The Play Therapy Circle
Episodes
Episode 36- Holding Hope | Play Therapists in Times of Global Uncertainty
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Holding Hope in the Playroom | Play Therapy CircleIn one of her most personal episodes yet, host Kylie Ellison pauses to name what so many play therap...
FLASHBACK EPISODE - #7 Understanding the Child's World Through Play
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
🎙️ FLASHBACK EPISODE — Episode 7: Understanding the Child's World Through PlayPlay is children's universal language — and once you un...
Episode 35- What Happens in the Brain During Play Therapy
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why does play therapy work? And what actually happens in a child’s brain during a play therapy session?In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle Po...
Episode 34- The Children Who Grow Us: How the playroom shapes the CCPT therapist.
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle Podcast, Kylie explores how child-centred play therapy doesn’t just transform the children we work with, ...
Episode 33- Behaviour is the Messenger - Listening Beyond What We See
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartfelt episode, Kylie explores one of the core truths of child-centred play therapy: all behaviour is communication.When children can’t p...
Episode 32- They're Just Playing! What's Really Happening in the Playroom
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie Ellison tackles a common (and often frustrating) misunderstanding: “Isn’t it just play?”. Kylie open...
Episode 31- Navigating Endings in CCPT
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie reflects on what she’s witnessing in clinical practice right now, a significant rise in anxiety presentations among young chi...
Episode 30- Why Your Child Doesn’t Need to Talk About Their Problems in Therapy
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie reflects on a milestone week - celebrating 10 years of child-centred play therapy practice - and sha...
Episode 29- Kylie's Journey to Becoming a Play Therapist
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a reflective, personal milestone celebration: Kylie marks 10 years of private practice in child-centered play therapy (with a shout-ou...
Episode 28- What Is Child-Centred Play Therapy- And How Does It Help My Child?
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What is Child-Centered Play Therapy and how can it help your child? In this episode, Kylie Ellison breaks down CCPT in a clear, parent-friendly way, a...
Episode 27- When doubting the effectiveness of CCPT slowly enters the Playroom: Staying true to our CCPT framework
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie Ellison reflects on the real challenges of staying true to Child-Centred Play Therapy when doubt, silence, and pressure creep i...
Episode 26- Returning to the Playroom: What Really Matters in the First Session Back
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to 2026! This episode offers a calm, grounded transition back into the playroom for 2026. We explore the “fresh start” myth, the pres...
Episode 25- Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Play Therapy Circle Team
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode of 2025, Kylie Ellison reflects on the Play Therapy Circle podcast journey and offers sincere gratitude to the growing community...
Episode 24- Christmas Special Part Two. 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Part Two of 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas, Kylie speaks directly to child-centred play therapists navigating the emotio...
Episode 23- Christmas Special Part One. 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this first part of a special two-part episode, Kylie Ellison reflects on the end-of-year intensity many play therapists and families experience and...
Episode 22- When You Feel Lost in CCPT - Trust Yourself, Trust the Child, Trust the Process
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kylie dedicates this episode to CCPT practitioners who feel lost, doubtful, or exhausted, especially at the end of the year. She normalises feelings o...
Episode 21-Imposter Syndrome in CCPT - Part Two
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
PART TWO from Hawaii! This episode reassures CCPT practitioners who worry they’re “not doing enough,” especially when children appear withdrawn,...
Episode 20- Imposter Syndrome in CCPT - Trusting the Process
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded in Hawaii! While on a much-needed break, Kylie explores a topic many CCPT practitioners struggle with—imposter syndrome. She discusses how ...
Episode 19- Self Care for Play Therapists
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we tackle therapist burn out and ensuring you are taking care of yourself - not just others! Kylie reflects honestly on her own exhaus...
Episode 18- The Pandemic Ripple Effect. How CCPT Supports Children who are Beginning School
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie discusses the “pandemic ripple effect” on 4–6-year-olds, exploring why so many children are now presenting with heightene...
Episode 17- Communicating Progress to Parents Without Breaking Confidentiality
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie explores the delicate balance of communicating updates to parents and carers while maintaining the confidentiality and trust ce...
Episode 16- Conducting Parent/ Carer Consultations Part Two
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie outlines how to structure ongoing parent/carer consultations in three parts: reviewing progress, sharing playroom insights, and...
Episode 15- Conducting Parent/ Carer Consultations in CCPT Part One
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The episode dives into the essentials of conducting initial parent consultations in Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) — from building authentic rapp...
Episode 14- The Parent-Therapist Relationship in CCPT
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie explores how trust, empathy, and authentic connection with parents and caregivers are essential for children’s therapeutic pr...
Episode 13 - Stages of the Therapeutic Process in CCPT
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kylie Ellison takes us through one of the foundational frameworks of Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT), the stages of the therapeutic...
Episode 12: Limit Setting in CCPT - The ACT Method
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle podcast, Kylie Ellison introduces the concept of limit setting in child-centered play therapy (CCPT), focus...
Episode 11- Reflecting Feelings in CCPT
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores the foundational CCPT skill of reflecting feelings, building on last week’s focus on tracking. The discussion highlights how r...
Episode 10- Tracking in CCPT
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kylie introduces the core CCPT skills of tracking and reflecting content, framing tracking as the foundational way therapists show they’re following...
Episode 9- Facilitating Emotional Expression Through Play
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kylie Ellison explores how play serves as a powerful avenue for children to express emotions they cannot yet verbalise, highlighting the importance of...
Episode 8- Setting up the Playroom: Tools, Toys and Environment
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kylie Ellison explores how to set up a therapeutic playroom from a child-centered play therapy (CCPT) perspective, highlighting the importance of inte...
Episode 7- Understanding the Child's World Through Play
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle podcast, Kylie Ellison reflects on the importance of play as a child’s natural language of communication....
Episode 6: Non Directive vs Directive Approaches in Play Therapy
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Play Therapy Circle podcast, host Kylie Ellison explores the differences between directive and non-directive (child-centered) p...
Episode 5: The Importance of the Therapeutic Relationship
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a little longer than your commute to work or your lunch break - but it an important one not to miss. Join Kylie as she explores the th...
Episode 4: The Role of the Therapist in CCPT
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into why the therapist is the heart of child-centered play therapy. It’s all about the therapist being real, showing up as ...
Episode 3: The History and Roots of CCPT Axline & Beyond
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores the historical roots and evolution of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), emphasizing its foundations in psychodynamic psychothe...
Episode 2: What is Child Centred Play Therapy
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join host Kylie Ellison in this enlightening episode as she delves into the essence of Child-Centered Play Therapy. Drawing from her 10 years of ex...
Episode 1: Welcome to the Circle
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Play Therapy Circle, a space for soulful, thoughtful conversations at the heart of play-based healing. Hosted by Kylie Ellison, therap...