In this episode of Restoring Us, Melanie and Kevin talk about why working with kids can be so meaningful and how child therapy often helps the whole family system.

Episode Chapters

12:56 - Play as a natural healing process

18:13 - What parents should expect from child-centered play therapy

25:51 - The three main goals of child-centered therapy sessions

31:17 - The phases of play therapy and what families may notice over time

38:40 - How therapists make sense of play and bring meaning back to parents

42:52 - The closing challenge: 30 to 45 minutes of child-led play

Recommended Resources

• You’re on Fire, It’s Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens with Self-Destructive Behaviors (Katie K. May)
• Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to be (Dr. Becky Kennedy)
• Child Therapy is Family Therapy (Melanie Freeland, LPC)

Note: Books mentioned in this episode contain affiliate links to Bookshop.org. Purchases made through these links support the podcast and independent bookstores!

Learn more about us at www.restoretherapycollective.com

Follow us on Instagram: @restoretherapycollective

Connect with the Hosts

• Melanie Freeland - Website | Psychology Today
• Kevin Dykstra - Website | Psychology Today

Restoring Us is a space to slow down, take a breath, and explore topics related to mental health, therapy, and self-care. In each episode, therapists with Restore Therapy Collective in Grand Rapids, Michigan, explore ways to restore yourself and your relationships. Whether you're navigating a tough chapter, looking to understand how you function in the world, or just need a reminder that you're not alone - you are welcome here.

Please follow us here as well as on our Instagram @restoretherapycollective. You can find out more about our practice at www.restoretherapycollective.com.

Music Attribution: 2.22.2026 - 3 guitars, uplifting buildup by RhysTemple54 -- https://freesound.org/s/846011/ -- License: Creative Commons 0