflections, Vision, and Live Q&A · May 29, 2026 · 1h 21m
• 399 | Signs a Child Has Too Much Screen Time: What It Looks Like in the CCPT Playroom · May 21, 2026 · 15 min