Play Therapy Podcast

Your source for centered and focused Play Therapy coaching. A "Master-Class" in Play Therapy. Breaking down the barriers to high-quality Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) education. No paywalls, no ads, no fluff... all content — just expert, accessible training for every play therapist, free of charge.

E213 | CCPT Mindset: The Final Mindset Shift…From Doing CCPT to Being CCPT
Jun 20, 2025 – 15:32
311 | Two Questions, One Answer: Trust the Process in Child-Centered Play Therapy
Jun 17, 2025 – 10:09
310 | CCPT With Toddlers and Preschoolers: What Changes and What Doesn’t
Jun 13, 2025 – 08:43
309 | CCPT Mindset: When Progress Anxiety Undermines the Model
Jun 11, 2025 – 20:58
308 | Toileting Battles and the Need for Power: CCPT Parent Coaching
Jun 6, 2025 – 10:17
307 | When Parents Call It a Bribe: Defending Choice Giving in CCPT
Jun 5, 2025 – 11:12
306 | CCPT Mindset: The Myth of the Therapeutic Agenda
Jun 3, 2025 – 21:19
305 | Shared Walls and Noisy Lobbies: Preserving the CCPT Playroom Environment
May 30, 2025 – 13:33
304 | Facilitating CPRT With Challenging Parent Dynamics
May 29, 2025 – 11:34
303 | CCPT Mindset (New Series): Examining the Language That Pulls Us from the Model
May 27, 2025 – 18:43
302 | Bringing CCPT Into Schools: Group Sessions, Teacher Buy-In, and Special Education Support
May 23, 2025 – 10:34
301 | CCPT Skills for Quiet Sessions: Narrative Summary & Commentary Explained
May 22, 2025 – 14:02
300th Episode Livestream: Three Years, One Mission—Preserve and Advance the Classical CCPT Model
May 17, 2025 – 28:25
299 | You’re Not Behind—You’re Becoming: The CCPT Growth Journey Via the Summit Framework
May 13, 2025 – 28:52
298 | They Promised No Court—Then Sent a Subpoena: What Now? - Court and Legal Policy in CCPT
May 8, 2025 – 11:51
297 | CCPT Purism: The Child Knows the Way—A Call to Re-Center
May 6, 2025 – 18:24
296 | Responding to Suicidal Statements in CCPT Sessions
May 2, 2025 – 13:52
295 | Confidentiality, Character Toys, and Religious Topics in CCPT
Apr 30, 2025 – 13:24
294 | CCPT Purism: Practicing CCPT in a Directive World
Apr 29, 2025 – 25:12
293 | CCPT Purism: Why Non-Directivity Works
Apr 22, 2025 – 26:24
292 | When It Feels Like “Nothing” Is Happening in Session—How to Add Variety Without Losing the Model
Apr 18, 2025 – 16:19
291 | When Kids Assign You Roles: Staying Adherent to the CCPT Model During Role-Play Scenarios
Apr 17, 2025 – 13:09
290 | CCPT Purism: Small Drifts and Deviations That Undermine the Model
Apr 15, 2025 – 25:13
289 | CCPT Purism: The Paradox of Non-Directive but Highly Structured
Apr 8, 2025 – 34:14
288 | Making Sense of "Baby Talk" in a CCPT Playroom: What It Means and How to Respond
Apr 4, 2025 – 12:45
287 | “You Be the Baby!” — What to Do When Kids Assign You Roles — Staying Child-Centered During Dramatic Play
Apr 2, 2025 – 19:35
286 | CCPT Purism: How Garry Landreth Established and Preserved the Integrity of the Child-Centered Play Therapy Model
Apr 1, 2025 – 18:23
285 | Q&A Lightning Round #8: Four Questions From Three Listeners Answered
Mar 27, 2025 – 34:48
284 | CCPT Purism: How The Guerneys and Filial Therapy Extended the CCPT Model
Mar 25, 2025 – 17:45
283 | Supporting Parents Through Divorce: A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
Mar 20, 2025 – 51:29
282 | CCPT Purism: From Rogers to Axline and the Eight Principles That Shaped the Child-Centered Play Therapy Model
Mar 18, 2025 – 21:20
281 | Playroom Representation: Sensitivity Without Over-Complication
Mar 17, 2025 – 09:53
280 | When Kids Say “Stop Copying Me”, Session Outside? Sandtray Use? Can I Take This Toy Home? Answering Real CCPT Questions
Mar 14, 2025 – 15:52
279 | Client "Fit" in CCPT Isn’t About the Child—It’s About Expectations, Policies, and Processes
Mar 13, 2025 – 13:05
278 | CCPT Purism: The Core Tenets & Conditions That Shaped Child-Centered Play Therapy
Mar 11, 2025 – 24:22
277 | When Directive Play Therapy Backfires: A Case for CCPT
Mar 7, 2025 – 14:55
276 | Following a Child’s Lead vs. Returning Responsibility: Knowing the Difference
Mar 5, 2025 – 11:08
275 | CCPT Purism (New Series): How Rogers Broke the Rules—And Changed Child-Centered Play Therapy Forever
Mar 4, 2025 – 24:36
274 | Room Wrecking, Risk-Taking, and Sensory-Seeking: What’s Behind the Play?
Mar 1, 2025 – 13:07
273 | Keeping CCPT on Track: When a Child Refuses to Stay in the Playroom
Feb 27, 2025 – 13:01
272 | Fine Tuning Limit-Setting: Clarifying the "A" in the ACT Framework
Feb 25, 2025 – 12:00
271 | When Limit-Setting Feels Endless & Does Setting Limits in CCPT Feel Coercive? Let’s Clarify
Feb 21, 2025 – 16:06
270 | When a Child Falls Asleep in Play Therapy: Trusting the CCPT Process
Feb 20, 2025 – 12:07
269 | Adulthood Bias: The Barrier to Parents Understanding Children's Behavior
Feb 18, 2025 – 15:52
268 | When You and the Child Don’t Speak the Same Language in CCPT
Feb 13, 2025 – 13:20
267 | Think You're an Independent Contractor? You Might Not Be. Know the Difference Between Independent Contractor Vs. Employee Categorization
Feb 11, 2025 – 18:37
266 | Fighting for CCPT: How to Advocate for Child-Centered Play Therapy in Sexual Abuse Cases and Trauma Work
Feb 10, 2025 – 14:01
265 | When and How to Use Enlargement in CCPT & Tracking Progress in CCPT (What to Do When Stages Aren’t Clear)
Feb 5, 2025 – 14:42
264 | Mastering Neutrality: Wrap-up (A Reflection on What It Means to Be CCPT)
Feb 4, 2025 – 11:01
263 | Clear Policies + Systems = Happy Clients: Managing Cancellations, No-Shows, and Expectations
Jan 30, 2025 – 14:27

Recent Reviews

Sarah JB 81

Changed my life and my practice

Brenna has changed my therapy practice working with kids. I had studied nondirective CCPT over 20 years ago, but this podcast reignited my passion and provided the practical support I needed to move forward and be fully CCPT with my clients. I had been frustrated with other therapeutic approaches that were not working with my clients, but since I’ve been CCPT compliant, with Brenna’s help and the help of this community, I have seen children grow and change unlike I have ever seen before.
jet614

Men for CCPT

I’ve been working with children and young adults for 8 years and I’m just now learning about CCPT. This podcast has revived my love for giving therapy to children.
jenna XO

Rare, expert resource - I can’t believe it’s free!

This TRULY is a master class in the CCTP approach! If the Child-Centered approach is a good fit for you and children you work with, or even something you are just curious to learn more about, this podcast is so educational and interesting and well worth the time for clinicians at all levels. As a die-hard CCPT devotee, this free education is like a dream - and it’s not always easy to find CCPT supervision, mentorship, or community. Thank you, Dr. Hicks!
earth.muffin

Inspiring!

Dr. Brenna explains in a clear, organized and inspirational way what child led play therapy is (and is not). I’m a therapist who recently started a new job working at an elementary school with children. This podcast has really inspired in me an interest and curiosity in the practice and effectiveness of child directed play therapy! For my job I deal exclusively with insurance pay and I’d be curious about how to document child directed play therapy in a way that insurance will “accept” the interventions. Thank you for the time and energy put into this wonderful podcast!