Playful Beginnings

Play Heals and Helps Kids Thrive in School! 🧸📈When people think of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), they usually think about emotional regulation, trauma healing, and behavioral growth. But did you know it also has a massive, evidence-based impact on academic achievement?On this week’s episode of Playful Beginnings, we are thrilled to sit down with the incredible Dr. PJ Blanco to talk about his groundbreaking research on school-based play therapy! 🎒✨Dr. Blanco’s work bridges the gap between clinical mental health and classroom success. He shares the fascinating data behind how providing children with a safe, non-directive play environment actually unlocks their capacity to learn, focus, and thrive academically.In this episode, we explore:The Research Breakdown: Dr. Blanco dives into his studies showing statistically significant increases in academic achievement scores for children who receive CCPT.The Intrinsic Motivation Factor: How play therapy serves as a protective shield, fostering a child's internal drive to learn and self-regulate, even when facing performance anxiety.Why Traditional Academic Interventions Aren't Enough: Why focusing only on tutoring or drills misses the emotional roadblocks that keep kids from reaching their full potential.Advocating in the School System: Practical ways play therapists and school counselors can use this powerful data to advocate for play therapy clinics and funding within school districts.If you’ve ever needed the hard data to prove to an administrator, school board, or parent that play is serious work, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for! 📊💡🎧 Tune in now! Search Playful Beginnings on your favorite podcast app or click the link in our bio to listen to our conversation with Dr. Blanco.#PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #CCPT #PlayTherapyResearch #AcademicAchievement #SchoolCounseling #EvidenceBasedPractice #PlayHeals #SchoolMentalHealth #ChildCenteredThis Research Spotlight with Dr. Pedro J. Blanco features the guest discussing how school-based play therapy serves as a protective factor for children's intrinsic motivation and academic success.

Working with kids in a school setting is a whole different ballgame. Between the ringing bells, packed schedules, and the pressure of academic demands, finding the space and time to truly connect with a child can feel like a jigsaw puzzle.In this week’s episode of Playful Beginnings, we are breaking down practical, real-world tips and tricks for working with kids within the school system! 🧩✨Whether you are a school counselor, a play therapist splitting time between sites, or an educator looking to bring a more playful, child-centered lens into your day, this episode is packed with actionable insights.What we’re diving into:The "Time-Crunch" Strategy: How to maximize short, 20-to-30-minute sessions without making the child feel rushed.Creative Space-Saving: No dedicated playroom? No problem. We talk about how to build a mobile "play kit" that brings the therapeutic power of play to any empty office or corner.Speaking the Language of the School: Tips on how to collaborate with teachers and administrators effectively, bridging the gap between clinical needs and classroom realities.Protecting the Relationship: Navigating the unique dual-role pressures of school settings while maintaining a safe, child-centered environment.You don't need a massive, fully stocked playroom to make a massive impact. Sometimes, the most powerful tool you can bring into a school building is your own grounded, playful presence. 🧸💛🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform! Search Playful Beginnings or click the link in our bio to tune in.#PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #SchoolCounseling #PlayTherapy #SchoolMentalHealth #ChildCentered #SchoolSocialWork #PlayTherapyInSchools #CounselorLife #SupportingKids

In this episode, we pivot to a topic that touches almost every practitioner: Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) in schools. Whether you are a full-time school counselor or a private practitioner connecting for an IEP meeting, the school environment brings a unique set of dynamics and challenges.Join Dr. Christie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker as they share their diverse experiences working within public, private, charter, and Montessori settings. We dive into the practical (and sometimes frustrating) realities of setting up a therapeutic space within a school, including:The "Banned" Toy List: How to navigate school policies that restrict aggressive toys like toy guns or knives.Creative Adaptation: How Christie convinced a principal to keep the bop bag and why she added a hair dryer to the playroom.The Clinical Impact: Why limiting materials can make it harder—and take longer—for children to play out real-world threats and social justice issues they experience.Portable Play: Tips for using portable play kits when a dedicated room isn't an option.Listen now to learn how to advocate for the "magic" of play therapy within the constraints of the school system!

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Dr. Lisa Rice joins the show to challenge traditional behavioral approaches to special education. As an accomplished researcher in inclusive education and the co-host of the On Her Side podcast, Dr. Rice discusses the critical importance of a "relational plate" when working with autistic children in school systems. The conversation delves into the "conflict cycle" between adults and children, the often-overlooked emotional needs of teachers, and how we can design school environments that accommodate neurodivergent needs rather than demanding compliance.Key Discussion PointsThe "Relational Plate" PhilosophyMoving beyond ABA as the "only answer" for behavior.Prioritizing connection and relationship as the foundation for all other interventions.The importance of self-reflection: Asking, "Is this about my need for control or the student's need for support?".Navigating Power Struggles in the ClassroomUnderstanding the Conflict Cycle: How adult responses dictate whether a situation escalates or de-escalates.The pitfalls of forced apologies and why modeling repair is more effective than demanding it.Rethinking "compliance" and "respect" in the context of neurodiversity.Supporting the Supporters: Teacher WellnessThe high rates of teacher burnout and assault in the modern classroom.Why teachers need safe spaces—away from administration—to process emotional challenges.The success of trial programs that provide direct emotional support to educators.The Social Model of DisabilityShifting the focus from "fixing" the child to fixing the environment.Practical changes: Addressing sensory triggers like fluorescent lights, loud bells, and fire drills.The importance of involving autistic individuals in the development of research and educational practices.

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Dr. Maggie Parker and Dr. Kristie Opiola sit down with Dr. Elisabeth Rice, an Associate Professor at George Washington University and co-host of the On Her Side podcast. The conversation explores the nuanced and often overlooked presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in girls. Dr. Rice discusses how traditional diagnostic criteria, largely based on male presentations, have led to a "lost generation" of women and girls who go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.The episode delves into the concept of "masking"—the exhausting social mimicking girls use to blend in—and the internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, that often lead them to clinical settings before an ASD diagnosis is ever considered. Dr. Rice emphasizes the importance of neuro-affirming practices, moving away from "fixing" behaviors and toward understanding the internal experience and sensory needs of the child.

Often, therapists are pressured to focus solely on behavioral outcomes. But Dr. Regine Chung’s research shows us that when we provide a truly Child-Centered environment, non-verbal children don’t just 'behave'—they thrive.Dr. Chung joins us to share her longitudinal findings, providing the clinical community with the data needed to advocate for relational, neurodiversity-affirming care.Key Takeaways:How CCPT facilitates autonomy in non-verbal children.Making sense of the research: What the numbers actually tell us.How to stand firm in your CCPT roots while serving the ASD community.Follow @playtherapyspace for more research-backed insights and advocacy tools!🚀 Share this with a colleague who is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practice!"

Stop choosing between "compliance" and "connection." 🧩 Can Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) actually work for non-verbal children with Autism? Dr. Regine Chung says YES—and she has the data to prove it.If you’ve ever felt like your playroom wasn't "set up right" for neurodivergent clients, or feared that making adaptations would "ruin" the Child-Centered model, this episode is your roadmap.In this deep dive, CCPT expert Dr. Regine Chung joins us to discuss her longitudinal study on non-verbal autistic children. We move past the theory and get into the practical "how-to" of inclusive play therapy.Inside this episode, we cover:🛠 Room Setup: The specific environmental shifts that lower anxiety for ASD children.📈 The Evidence: Why CCPT is a powerful, evidence-based alternative to strictly behavioral models.🤝 The "Adaptation Myth": How to stay 100% Child-Centered while meeting sensory and developmental needs.🗣 Non-Verbal Communication: How to attune to a child who doesn't use spoken language.

Caring for the whole child means seeing beyond a diagnosis. 🌈How does Child-Centered Play Therapy align with the needs of autistic children? It starts by recognizing that play is the universal language of childhood—regardless of neurotype. In this episode, Dr. Kristie Opiola and I sit down with Dr. Regine Chung to discuss:Moving from a 'deficit' model to a 'strength-based' approach.The role of the therapist as a regulated, empathetic witness.Why the freedom of the playroom is essential for self-advocacy.Potential adaptations or things to consider in the playroom If you’re a teacher, counselor, play therapist, or caregiver looking to deepen your support for neurodivergent kiddos, this episode is for you.🔗 Link in bio to listen! #WholeChild #InclusiveEducation #PlayTherapySpace #ChildMentalHealth"

What if Child-Centered Play Therapy wasn't just compatible with autism — but was, at its core, designed for it?In this episode, Dr. Christie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker explore the profound alignment between CCPT and the needs of autistic children. Not as a conversation about modifying or adapting the approach — but as an argument that Carl Rogers' six core conditions already speak directly to what autistic children need most: a relationship that meets them exactly where they are, without asking them to be different.They explore what the core conditions look like through an ASD lens, what autistic play communicates in the playroom, how anxiety and ASD intersect, and what this work demands of the therapist's own self-awareness and regulation. They also speak directly to parents — offering a new language for understanding their child that goes beyond deficits, diagnoses, and checklists.Because in the CCPT playroom, a child who lines up every toy, scripts the same scene again, or plays with their back turned isn't doing it wrong.They're finally doing it their way.🎧 Playful Beginnings — available wherever you listen to podcasts.

You asked, we listened. You want to know about how to work with parents and make the links between diagnosis/presenting concerns and child centered play therapy. Listen in to this week's episode of Playful Beginnings for a greater understanding of childhood anxiety, how it shows up in the playroom, and bridging the gap with parents. #playtherapy #childcenteredplaytherapy #CCPT #childcenterede #playtherapyworks #playtherapytraining

Anxiety in kids isn't always fear—sometimes it's rigid play or outbursts. 🌪️ Dr. Hayley Stulmaker joins the Playful Beginnings Podcast to explain how Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) helps kiddos process anxiety.Listen here: [Link] 🚀 #PlayTherapy #ChildhoodAnxiety #ParentingTips

Often, we miss the signs because they don't look like what we expect. In the latest episode of the Playful Beginnings Podcast, we break down how gender differences shape anxiety behaviors in kiddos—and how you can spot them early. 🎧 Click the link to listen and subscribe for more insights!

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker shift the spotlight to one of the most common—yet frequently misunderstood—experiences in childhood: Anxiety.While anxiety is a universal human emotion, it wears many different "masks" in the playroom and at home. This episode explores the nuance of the anxious child, moving beyond the stereotype of the "worried kid" to look at the physiological and developmental realities of a child in a state of alarm.The Developmental Spectrum of AnxietyThe hosts break down how anxiety evolves as a child grows. Understanding these developmental markers helps parents and therapists distinguish between "typical" growth-related fears and anxiety that requires therapeutic intervention.

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we delve deeper into ADHD and CCPT with expert Amy Work. Amy examines how ADHD can show up in the playroom, the symptoms and characteristics of ADHD, and how to support children and parents using CCPT. It is important to remember that there is no "hard and fast" rule- that with CCPT and children, there is always fluidity- so these are things to look for and examine!

How do CCPT therapists support regulation, attention, and emotional growth without turning therapy into behavior management?In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we’re joined by ADHD expert and Child-Centered Play Therapy clinician Amy Work for a rich, practice-informed conversation on how CCPT aligns naturally with the nervous system needs of children who present with or are diagnosed with ADHD.Together, we explore: ✔️ How ADHD shows up in play, relationships, and regulation ✔️ What therapists often misinterpret as “noncompliance” or “disruption” in the playroom ✔️ How CCPT supports impulse control, emotional regulation, and executive functioning through safety and relationship ✔️ Practical ways Amy structures the playroom while preserving child-led fidelity ✔️ How to partner with parents when ADHD is part of the clinical picture ✔️ Common pitfalls clinicians encounter when working with highly active, sensory-seeking, or impulsive childrenWhether you’re a play therapist, parent, educator, or mental health professional, this episode offers grounded clinical insight and real-world application for supporting neurodivergent children in ways that build long-term resilience — not just short-term compliance.🎧 Tune in, follow Playful Beginnings, and join us as we continue bridging development, neuroscience, and the healing power of play.

ADHD is often treated as a compliance problem rather than a nervous system and executive functioning difference.In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we examine: • Core ADHD symptom presentation across development • Regulation, impulse control, working memory, and emotional modulation • Why behavior-based interventions alone frequently plateau • How Child-Centered Play Therapy supports intrinsic regulation, agency, and attachment security • Clinical implications for treatment planning and parent consultationThis episode is ideal for play therapists, clinicians, educators, and supervisors seeking developmentally responsive, evidence-aligned intervention strategies.🎧 Now streaming. Follow Playful Beginnings for clinically grounded conversations that elevate the field.#PlayTherapy #ADHDTreatment #ClinicalSupervision #ChildPsychotherapy #DevelopmentalNeuroscience #MentalHealthProfessionals

Are you missing the subtle signs of ADHD in your home or classroom? ADHD is often misunderstood- we hear about it all the time, but what is it actually? In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Kristie and Maggie delve into what ADHD looks like in children. It's more than just "can't sit still." And often, boys and girls demonstrate ADHD differently.Tune in as we outline the core symptoms you may be overlooking. This episode is great for parents, teachers, and play therapists. Understand the why behind the wiring, and change the how of your response.Tune in for future episodes on strategies to support children with ADHD

Parents often ask: “What does this diagnosis actually mean for my child?”Play therapists often ask: “How do I explain diagnosis without labeling, limiting, or pathologizing the child?”In this episode, we explore: • What diagnosis is (and isn’t) in child mental health • How CCPT conceptualizes the whole child beyond symptoms • How therapists can guide parents into developmentally informed conversations • How parents can collaborate effectively with their child’s therapistIf you care about ethical, developmentally grounded practice — this episode belongs in your queue.Follow for research-informed play therapy education and parent support.

When we talk about diagnosis in children, it’s easy to feel like we’re "boxing them in." But at PlayTherapySpace, we view diagnosis through a different lens: The Child-Centered Perspective.A diagnosis isn’t a definition of who the child is—it’s a guide to how they experience the world. 🌍❤️Why it matters:It validates their struggle: It tells the child, "There is a reason why this feels hard for you, and it’s not your fault."It’s a roadmap for support: It helps us stop asking "Why are they doing this?" and start asking "What do they need right now?"It builds a bridge: It helps parents, teachers, and therapists speak the same language to support the child's unique nervous system.Want to dive deeper into the world of child-centered therapy? 🎧 Tune into our latest podcast episode: "Beyond the Label: Seeing the Child Behind the Diagnosis." 🔗 [Link in Bio to Listen & Follow!]#PlayTherapy #ChildMentalHealth #NeuroAffirming #ParentingTips #PlayTherapySpace #UnderstandingDiagnosis #ChildPsychology

🧠✨ New Episode of Playful Beginnings ✨🧠Executive Functioning Meets Child-Centered Play TherapyEver been asked, “But how does play therapy help with executive functioning?” This episode is for you.In our newest Playful Beginnings conversation, we break down how child-centered play therapy (CCPT) directly supports the development of executive functioning—without worksheets, rewards, or constant correction.We explore: • Why executive functioning is developmental, not motivational • How CCPT supports impulse control, flexibility, emotional regulation, and problem-solving • The role of co-regulation and relationship in building brain-based skills • How play therapists can clearly and confidently explain this work to parents and teachersThis episode is especially helpful for play therapists who want language that bridges neuroscience, development, and play therapy—so families and schools truly understand the why behind the work.🎧 Listen now and follow Playful Beginnings for thoughtful, research-informed conversations that honor children’s development and capacity for growth.#PlayfulBeginnings #PlayTherapy #ExecutiveFunctioning #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #Neurodevelopment #TherapistEducation #PlayIsDevelopment

Executive Functioning Isn’t About “Trying Harder.” It’s About Development.When children struggle with planning, impulse control, emotional regulation, or task completion, it’s easy to assume they’re being unmotivated or defiant. But executive functioning isn’t a skill children decide to use — it’s a set of brain-based capacities that develop over time and through relationships.From a developmental and child-centered lens, executive functioning grows through: • Co-regulation before self-regulation • Safe, attuned relationships • Play that allows for problem-solving, flexibility, and emotional expression • Adults who scaffold rather than controlWhen we expect executive functioning beyond a child’s developmental capacity, we create shame instead of skill. When we support it through connection, safety, and play, growth follows naturally.At Play Therapy Space, we view executive functioning not as a deficit to fix, but as a developmental process to nurture.✨ Regulation comes before reasoning. ✨ Relationship comes before expectation. ✨ Development always comes before demand.#PlayTherapy #ExecutiveFunctioning #ChildDevelopment #Neurodevelopment #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #ParentSupport #TherapistLife #PlayIsLearning #DevelopmentNotDiscipline

✨ New Episode of Playful Beginnings ✨How Children Experience the Holidays — and How Adults Can Support ThemThe holidays can be magical… and overwhelming. For children, big changes in routine, emotions, expectations, and stimulation can show up as joy and struggle.In this episode, we explore: 🎄 Why even “happy” holidays can be hard for kids 🎄 How children communicate overwhelm through behavior 🎄 What parents, teachers, and play therapists can do to support regulation and connection 🎄 How a child-centered play therapy lens helps us respond with empathy instead of urgencyIf you’ve ever wondered “Why is this so hard for my child right now?”—this episode is for you.🎧 Listen in, share with a fellow caregiver or educator, and follow along for more child-centered insights that support real-life moments.

🎙️ New Episode: Understanding Executive Functioning in KidsExecutive functioning isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the foundation of how children plan, organize, regulate emotions, shift between tasks, and make sense of their world.In this week’s Playful Beginnings, we break down what executive functioning really is, how it develops in early childhood, and why play therapists must understand these skills to truly meet children where they are.From impulse control to working memory to flexible thinking, we explore the brain-building that happens through PLAY — and how developmentally appropriate expectations can transform both the therapy room and the home.Whether you’re a play therapist, parent, or teacher, this episode will help you: ✨ Recognize what’s neurologically realistic for kids ✨ Understand how stress + trauma impact executive skills ✨ Use child-centered principles to support growth ✨ See play as the brain’s natural training groundIf you want to deepen your clinical wisdom and support kids more compassionately, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.🎧 Listen now on Playful Beginnings #PlayfulBeginnings #ExecutiveFunctioning #PlayTherapy #ChildDevelopment #CCPT #CPRT #ThePlayTherapySpace

🎙️ New Episode of Playful Beginnings! 🎉 This week, we’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Mary Bennett to explore how we can thoughtfully adapt Child–Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) and Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) for toddlers. 👶💛Toddlers learn, connect, and express themselves differently—and their play therapy should reflect that. Dr. Bennett walks us through how to meet toddlers right where they are with shorter sessions, simpler language, sensory-rich play, and extra co-regulation from caregivers and therapists.Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or play therapist, this episode offers practical guidance to help you support toddlers’ big emotions, growing brains, and emerging relationships through developmentally attuned play.A must-listen for anyone working with our smallest (and mightiest!) humans. ✨🧸#PlayfulBeginnings #PlayTherapy #CCPT #CPRT #ToddlerDevelopment #DrMaryBennett #EarlyChildhood #PlayfulParenting #TherapistsWhoPlay

🌟 New Episode Alert! 🌟 This week on Playful Beginnings, we’re joined by the incredible Dr. Mary Morrison Bennett to dive into the wonderfully messy, curious, magical world of toddlers. 👶💛We talk all things toddler development—from big feelings and tiny attention spans to the milestones that matter (and the ones that really don’t). Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or play therapist, this episode will help you reset expectations, understand what’s developmentally normal, and respond to toddlers with more confidence, compassion, and calm.Tune in for practical tips, developmental wisdom, and plenty of reassurance that your toddler is right on track, even on the hard days. ✨🎙️#PlayfulBeginnings #ToddlerDevelopment #MaryMorrisonBennett #PlayTherapy #EarlyChildhood #ParentingSupport #BigFeelingsLittleBodies

You did it! You kept trying! You are determined! Esteem building skills go a long way in the playroom. In this episode, delve into these responses, the how, why, and what from a CCPT perspective! Enjoy!

Join Kristie and Maggie as they celebrate Playful Beginning's first birthday. Kristie and Maggie share insights from the past year, their hopes for the future, and summarize the podcast over the past year!

WE did it! One year of episodes! Join Kristie and Maggie while they reflect on the past year and their plans for the future. We are so glad to share our love of play therapy with you and join the community of Child Centered Play Therapy! Here's to another year!

In this episode, Kristie and Maggie explore HOW they return responsibility, times that required pivoting slightly from the book, and the importance of always holding the relationship as the utmost important aspect of Child Centered Play Therapy.

Hello! We're back with a full version of the Returning Responsibility Episode. In this episode, Kristie and Maggie explore the what and why of returning responsibility for a Child Centered Perspective! Enjoy!

From a CCPT perspective, children have an innate capacity for growth and creativity. A key skill that assists children in developing an internal locus of control (belief in self and reliance on self rather than others for evaluation), can occur through a shift from praise to encouragement. This subtle shift can assist kids in developing grit, tenacity, and reliance on self over others. This is especially important to help people keep going when it is hard and to recognize their innate value!

In this episode, we break down the differences between encouragement vs. praise. This is a helpful episode for parents, teachers, and play therapists! It is a great reminder of the importance of encouraging the effort over praising the product to increase children's grit, perserverence, and buid their internal locus of control.

✨ New Episode Alert! ✨In this week’s Playful Beginnings, we’re diving deeper into one of the trickiest parts of play therapy: limit setting. 🎯We share real stories from our own practice — from facing the ultimate limits, to staying calm in the heat of the moment, to what it really looks like when theory meets practice. 💡🎙️ Tune in for insights, laughs, and reminders that you’re not alone in navigating those tough moments.➡️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!#PlayfulBeginnings #PlayTherapy #LimitSetting #ChildTherapy #TherapistLife

🚦Limits don’t have to feel limiting.We’ve talked about the what and the why of limit setting in play therapy… now it’s time for the HOW. 🎙️In this week’s episode of Play Therapy Space, Kristie & Maggie break down exactly how to set limits that stick—so kids can feel safe, understood, and empowered in the playroom (and beyond!).🎧 Tune in now and learn how to make limit setting work for you, not against you.#PlayTherapy #LimitSetting #ParentingTips #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #TherapistLife #Podcast

🎙️ New episode alert! 🚨 We’re diving into the what and why of limit setting in Child-Centered Play Therapy. 🌈✨ Learn how clear, consistent limits create safety, teach responsibility, and help kids express big feelings in healthy ways. 💛 #PlayTherapy #LimitSetting #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #ParentingTips #TherapistsInTraining

✨ 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 decisionsBig 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!

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 decisionsChoice 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.

✨ 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 sessionsThink 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 playroomThese 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.

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 playroomThese 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.

Do your kiddos sometimes feel out of control? Or do they move from one activity to the next? Do you struggle in maintaining calm and connection when there is chaos in the room? In this episode, Drs. Kristie and Maggie explore how kids can show up in the play therapy space and how they maintain their "be with" attitudes to ensure children feel safe, secure, and understood. Next week, we will explore examples of chaos and the skills we use to continue engaging authentically and therapeutically. Enjoy!

🎙️ New Episode: Supporting Grieving Children After the Texas Floods with Drs. Jenifer Balch, Kristie Opiola, and Maggie ParkerIn this powerful episode of Playful Beginnings, we come together in the wake of the devastating floods in Texas to talk about how children experience grief—and how parents, teachers, and communities can show up to support them.Dr. Jenifer Balch, an expert in grief and trauma, joins Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker to share insights into the ways children may express loss through behavior, play, and silence. Together, we explore the unique ways grief shows up in childhood and how adults can respond with presence, compassion, and developmentally appropriate care.From creating space for big feelings to offering consistent routines and emotional safety, this episode offers practical, heartfelt guidance for anyone walking alongside grieving children.Whether you're a caregiver, educator, or mental health professional, this conversation is a reminder: you don't have to fix grief—you just have to be willing to witness it.🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and playtherapyspace.com#ChildGrief #TexasFloods #SupportingChildren #PlayTherapy #GriefAndLoss #PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #MentalHealthSupport #CommunityCare #DrJeniferBalch #DrKristieOpiola #DrMaggieParker #PlayHealsAsk ChatGPT

🎙️ Episode 2 — Tech, Play, & Presence: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel AltvaterIn this episode of Playful Beginnings, we sit down with Dr. Rachel Altvater, licensed psychologist, registered play therapist supervisor, and leading voice on the integration of technology in child therapy.Dr. Altvater brings her signature clarity and compassion to a conversation about how modern therapists can thoughtfully incorporate technology into their work without losing the heart of play therapy. From virtual sandtrays to avatar-based interventions, we explore what’s possible when digital tools are used intentionally—and how therapists can still show up with presence and attunement in virtual spaces.💡 In this episode, we explore:The ethical and clinical considerations of using tech in play therapyHow to preserve core CCPT principles in a digital environmentStrategies for building connection and co-regulation onlineHow to manage screen fatigue—for both kids and therapistsThe difference between digitally replacing and digitally enhancing the therapeutic processWhether you're navigating telehealth, supporting digitally immersed children, or simply curious about how to hold space across a screen, this episode will ground you in what matters most: relationship, presence, and play.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.#PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #RachelAltvater #TechAndTherapy #PlayTherapyOnline #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #VirtualPlayroom #TherapistTools #MentalHealthForKids #PresenceOverPerfection

🎙️ New Episode Alert! We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Rachel Altvater to Playful Beginnings! 💛In this episode, we dive into the power of presence, play, and connection in the therapy room. Dr. Altvater brings her wisdom on integrating technology, co-regulation, and authentic attunement into work with children—and how therapists can show up fully, even when the work gets messy.Whether you’re a clinician, parent, or teacher, this one’s packed with insight you don’t want to miss.🎧 Available now wherever you listen to podcasts! 🔗 [Insert link here]#PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #DrRachelAltvater #PlayTherapy #ChildTherapy #TherapistCommunity #CoRegulation #TechAndTherapy #PresenceMatters #MentalHealthForKids

Do you sometimes feel caught off guard when parents report they do not want their kids to "just play" in therapy? Are you unsure how to respond? Do you struggle with wanting to defend yourself but not sure how to do so? In this episode, Kristie and Maggie answer a listener's question: What do I say when a parent shares they had a terrible experience in therapy because all the child did was play? We share personal experiences and insights from our practice, as well as how we work with students and supervisees, to help them respond effectively. Listen and enjoy!Find us at playtherapyspace.com

Are you a play therapist and a parent? Do you sometimes struggle being child-centered all the time? Or to see your kids from your child-centered perspective? In this episode, Maggie opens up about her struggles as a parent and the helpful ways Kristie shares how she helps Maggie reframe from a CCPT perspective.