S3E40 - The Roller Coaster of Child Counseling Progress

Play Therapy Parenting: Real Parenting Questions Answered by a Child Therapist · Apr 24, 2026 · 13m · transcript

In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I explain why a child's growth and healing process is not linear, even though we often expect it to be. As adults, we tend to think in straight lines—progress should move steadily forward. But children don't think or process that way. As they work through emotions and experiences, their path looks much more like a roller coaster, with twists, turns, and moments that feel like they're going backward. What can feel confusing or discouraging is often a normal part of how children process and grow.

I walk through how to reframe…