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 therapist

If you care about ethical, developmentally grounded practice — this episode belongs in your queue.

Follow for research-informed play therapy education and parent support.

Returning responsibility, part 2. We delve deeper into the skill of Returning Responsibility- HOW. Kristie and Maggie share real-life experiences from their play therapy spaces and life with kiddos! Enjoy

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

In this episode, Kristie and Maggie break down the what and why of returning responsibility from CCPT perspectives. Listen in to gain a better understanding of how this skill assists children's development of an internal locus of control and increases self-esteem. We hope you enjoy!

🧠✨ New Episode of Playful Beginnings ✨🧠

Executive Functioning Meets Child-Centered Play Therapy

Ever 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 teachers

This 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 control

When 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 Them

The 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 urgency

If 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 Kids

Executive 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 ground

If 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