366 | CCPT Gamechangers: Why 'You Wanted Me to Know' Isn't Truly Child-Centered

In this episode of the CCPT Game Changers series, I take a close look at a group of phrases I hear frequently in play sessions, such as "You wanted me to know…", "You wanted to tell me…", or "You wanted to show me…". While these statements may seem harmless, I explain how they subtly shift the focus away from the child and toward the therapist, which undermines true child-centeredness. Even small language choices matter when our goal is for the child to feel fully seen, heard, and understood.

I break down why simply tracking behavior, reflecting content, and reflecting feelings—without inserting ourselves into the response—keeps the child at the center of the relationship. This episode is about refining awareness, not calling out mistakes. With a few intentional language adjustments, we can strengthen attunement, preserve the therapeutic relationship, and more clearly communicate the core CCPT message: the child is the focus, the child is in charge, and the process can be trusted.

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Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.