In this episode, I continue our summer school series on essential principles for effective play therapists. We explore two key principles from Garry Landreth's "Innovations in Play Therapy":

1. Being sensitive to the child's feelings and reflecting them to foster self-understanding.

2. Believing deeply in the child's ability to act responsibly and solve personal problems.

I discuss how these principles align with core child-centered play therapy skills, including reflecting feelings and returning responsibility to the child. We delve into the importance of serving as a bridge between a child's emotions and cognition, and the value of trusting in a child's innate drive towards growth. Throughout the episode, I emphasize the rewarding nature of this work and encourage fellow therapists to embrace the challenges of child-centered play therapy.

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Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.