PODCAST · health
The Play Therapy Circle
by Kylie Ellison
Hosted by therapist and trainer Kylie Ellison, this podcast explores the heart of Child-Centred Play Therapy and the healing power of play. Each episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical insights for play therapists, students, and caregivers supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.✨ Join the community: https://mailchi.mp/playtherapycircle.com/play-therapy-circle✨ Podcast subscriptions: https://kylieellison.com.au/ptcsub
Episodes
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Episode 59- Working with Parents & Caregivers: Part Two
Welcome to part two of our conversation on working with parents and caregivers in child-centred play therapy. Picking up where last week left off, Kylie gets into the nuts and bolts of parent consultations: what to cover, how to structure them, and how to handle the challenges that inevitably…
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Episode 58- Working with Parents & Caregivers: Part One
In the playroom, we might have 45 minutes a week with a child. Parents are there for everything else. In part one of this special two-part episode, Kylie Ellison begins a deep dive into one of the most important (and sometimes most challenging) parts of our work: partnering with parents and…
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Episode 57- Child Development Theory: The Lens Every Play Therapist Needs
Child Development Theory: The Lens Beneath Every Play Session Why does a four-year-old believe their angry thoughts made their teacher sick? Why is a ten-year-old so focused on what's fair? And why is it pointless to ask a child in the middle of a meltdown to "use their words"? In this episode of...
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Episode 56- The Stages of Play Therapy: How the Work Unfolds and How to Know It's Working
In this episode, Kylie Ellison kicks off a new series on the shape of what unfolds in the playroom, breaking down the framework of stages in child-centred play therapy (CCPT). Drawing on Garry Landreth's foundational work and over a decade of clinical experience, Kylie walks through why this...
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Episode 55- Back to Basics: Esteem-Building - The Skill That Builds Self-Worth from the Inside Out
Esteem Building: Praising the Process, Not the Product In this episode of The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie Ellison wraps up our foundational skills series with a deep dive into esteem building statements, one of the most misunderstood skills in child centred play therapy. If you've ever caught...
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Episode 54- Back to Basics - Empathic Responding How Empathy Becomes Something the Child Can Actually Feel
Host Kylie Ellison continues the Back to Basics series with a deep dive into empathetic responding, the skill that takes reflecting feelings a step further. Kylie unpacks how empathetic responding differs from sympathy, agreement, and projection, why it stays with the child's felt experience…
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Episode 53- The First Session- What Actually Happens & Why It Matters
The First Session: What to Expect (and What Not to Do) in Child-Centred Play Therapy In this episode of the Foundation Series, Kylie Ellison, therapist, clinical supervisor, and play therapy trainer, dives deep into one of the biggest sources of anxiety for new play therapists: the first session...
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Episode 52- Back to Basics: Empathic Responding & Returning Responsibility
Returning Responsibility: Handing the Power Back to the Child In this episode of The Play Therapy Circle, host Kylie Ellison continues the series on foundational child-centered play therapy skills. Following on from tracking and reflecting feelings, this week's focus is returning responsibility:...
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Episode 51- Inside the Play Room - What Belongs There and Why the Space Matters
The Playroom as the Third Therapist: Setting Up a Child-Centred Space In this episode, Kylie continues the foundational series with a deep dive into the child-centred play therapy playroom, what belongs in it, why it matters, and how the space itself communicates safety, welcome, and possibility…
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Episode 50- Characteristics of the Play Therapist - The Personhood at the Heart of the Work
Episode 50: Characteristics of a Child-Centered Play Therapist, The Way of Being Behind the Technique We've hit a milestone, you guys, Episode 50! To mark one year of The Play Therapy Circle Podcast, Kylie Ellison is kicking off a brand-new series unpacking the core topics she covers in her CCPT...
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Episode 49- A Milestone Episode
🎉 Happy 1st Birthday, Play Therapy Circle! + Our First-Ever Conference It's officially been 12 months since The Play Therapy Circle podcast began and in this special milestone episode, host Kylie Ellison (therapist, clinical supervisor, and play therapy trainer) is celebrating with a shorter…
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Episode 48- Dr Jodi Mullen Joins the Circle
For our very first guest interview on The Play Therapy Circle Podcast, host Kylie Ellison sits down with the incredible Dr. Jodi Mullen, a professor in the counselling and psychological services department at SUNY Oswego, where she has worked as a counsellor educator for nearly 30 years. Jodi is...
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FLASHBACK EPISODE- #19 Self Care for Play Therapists
🎧 Flashback Episode: Self-Care for Play Therapists (A Revisit) We're pulling this one back into your feed because some conversations deserve a second listen, especially when life gets busy and self-care quietly slips down the priority list again. If that's you right now, welcome back to this…
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Episode 47- Supporting Parents when Progress Becomes 'Stuck'
When Parents Push Back: Working with Resistance in Play Therapy You can have every handout, every strategy, every piece of psychoeducation ready to go, but if the parent sitting across from you is defended, exhausted, and quietly drowning in shame, none of it is going to land. So what do we...
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Episode 46- Back to Basics: Reflecting Feelings PLUS Listener Question!
Episode 46: Reflecting Feelings (Back to Basics) + Listener Q&A on Post-COVID Babies In this episode, Kylie returns to her Back to Basics series to unpack one of the most fundamental and often most challenging skills in child-centred play therapy: reflecting feelings. Coming live from the…
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Episode 45- Remembering Dr Garry Landreth
This week's episode is one we didn't plan to record, but one that felt necessary. On the day our community learned of the passing of Dr. Garry Landreth, Kylie sat down to record this special tribute episode in honour of one of the most influential figures in child-centred play therapy history.…
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Episode 44- Am I Making a Difference? When the World Outside the Playroom Is Out of Our Hands
Have you ever finished a session and wondered, did any of that even matter? You've shown up, you've held the space, you've given everything you have and then that child walks back out into a world you can't control. A chaotic home. An unstable system. A family in crisis. And you're left sitting...
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Episode 43- Back to Basics PLUS Listener Question Answered
Back to Basics: Tracking Plus Your Questions | EP43 This episode marks something new. Listener questions, answered on the show. And the question that came in was so good, it deserved real time and real depth. But first: a back-to-basics teaching segment on tracking — one of the very first skills…
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FLASHBACK EPISODE - #18 The Pandemic Ripple Effect
Revisited: The Pandemic Ripple Effect This week, we're reaching back into The Play Therapy Circle archives to revisit a conversation that continues to resonate and perhaps now, more than ever, feels urgently relevant. The Pandemic Ripple Effect. If you are working with children aged 4–6 years old...
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Episode 42- You Are Not Doing It Wrong- The COVID Generation, the Exhaustion, and Permission to Be Good Enough
Kylie dives deep into the science behind the COVID generation - what the research is now telling us about children born between 2019 and 2022, why so many kids are struggling right now, and why that is absolutely not a reflection of your parenting. From maternal prenatal stress tripling during…
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Episode 41 - Reflections on the Road - Come with Us!
Kylie checks in live from Mildura - exhausted, dinner-less, and fresh off one of her most chaotic travel days yet (yes, there was an emergency Kmart suitcase run). But between the laughs, she unpacks the big takeaways from a massive week of Child-Centred Play Therapy training across Victoria,...
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Episode 40- More Than Mess Limit-Setting as Clinical Intervention in CCPT
Is mess in the playroom always therapeutic? In this milestone 40th episode, Kylie challenges some of the assumptions that can creep into Child-Centred Play Therapy practice - specifically around permissiveness and what it really means when a child tips into chaos and destruction during a session....
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Episode 39- Finding Your People: Imposter Syndrome, Trusting Your Gut, and the Community That Makes You Whole
Ever had that nagging feeling that you're not quite good enough - even when the evidence says otherwise? This week, Kylie gets honest about something that came up in real time: imposter syndrome in the helping professions. And if you've ever quietly wondered whether you truly belong in this work,...
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Episode 38- Big Feelings, Small Bodies: What Emotional Dysregulation Really Looks Like
Big Feelings, Small Bodies: What Emotional Dysregulation Is Really Telling Us | Ep. 38 When a child explodes, shuts down, bolts from the room, or cries at everything, what is their nervous system actually communicating? In this episode, Kylie Ellison breaks down the neuroscience of emotional...
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Episode 37 - The Nervous System and the Play Room
In this episode, Kylie breaks down polyvagal theory and its three key nervous system states - safe and social, fight or flight, and freeze/shutdown and explores what each one actually looks like when a child walks through the playroom door. Because understanding which state a child is in changes...
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Episode 36- Holding Hope | Play Therapists in Times of Global Uncertainty
Holding Hope in the Playroom | Play Therapy Circle In one of her most personal episodes yet, host Kylie Ellison pauses to name what so many play therapists are quietly carrying, the weight of showing up for children and families during a time of profound collective anxiety and global uncertainty....
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FLASHBACK EPISODE - #7 Understanding the Child's World Through Play
🎙️ FLASHBACK EPISODE — Episode 7: Understanding the Child's World Through Play Play is children's universal language — and once you understand it, you'll never look at it the same way again. In this flashback episode, we explore how children use play to communicate what they can't express in...
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Episode 35- What Happens in the Brain During Play Therapy
Why does play therapy work? And what actually happens in a child’s brain during a play therapy session? In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle Podcast, Kylie Ellison explores the neuroscience behind child-centred play therapy (CCPT) and explains why play is the natural language of children....
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Episode 34- The Children Who Grow Us: How the playroom shapes the CCPT therapist.
In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle Podcast, Kylie explores how child-centred play therapy doesn’t just transform the children we work with, it also transforms us as therapists. Drawing on her experiences in the playroom, Kylie reflects on the profound lessons children teach us about...
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Episode 33- Behaviour is the Messenger - Listening Beyond What We See
In this heartfelt episode, Kylie explores one of the core truths of child-centred play therapy: all behaviour is communication. When children can’t put their experiences into words, they show us through play, through dysregulation, through control, chaos, withdrawal, and even aggression. But what...
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Episode 32- They're Just Playing! What's Really Happening in the Playroom
This week on The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie Ellison tackles a common (and often frustrating) misunderstanding: “Isn’t it just play?”. Kylie opens a timely conversation for play therapists, parents, carers, and professionals about how children communicate through play, especially when trauma,...
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Episode 31- Navigating Endings in CCPT
In this episode, Kylie reflects on what she’s witnessing in clinical practice right now, a significant rise in anxiety presentations among young children, particularly in the 4–6-year-old age group. Building on previous conversations about the post-COVID landscape, Kylie explores what she…
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Episode 30- Why Your Child Doesn’t Need to Talk About Their Problems in Therapy
In this episode of The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie reflects on a milestone week - celebrating 10 years of child-centred play therapy practice - and shares exciting news about the first Play Therapy Circle Child-Centred Play Therapy Conference coming to Brisbane. Kylie then dives into a question…
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Episode 29- Kylie's Journey to Becoming a Play Therapist
This episode is a reflective, personal milestone celebration: Kylie marks 10 years of private practice in child-centered play therapy (with a shout-out to her team, Eva and Shaz) and shares her professional journey from studying psychology, working in child protection and NGOs, to contracting…
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Episode 28- What Is Child-Centred Play Therapy- And How Does It Help My Child?
What is Child-Centered Play Therapy and how can it help your child? In this episode, Kylie Ellison breaks down CCPT in a clear, parent-friendly way, addressing common questions like “Is it just play?”, “Will my child learn skills?”, and “How will I know it’s working?” Kylie explains how children...
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Episode 27- When doubting the effectiveness of CCPT slowly enters the Playroom: Staying true to our CCPT framework
In this episode, Kylie Ellison reflects on the real challenges of staying true to Child-Centred Play Therapy when doubt, silence, and pressure creep in. Drawing on her own practice and recent teaching, she explores why CCPT is more than a technique, it’s a way of being. Kylie normalises imposter...
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Episode 26- Returning to the Playroom: What Really Matters in the First Session Back
Welcome back to 2026! This episode offers a calm, grounded transition back into the playroom for 2026. We explore the “fresh start” myth, the pressure to return energised, confident, and immediately ‘on’, and why many of us actually come back needing time to recalibrate. This is a reminder that...
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Episode 25- Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Play Therapy Circle Team
In this final episode of 2025, Kylie Ellison reflects on the Play Therapy Circle podcast journey and offers sincere gratitude to the growing community of listeners. She acknowledges the emotional, often invisible work of child-centered play therapists and affirms the importance of showing up with...
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Episode 24- Christmas Special Part Two. 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas
In Part Two of 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas, Kylie speaks directly to child-centred play therapists navigating the emotional, physical, and relational load of the end-of-year period. Released during Christmas week, this episode is a compassionate reminder that...
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Episode 23- Christmas Special Part One. 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas
In this first part of a special two-part episode, Kylie Ellison reflects on the end-of-year intensity many play therapists and families experience and introduces 10 Things All Play Therapists Need to Know for Christmas. She explores how Christmas can amplify stress, grief, and dysregulation for...
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Episode 22- When You Feel Lost in CCPT - Trust Yourself, Trust the Child, Trust the Process
Kylie dedicates this episode to CCPT practitioners who feel lost, doubtful, or exhausted, especially at the end of the year. She normalises feelings of “Is this working?” and explains how they often come from caring deeply, holding a lot of grief for struggling families, and working within an...
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Episode 21-Imposter Syndrome in CCPT - Part Two
PART TWO from Hawaii! This episode reassures CCPT practitioners who worry they’re “not doing enough,” especially when children appear withdrawn, silent, or resistant in the playroom. It explains that meaningful therapeutic change occurs through presence, safety, and the non-directive…
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Episode 20- Imposter Syndrome in CCPT - Trusting the Process
Recorded in Hawaii! While on a much-needed break, Kylie explores a topic many CCPT practitioners struggle with—imposter syndrome. She discusses how self-doubt can arise at any stage of a therapist’s journey, from early skill development to managing stakeholder expectations, and highlights how...
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Episode 19- Self Care for Play Therapists
In this episode we tackle therapist burn out and ensuring you are taking care of yourself - not just others! Kylie reflects honestly on her own exhaustion and lack of breaks this year to open a conversation about self-care (or “how you’re really doing”) as a play therapist. She highlights the...
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Episode 18- The Pandemic Ripple Effect. How CCPT Supports Children who are Beginning School
In this episode, Kylie discusses the “pandemic ripple effect” on 4–6-year-olds, exploring why so many children are now presenting with heightened anxiety and separation anxiety as they start school. We unpack emerging research and Australian census data showing declines in social competence and...
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Episode 17- Communicating Progress to Parents Without Breaking Confidentiality
In this episode, Kylie explores the delicate balance of communicating updates to parents and carers while maintaining the confidentiality and trust central to Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT). She discusses why this process can feel challenging, even for experienced practitioners, and offers...
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Episode 16- Conducting Parent/ Carer Consultations Part Two
In this episode, Kylie outlines how to structure ongoing parent/carer consultations in three parts: reviewing progress, sharing playroom insights, and planning next steps. Every 4–6 weeks, she meets with parents to reflect on their child’s growth, revisit goals, and adjust support where needed....
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Episode 15- Conducting Parent/ Carer Consultations in CCPT Part One
The episode dives into the essentials of conducting initial parent consultations in Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) — from building authentic rapport and exploring formative history, to gathering insights on school, health, and family systems. Kylie offers practical guidance for beginning...
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Episode 14- The Parent-Therapist Relationship in CCPT
In this episode, Kylie explores how trust, empathy, and authentic connection with parents and caregivers are essential for children’s therapeutic progress, especially amid today’s complex family challenges. She also reminds play therapists to offer themselves the same compassion they give to...
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Episode 13 - Stages of the Therapeutic Process in CCPT
In this episode, Kylie Ellison takes us through one of the foundational frameworks of Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT), the stages of the therapeutic process, exploratory, aggressive, regressive, and mastery. She unpacks what each stage looks like in the playroom, how to recognise progress, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosted by therapist and trainer Kylie Ellison, this podcast explores the heart of Child-Centred Play Therapy and the healing power of play. Each episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical insights for play therapists, students, and caregivers supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.✨ Join the community: https://mailchi.mp/playtherapycircle.com/play-therapy-circle✨ Podcast subscriptions: https://kylieellison.com.au/ptcsub
HOSTED BY
Kylie Ellison
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Play Therapy Circle have?
The Play Therapy Circle currently has 62 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Play Therapy Circle about?
Hosted by therapist and trainer Kylie Ellison, this podcast explores the heart of Child-Centred Play Therapy and the healing power of play. Each episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical insights for play therapists, students, and caregivers supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.✨...
How often does The Play Therapy Circle release new episodes?
The Play Therapy Circle has 62 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Play Therapy Circle?
You can listen to The Play Therapy Circle on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Play Therapy Circle?
The Play Therapy Circle is created and hosted by Kylie Ellison.
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