383 | The Parent Factor in CCPT: Can a Child Fully Heal If the Parent Doesn't Change?

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy · Mar 19, 2026 · 14m

In this episode, I answer a question about how a parent's own anxiety, stress, or perfectionism impacts a child's progress in play therapy. I talk through the reality that while children often absorb what they are around, their growth in CCPT is not dependent on their parent "fixing" themselves first. The child will continue to move toward self-actualization through the relationship and the playroom, even when the environment isn't ideal.

At the same time, I offer an important perspective on the role of the parent in that process. I explain why we have to be very intentional in how we work…