435 | When a Child Cheats Because They Have to Win: What's Really Happening in the Playroom?

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy · Sep 17, 2026 · 11m · transcript

In this episode, I answer a question about an 8-year-old who loves playing games but will do almost anything to make sure he wins—including cheating, changing the rules, and creating games where the outcome is stacked in his favor. When he does lose, he becomes angry, shuts down, or refuses to continue. I explain why our goal in CCPT is not to teach a child that losing is okay. That subtle shift gives us a therapist agenda. Instead, the therapeutic goal is for the child to eventually discover that even though losing may feel awful, he can handle it.

I also explore what may be underneath the…