The Play Therapy Circle

Kylie Ellison
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Hosted by therapist and trainer Kylie Ellison, this podcast explores the heart of Child-Centred Play Therapy and the healing power of play. Each episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical insights for play therapists, students, and caregivers supporting children’s emotional wellbeing. ✨ Join the community: https://mailchi.mp/playtherapycircle.com/play-therapy-circle ✨ Podcast subscriptions: https://kylieellison.com.au/ptcsub

  1. 22 HR AGO

    Episode 35- What Happens in the Brain During Play Therapy

    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 Podcast, Kylie Ellison explores the neuroscience behind child-centred play therapy (CCPT) and explains why play is the natural language of children. Children’s brains are still developing, which means they often cannot process emotions through words the way adults do. Instead, they communicate, process experiences, and regulate their nervous systems through play. Understanding this brain science helps therapists, parents, and educators better support children’s emotional development. In this episode, Kylie breaks down key concepts from neuroscience, trauma research, and child development, including: • Why children communicate through play rather than words• The role of the prefrontal cortex in emotional regulation• Understanding the window of tolerance in children• How the amygdala and nervous system respond to stress and trauma• The power of co-regulation and the therapeutic relationship• How neuroplasticity allows children’s brains to heal and grow You’ll also learn how child-centred play therapy creates a safe therapeutic environment that helps children regulate emotions, process experiences, and develop healthier coping strategies. If you’re a play therapist, child therapist, educator, mental health professional, or parent, this episode will help you understand the science behind why play therapy is an evidence-based and effective approach for supporting children’s emotional wellbeing. Play therapy isn’t “just playing.”It’s neuroscience, relationship, and healing through play. Links & Resources:• Play Therapy Circle Community & Membership• Upcoming Play Therapy Circle Conference (Brisbane)• Follow us on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok

    37 min

  2. 5 MAR

    Episode 34- The Children Who Grow Us: How the playroom shapes the CCPT therapist.

    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, it also transforms us as therapists. Drawing on her experiences in the playroom, Kylie reflects on the profound lessons children teach us about authenticity, emotional courage, and the power of simply being present. She shares how the therapeutic relationship, rather than technique alone, creates healing, and why learning to trust the process, tolerate uncertainty, and sit with big emotions is central to effective play therapy. This episode is an invitation for play therapists to reflect on their own journeys: the children who have shaped them, the growth that happens alongside their clients, and the deep privilege of holding space for young people’s stories. Whether you’re new to play therapy or years into practice, this conversation offers encouragement, insight, and a reminder that the work changes us too.

    46 min

  3. 26 FEB

    Episode 33- Behaviour is the Messenger - Listening Beyond What We See

    In this heartfelt episode, Kylie explores one of the core truths of child-centred play therapy: all behaviour is communication. When children can’t put their experiences into words, they show us through play, through dysregulation, through control, chaos, withdrawal, and even aggression. But what if those behaviours aren’t problems to fix - but stories to hear? Kylie unpacks how behaviour reflects the nervous system, attachment experiences, and unmet needs, and why play therapists must look beyond compliance to meaning-making. She reflects on the power of transference and countertransference, the importance of therapeutic limits, and the courage it takes to sit in the uncomfortable rather than rush to “fix.” This episode is a reminder that when we silence behaviour, we silence the story and that child-centred play therapy is an act of advocacy, resistance, and deep attunement. For play therapists holding big stories in the playroom: your work matters.

    36 min

  4. 19 FEB

    Episode 32- They're Just Playing! What's Really Happening in the Playroom

    This week on The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie Ellison tackles a common (and often frustrating) misunderstanding: “Isn’t it just play?”. Kylie opens a timely conversation for play therapists, parents, carers, and professionals about how children communicate through play, especially when trauma, attachment conflicts, fear, or loyalty binds make verbal disclosure unlikely. Kylie explains why trauma isn’t stored in neat narratives for children, how the brain’s language systems can shut down under threat, and why silence is not the same as safety, it can be survival. She then outlines key indicators often seen in trauma-driven play: repetitive and driven themes, rigid “stuck” storylines, high emotional intensity, developmentally atypical content (power, control, secrecy, punishment, rescuing), and a lack of resolution over time. Importantly, she emphasises ethical practice: play therapists don’t diagnose from a single play sequence, and concerns should be formed holistically, documented carefully, and supported through clinical supervision and appropriate reporting pathways. If you need language to translate play-based clinical observations into stakeholder conversations, this episode is for you.

    31 min

  5. 12 FEB

    Episode 31- Navigating Endings in CCPT

    In this episode, Kylie reflects on what she’s witnessing in clinical practice right now, a significant rise in anxiety presentations among young children, particularly in the 4–6-year-old age group. Building on previous conversations about the post-COVID landscape, Kylie explores what she describes as an “anxiety epidemic” in early childhood and unpacks how this is showing up in play therapy rooms across Australia. From increased emotional dysregulation to heightened separation anxiety and nervous system overwhelm, this episode examines the broader community context impacting children and families. Kylie also shares insights into how child-centred play therapy (CCPT) uniquely supports anxious children, not by managing symptoms alone, but by strengthening emotional safety, regulation, and a child’s internal sense of competence and self-trust. She reflects on the responsibility and privilege of holding therapeutic space during seasons of collective stress, and the importance of maintaining empathy, unconditional positive regard, and strong clinical boundaries as demand increases. With growing referrals and stretched services, this episode is both a professional check-in and an encouragement to fellow practitioners: how do we sustain ourselves while continuing to show up for children in meaningful ways? If you’re a play therapist, early childhood professional, or someone supporting young children navigating anxiety, this episode offers thoughtful reflection, validation, and practical perspective from the field.

    41 min

  6. 5 FEB

    Episode 30- Why Your Child Doesn’t Need to Talk About Their Problems in Therapy

    In this episode of The Play Therapy Circle, Kylie reflects on a milestone week - celebrating 10 years of child-centred play therapy practice - and shares exciting news about the first Play Therapy Circle Child-Centred Play Therapy Conference coming to Brisbane. Kylie then dives into a question many parents (and beginning play therapists) wrestle with: Why doesn’t my child talk in therapy? Drawing on clinical experience, attachment theory, and the stages of child-centred play therapy, she unpacks why play is children’s natural language, and why talk-based approaches can miss the mark developmentally. This episode offers reassurance, practical language, and confidence-building insights for play therapists supporting concerned parents, as well as a compassionate reframing for caregivers learning to trust the process. At its core, this conversation is about relationships, regulation, and remembering a powerful truth: children don’t need to talk about their problems to heal, sometimes, play says it all.

    40 min

  7. 29 JAN

    Episode 29- Kylie's Journey to Becoming a Play Therapist

    This episode is a reflective, personal milestone celebration: Kylie marks 10 years of private practice in child-centered play therapy (with a shout-out to her team, Eva and Shaz) and shares her professional journey from studying psychology, working in child protection and NGOs, to contracting work, before discovering play therapy training in 2015 and “falling in love” with the approach. She speaks honestly about early doubts and learning moments (including feeling overwhelmed in training), and how the work has evolved over the years—expanding her practice, later downsizing to realign with health, family, and what feels most meaningful, and leaning into supervision, training, conferences, and the podcast as ways to “share CCPT beyond the playroom.” The key message is encouragement: growth isn’t linear, you don’t need it all figured out, and if you’re feeling unsure or stuck, there’s hope, keep listening to what aligns, trust the process, and celebrate your progress. She closes by inviting listeners to join a live celebration on February 2, 2026 (1pm Queensland time) with cake, balloons, and announcements.

    42 min

  8. 22 JAN

    Episode 28- What Is Child-Centred Play Therapy- And How Does It Help My Child?

    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, addressing common questions like “Is it just play?”, “Will my child learn skills?”, and “How will I know it’s working?” Kylie explains how children communicate through play, why relationship comes first, and how a safe, consistent play space helps children build emotional regulation, confidence, and self-trust over time. A helpful listen for parents considering play therapy and therapists wanting language to explain CCPT.

    45 min
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About

Hosted by therapist and trainer Kylie Ellison, this podcast explores the heart of Child-Centred Play Therapy and the healing power of play. Each episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical insights for play therapists, students, and caregivers supporting children’s emotional wellbeing. ✨ Join the community: https://mailchi.mp/playtherapycircle.com/play-therapy-circle ✨ Podcast subscriptions: https://kylieellison.com.au/ptcsub

Information

  • Creator
    Kylie Ellison
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kylie Ellison
  • Show Website
    The Play Therapy Circle

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