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Playful Beginnings: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Maggie Parker and Kristie Opiola
Welcome to playful beginnings. Within this podcast, Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker explore the magic of play therapy, the why behind what we do, and how play therapy helps children heal and grow. This podcast is helpful for current play therapists, students and professionals interested in working with children or becoming play therapists, and anyone who is interested in creating transformative relationships with children. Parents and teachers can gain insights into what play therapy is, how it works, and why- helpful if they know children who could benefit from play therapy, and for those who are not sure if it would be helpful for the children in their lives. We are excited to share with you what we do and why we do it! Welcome to the magical world of play therapy!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago26 min
Child Centered Play Therapy and Internalizing Behaviors: With Dr. Jenna Taylor
Listen in to hear more from Dr. Jenna Taylor on children who experience internalizing behaviors. Dr. Taylor engaged in a large meta-analysis to better understand the effect of CCPT on children who experience anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, among others. Listen in to learn more about how to speak with parents and teachers about childhood depression and anxiety, how internalizing behaviors can present in the school setting and at home, and how CCPT can benefit!
- 3 weeks ago31 min
Childhood Depression: Symptoms to look out for and how CCPT can support
When we think of depression in adults, we picture sadness, withdrawal, and low energy. But in children, depression rarely looks like a miniature version of adult despair. Instead, it frequently masks itself as irritability, physical somatic complaints, or behavioral outbursts. In this episode, we break down the complex symptomology of childhood depression, discuss why these signs are so easily mislabeled by schools and parents, and explore how Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) offers children a safe, non-verbal space to process their internal world. Listen today to learn more. Up next we have Dr. Jenna Taylor who discusses how CCPT aligns with internalizing behaviors (aka depression).Don't forget to like and subscribe!
- Jun 30, 202643 min
Unlocking Potential—How Child-Centered Play Therapy Transforms School Experiences with Dr. Kristi Perryman
Episode 2: Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Kristi Perryman as we delve into the transformative power of Child-Centered Play Therapy in schools. Discover how this approach not only enhances the school experience but also nurtures emotional growth and resilience in children. Tune in to learn why play is more than just fun—it's a vital tool for development and understanding.
- Jun 22, 202635 min
🧸 Honoring a Legend: Remembering Dr. Garry Landreth 🕊️
"Toys are children's words and play is their language."It is with heavy hearts, but profound gratitude, that we dedicate this episode to the father of Child-Centered Play Therapy, Dr. Garry Landreth. The play therapy community lost a giant, but his legacy lives on in every playroom, every therapeutic relationship, and every child who has ever been truly seen and heard through the power of play.In this special tribute episode, we look back at the radical empathy, wisdom, and warmth Dr. Landreth brought to our field. He didn't just teach us a modality; he taught us a way of being with children—reminding us always to follow the child’s lead and trust their capacity for growth.🎙️ In This Episode, We Reflect On:The Heart of CCPT: How his foundational teachings transformed the landscape of child counseling and play therapy.His Timeless Wisdom: Revisiting the core principles that continue to guide our clinical practice and parenting every single day.Our Personal Reflections: What Dr. Landreth’s mentorship, books, and presence meant to us as clinicians, educators, and human beings.Dr. Landreth taught us that the most powerful thing we can offer a child is our complete, unconditional presence. We hope to honor that gift by continuing to share his message with clinicians, teachers, and parents everywhere.Thank you, Dr. Landreth, for teaching us how to listen with our hearts. You will be deeply missed, but your words will echo in playrooms forever. 🎒🧸🎧 Listen now: Click the link in our bio or search for Playful Beginnings wherever you get your podcasts.If you have a favorite memory, quote, or lesson from Dr. Landreth, please share it in the comments below. Let’s fill this space with the love and connection he so beautifully championed. 👇❤️#PlayTherapy #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #CCPT #GarryLandreth #PlayTherapists #MentalHealthMatters #PlayIsTheirLanguage #PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #CounselorEducation
- Jun 15, 202630 min
Healing in the Hallways: Bringing Play Therapy into Schools with Dr. Kristi Perryman
What happens when we meet children where they spend the majority of their lives—not in an isolated clinic, but right in the school building?In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Kristi Perryman, Director and Founder of the Office of Play Therapy Research and Training at the University of Arkansas and Chair-Elect for the national Association for Play Therapy (APT) Board. Long before she was a leading researcher and counselor educator, Dr. Perryman was on the front lines as a special education teacher, elementary school counselor, and middle school counselor. She lived the realities of the school system firsthand.Dr. Perryman shares the powerful story of what drove her from the classroom to the playroom, and how her early days in the schools shaped her passion for Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). We dive deep into:The "Why": The turning points in her early career that revealed a massive gap in how schools address emotional and trauma-related barriers to learning.The "How": Practical strategies for successfully advocating for, setting up, and integrating sustainable play therapy programs within public school systems.The Impact: How her landmark research proves that honoring a child's natural language—play—directly shifts behavioral, emotional, and even academic outcomes.Whether you are a school counselor trying to carve out a therapeutic space, a clinician looking to partner with local districts, or an educator wanting to understand the neuroscience of healing, Dr. Perryman’s journey provides a masterclass in systemic advocacy and deep compassion.
- May 4, 202618 min
Navigating CCPT in the School Space
In this episode, we pivot to a topic that touches almost every practitioner: Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) in schools. Whether you are a full-time school counselor or a private practitioner connecting for an IEP meeting, the school environment brings a unique set of dynamics and challenges.Join Dr. Christie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker as they share their diverse experiences working within public, private, charter, and Montessori settings. We dive into the practical (and sometimes frustrating) realities of setting up a therapeutic space within a school, including:The "Banned" Toy List: How to navigate school policies that restrict aggressive toys like toy guns or knives.Creative Adaptation: How Christie convinced a principal to keep the bop bag and why she added a hair dryer to the playroom.The Clinical Impact: Why limiting materials can make it harder—and take longer—for children to play out real-world threats and social justice issues they experience.Portable Play: Tips for using portable play kits when a dedicated room isn't an option.Listen now to learn how to advocate for the "magic" of play therapy within the constraints of the school system!
- Apr 13, 202614 min
It’s time to change the conversation around ASD and Play Therapy. 🗣️✨
Often, therapists are pressured to focus solely on behavioral outcomes. But Dr. Regine Chung’s research shows us that when we provide a truly Child-Centered environment, non-verbal children don’t just 'behave'—they thrive.Dr. Chung joins us to share her longitudinal findings, providing the clinical community with the data needed to advocate for relational, neurodiversity-affirming care.Key Takeaways:How CCPT facilitates autonomy in non-verbal children.Making sense of the research: What the numbers actually tell us.How to stand firm in your CCPT roots while serving the ASD community.Follow @playtherapyspace for more research-backed insights and advocacy tools!🚀 Share this with a colleague who is passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practice!"
- Apr 6, 202633 min
Child Centered Play Therapy and Autism: Room Considerations. Featuring Dr. Regine Chung
Stop choosing between "compliance" and "connection." 🧩 Can Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) actually work for non-verbal children with Autism? Dr. Regine Chung says YES—and she has the data to prove it.If you’ve ever felt like your playroom wasn't "set up right" for neurodivergent clients, or feared that making adaptations would "ruin" the Child-Centered model, this episode is your roadmap.In this deep dive, CCPT expert Dr. Regine Chung joins us to discuss her longitudinal study on non-verbal autistic children. We move past the theory and get into the practical "how-to" of inclusive play therapy.Inside this episode, we cover:🛠 Room Setup: The specific environmental shifts that lower anxiety for ASD children.📈 The Evidence: Why CCPT is a powerful, evidence-based alternative to strictly behavioral models.🤝 The "Adaptation Myth": How to stay 100% Child-Centered while meeting sensory and developmental needs.🗣 Non-Verbal Communication: How to attune to a child who doesn't use spoken language.
About Playful Beginnings
Welcome to playful beginnings. Within this podcast, Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker explore the magic of play therapy, the why behind what we do, and how play therapy helps children heal and grow. This podcast is helpful for current play therapists, students and professionals interested in working with children or becoming play therapists, and anyone who is interested in creating transformative relationships with children. Parents and teachers can gain insights into what play therapy is, how it works, and why- helpful if they know children who could benefit from play therapy, and for those who are not sure if it would be helpful for the children in their lives. We are excited to share with you what we do and why we do it! Welcome to the magical world of play therapy!
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