445 | When Sexualized Play Challenges Your CCPT Adherence

In this episode, I answer a question about a seven-year-old girl whose play has become increasingly focused on romantic relationships and sexual themes. When a child begins acting out kissing, adult relationships, or other behaviors that make us uncomfortable, how do we respond while remaining faithful to the CCPT model? I explain why children sometimes use play to process things they've been exposed to but aren't developmentally equipped to understand. Rather than assuming something inappropriate has happened or trying to interpret the play, we need to recognize that the child is bringing this into the therapeutic relationship for a reason. If the behavior doesn't warrant a limit based on safety or protecting property, our responsibility is to allow the play to continue.

I also explore what happens when our own discomfort begins influencing our clinical decisions. In this case, the therapist acknowledged that she became uncomfortable, set an unnecessary limit, and ultimately redirected the child's play. I explain why these moments are opportunities for self-examination rather than self-criticism. What was happening internally that made it difficult to remain accepting? Why did we feel compelled to intervene? CCPT requires us to continually examine our own reactions so they don't interfere with the child's process. We don't have to understand, enjoy, or feel comfortable with everything that happens in the playroom. We do have to trust the child, trust the model, and remain committed to unconditional acceptance—even when the play challenges us.

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2nd Annual CCPT: The Field of Dreams Conference January 30-31st, 2027. Go to iamccpt.live for more information.

New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping).

Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only.

Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve.

If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.

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APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com

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. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948

Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.