What to Expect from Child-Centered Play Therapy: A Guide for Parents

If your child has been recommended for Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), you may have questions about what to expect. Unlike traditional talk therapy, play therapy allows children to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through play—their natural language.

Child-Centered Play Therapy is a non-directive approach, meaning that rather than telling a child what to talk about or how to behave, the therapist provides a safe, accepting space where the child can explore and resolve challenges at their own pace. Through this process, children learn to tolerate limits, manage big emotions like frustration and delayed gratification, and build confidence in solving problems they identify as important.

What Happens in Play Therapy?

A typical course of Child-Centered Play Therapy consists of 15–20 sessions, though every child progresses at their own pace. Here’s what you can expect:

🔹 The First Few Sessions (Building Trust & Safety) – The therapist creates a warm, accepting environment where your child feels comfortable and in control of their play. There is no pressure to talk about problems—children lead the process.

🔹 Middle Sessions (Emotional Exploration & Skill Building) – As trust builds, children begin to express their struggles through play. They may act out experiences, test limits, or explore new ways of handling emotions. Parents may notice temporary regression in behaviors as children work through big feelings—this is a normal and important part of the process.

🔹 Later Sessions (Resolution & Growth) – Children begin to internalize coping strategies, build self-regulation skills, and show increased confidence in problem-solving. As they gain emotional mastery, play themes often shift, and the need for therapy decreases.

What Parents Should Know

✅ Children Determine What’s Important to Work On – Play therapy focuses on what the child perceives as a problem, which may not always match what parents see as the issue. However, by allowing children to process emotions at their own pace, lasting growth occurs.

✅ Therapists Set Limits, But Only When Necessary – Part of the therapy process includes learning to tolerate frustration and understand boundaries, but this is done in a way that supports emotional regulation rather than imposing strict rules.

✅ We Do NOT Ask Children to Clean Up Their Play – Unlike structured activities at home or school, cleaning up in play therapy would be akin to asking an adult to forget what they spoke about in session. Play is the child’s language, and every toy or movement holds meaning. By allowing children to leave things as they are, the therapist can track progress and understand emotional themes over time.

✅ Parents Won’t Receive Updates After Every Session – To protect the therapy process and the child’s trust, therapists do not provide session-by-session reports. However, check-ins are scheduled every few weeks or upon request to discuss progress and answer questions.

Supporting Your Child Through the Process

While it may feel challenging to step back and allow your child to lead the process, trusting the therapy and being patient are key. Some children show immediate progress, while others may temporarily regress before improving—this is normal and a sign that deep emotional work is happening.

If you have questions or concerns along the way, your therapist is always available to collaborate and provide guidance. By creating a safe space for your child to explore emotions and build resilience, Child-Centered Play Therapy helps them develop the confidence and emotional skills needed for lifelong success.