S4E14 - Why Is My Child Resisting Play Therapy?

In this episode, I answer a question from a mom whose seven-year-old has become frustrated with her play therapist and says the therapist treats her "like a baby." I explain why seven is still right in the sweet spot for child-centered play therapy, and why complaints about therapy are often less about the therapist or the approach and more about the child's resistance to doing difficult emotional work. Children don't always have the words to explain what they are feeling, so we have to listen beyond the complaint and consider what it may actually be communicating. I also talk about why resistance can look very different from one child to another—avoiding eye contact, refusing to enter the playroom, calling therapy boring, or saying the therapist is annoying—and why that doesn't necessarily mean therapy is a bad fit. Sometimes resistance is simply a sign that something important is being stirred up. Rather than rushing to change approaches, I encourage parents to trust the process, give their child time, and remember that meaningful therapeutic work often requires courage before a child is ready to fully engage. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: [email protected] My New Book! Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Want to go deeper into the concepts discussed in this series? Check out Parent Companion for Play Therapy, created to help parents better understand their child, the play therapy process, and how lasting emotional growth takes place. https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Companion-Play-Therapy-Understanding/dp/B0H2D98F18/ My First Book: Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids https://a.co/d/bThnKH9 Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ Common References: Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge.