Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) gives children the safety and freedom they need to heal, but many play therapists discover that some clients do not progress as expected.
Trauma, developmental factors, or internal chaos can make it difficult for a child to engage in spontaneous play, leaving the therapist unsure of what to do next. Staying “pure” CCPT can feel rigid in these moments, yet moving to directive work without a plan can also feel risky.
This training walks you through how to recognize the signs that a child needs more structure or support, and how to make small, thoughtful shifts in your approach without abandoning the principles of CCPT. You will learn how to:
☀️ Notice when CCPT is no longer meeting the client’s needs and why.
☀️ Introduce directive strategies in ways that respect the child’s autonomy and therapeutic relationship.
☀️ Provide gentle nudges when imagination is present but hard to access because of trauma or dysregulation.
☀️ Adjust your playroom setup and your responses to allow flexibility rather than rigidity.
Through reflective activities and practical tools, you will leave with a roadmap for blending CCPT and directive interventions so that your sessions remain effective, ethical, and attuned to each unique child.
On-Demand Format: Video Recorded Class
Self Paced Therapist Training
4 Non-Contact APT CEs
4 NBCC CEs (On-Demand)
$99
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
🍎 Explain the core principles of Child-Centered Play Therapy and the clinical risks of remaining overly rigid or “pure” when client needs shift.
🍎 Identify observable signs that a child’s play is stalled or dysregulated due to trauma, developmental factors, or internal chaos.
🍎 Analyze therapeutic indicators to determine when CCPT alone is no longer effective and a more directive approach may be warranted.
🍎 Describe how to introduce directive interventions in ways that maintain the child’s autonomy, safety, and therapeutic relationship.
🍎 Demonstrate small, practical changes in playroom setup and therapist responses that increase flexibility without abandoning CCPT principles.
🍎 Evaluate personal tendencies toward rigidity or overuse of either CCPT or directive methods and develop a plan for more adaptable practice.
Continuing Education Credit
This course is designed to meet APT and NBCC standards for professional continuing education. It provides 4 non-contact continuing education hours (if viewed on-demand) in the area of Seminal Theories / Skills & Methods.
Materials Needed
Please have paper, markers, crayons, or other creative tools available to participate fully in the experiential activities included in this course.
☀️ Play therapists new to Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
☀️ Play therapists interested in ways to incorporate directive strategies when CCPT doesn't feel enough
☀️ Play therapists wanting to strengthen their own intuition in the play room and be more child centered
Content aligns with Child-Centered Play Therapy competencies and covers ethical and practical considerations for integrating directive interventions. Participants will complete interactive learning activities, reflection prompts, and a post-training evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.