423 | What If a Child Tells You to Stop Talking?

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy · Aug 5, 2026 · 12m · transcript

In this episode, I answer a question about one of the most uncomfortable moments a child-centered play therapist can experience: when a child tells you to stop talking because your reflections are "annoying." I explain why these moments are often signs of therapeutic progress rather than therapist failure. As children become more vulnerable, our reflections bring subconscious emotions into conscious awareness, and that can feel threatening. I discuss why resistance can emerge in any phase of therapy, how power and control often serve as protection against vulnerability, and why we should view…