287 | "You Be the Baby!" — What to Do When Kids Assign You Roles — Staying Child-Centered During Dramatic Play

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy · Apr 2, 2025 · 19m

In this episode, I answer a question from Laura, a grad student in Canada who's navigating how to stay fully adherent to the CCPT model during dramatic play—especially when a child assigns her a role and expects her to act it out. I walk through how we maintain a reflective stance even in highly structured, imaginative play by using techniques like whispering, wondering, and deflecting responsibility back to the child.

I also share how to handle situations when children try to reverse roles or assign the therapist decision-making power. These moments are rich with therapeutic potential—but…