396 | CCPT Mythbusters: It's Not Therapeutic If the Child Won't Go to the Playroom
About this episode
This episode discusses the misconception that play therapy requires a child to be in the playroom, emphasizing the importance of understanding all behaviors as part of the therapeutic process.
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…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Brenna Hicks
Topics covered
- child-centered play therapy
- therapeutic relationships
- child behavior
- playroom engagement
- therapist expectations
Keywords
- play therapy
- child behavior
- therapeutic process
- CCPT
- engagement
- autonomy
- therapist expectations
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Play Therapy Professional, PlayTherapyNow.com
More episodes of Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy
- 404 | What If a Child Brings Schoolwork Into the Playroom?
- 403 | CCPT Mythbusters: Children Need Guidance to Change
- 402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and Trusting the CCPT Process
- 401 | CCPT Mythbusters: What the Child Is Doing Isn't Enough
- 400 | 400 Episodes of CCPT: Reflections, Vision, and Live Q&A
- 399 | Signs a Child Has Too Much Screen Time: What It Looks Like in the CCPT Playroom
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