In this episode, Drs. Kristie and Maggie delve deeper into the skills used in Child-Centered Play Therapy.

Choice giving is an important skill that is foundational to CCPT. With this skill, adults are demonstrating trust in the child's capacity to lead and make decisions

Choice giving in CCPT provides children the opportunity to experience personal responsibility, while demonstrating trust in their abilities, nurturing autonomy, and allowing children to experience small and manageable consequences. Choice giving allows the child to make choices for themselves and offers opportunities for emotional regulation, rather than providing direct instruction or control.

✨ We’ve talked about the what and why of giving kids choices… now let’s dive into the HOW! 🎙️

In this episode, Kristie & Maggie share practical ways parents, teachers, and play therapists can give kids choices that: ✅ Support autonomy ✅ Build self-control ✅ Show kids we trust them to make decisions

Big choices for big kids, smaller choices for little ones—all leading to more responsibility with age-appropriate consequences. 💡

Tune in to learn how to make choice-giving a powerful tool for growth!

✨ Reflecting feelings is at the heart of Child-Centered Play Therapy. It helps kids build emotional vocabulary, deepen self-awareness, and feel truly understood.

In this episode, Drs. Kristie & Maggie unpack the how—from tone and body language to word choice and facial expression. They also share their own journey developing this skill and how they teach it to future play therapists.

🎧 Tune in to learn practical ways to strengthen your reflection of feeling skills!

Listen to Drs. Kristie and Maggie share the underlying philosophy of reflecting feelings from a child-centered perspective. In this episode, listeners will get a deep understanding of the purpose of reflecting feelings and how to share this with caregivers and others in a way that is understandable and in line with Child Centered Play Therapy. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts!

✨ The Reflective Responding series continues! ✨

This week, Drs. Kristie & Maggie dive into Reflecting Content—a powerful skill that helps children feel truly heard and valued. 💬💛

Reflecting content is more than just repeating words back. It’s about tuning in, understanding the heart of the message, and letting children know their voice matters.

In this episode, we break down the what, why, and how of this essential play therapy skill.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

🎧 New Episode Alert!

We’re breaking down the foundational skills of Child Centered Play Therapy—one by one—so you can understand not just what they are, but why they matter.

This chapter? Reflective Responding—and we’re kicking it off with Part One: Tracking.

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Drs. Kristie and Maggie dive into: ✨ The purpose of tracking in the playroom ✨ How to use it effectively ✨ Real examples from their own sessions

Think of it like sitting in a university play therapy class—without the tuition bill. No scripts. No fluff. Just practical, real-world insights to help you strengthen your skills and deepen your work with children.

🎙️ Tune in now for a deep dive into the art (and heart) of tracking.

#PlayTherapySpace #PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #PlayTherapySkills #TrackingSkill #ReflectiveResponding #TherapistTraining

You asked, we listened! 🎧✨ You wanted skills—so we’re bringing them! But not just the what or the how.

Drs. Kristie and Maggie are diving deep into the essential play therapy skills: 🔹 What they are 🔹 Why they matter 🔹 What they look like in practice 🔹 How to develop them authentically in the playroom

These episodes deliver university-level play therapy training—no classroom required. Whether you're new to the field or need a solid refresher, we’re here to help bridge the gap.

🎙️ Start listening today and grow your skills with us—one episode at a time.

🎙️ Part 2 – Chaos in the Playroom In this episode, Drs. Kristie and Maggie dive into the realities of chaos in the playroom—what it looks like, how it feels, and how they’ve navigated it in real time. They share personal experiences and practical strategies for staying grounded, regulating themselves, and responding with intention—all while holding true to the core relational principles of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). Whether you're new to the playroom or a seasoned therapist, this conversation offers insight and encouragement for meeting the messiness with connection and clarity.