S3E26 – Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Understanding Anxiety in Child-Centered Play Therapy

Jan 15, 2026

In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I focus on anxiety — one of the most common reasons parents seek child-centered play therapy for their children. I explain how anxiety usually isn’t something that suddenly appears, but instead reflects an underlying predisposition that has been present for a long time. Often, a single event brings that anxiety to the surface, and from there, children begin fearing the fear itself. As anxiety increases, so does a child’s need for control, which is why anxiety and power struggles so often show up together.

I walk through what anxiety looks like inside the playroom, including resistance, hesitation, and the slow pace anxious children need in order to feel safe. I explain how fear-facing play, repetition, and desensitization help children rebuild trust in themselves. Over time, as anxiety decreases, we also see a decrease in control behaviors, alongside increases in self-esteem and emotional vocabulary. This episode helps parents understand what anxiety really is, how CCPT addresses it, and how growth in therapy leads to lasting change beyond the playroom.

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Common Play Therapy 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.
Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

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