The Play Therapy Circle

The Play Therapy Circle
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The Play Therapy Circle is a welcoming space for practitioners, students, and caregivers exploring the art of Child Centred Play Therapy. Hosted by therapist and educator Kylie Ellison, each episode offers thoughtful conversations, practical insights, and reflections to support your journey in the playroom and beyond.

  1. 1D AGO

    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

  2. FEB 5

    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

  3. JAN 29

    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

  4. JAN 22

    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

  5. JAN 15

    Episode 27- When doubting the effectiveness of CCPT slowly enters the Playroom: Staying true to our CCPT framework

    In this episode, Kylie Ellison reflects on the real challenges of staying true to Child-Centred Play Therapy when doubt, silence, and pressure creep in. Drawing on her own practice and recent teaching, she explores why CCPT is more than a technique, it’s a way of being. Kylie normalises imposter syndrome, unpacks the urge to revert to talk-based approaches, and reminds us that the therapeutic relationship is the intervention. She also speaks to the courage it takes to sit with uncertainty, trust the child’s process, and remain grounded in the core principles of CCPT, even when it feels uncomfortable. A grounding, compassionate episode for play therapists at every stage of their journey.

    36 min

  6. JAN 8

    Episode 26- Returning to the Playroom: What Really Matters in the First Session Back

    Welcome back to 2026! This episode offers a calm, grounded transition back into the playroom for 2026. We explore the “fresh start” myth, the pressure to return energised, confident, and immediately ‘on’, and why many of us actually come back needing time to recalibrate. This is a reminder that doubt after a break is often state-based, not a reflection of your skills. We’ll focus on what’s enough in the first week back: a regulated nervous system, a consistent presence, and a willingness to follow the child. We also discuss what you might see from children after a break (unchanged, moving forward, or regressing) and how CCPT’s core conditions, empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard support reconnection. Expect practical anchors (tracking, reflecting feelings, and using silence intentionally), a gentle invitation to choose your word for 2026, and a reminder that the relationship remembers itself. Follow along on socials and send through topic requests for upcoming episodes.

    36 min

  7. 12/30/2025

    Episode 25- Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from the Play Therapy Circle Team

    In this final episode of 2025, Kylie Ellison reflects on the Play Therapy Circle podcast journey and offers sincere gratitude to the growing community of listeners. She acknowledges the emotional, often invisible work of child-centered play therapists and affirms the importance of showing up with empathy, authenticity, and care in the playroom. Kylie highlights how listening to the podcast is an act of professional self-care and validation, particularly for those working in isolation. Looking ahead to 2026, she shares excitement about continuing weekly episodes, introducing guest voices, and launching new initiatives and events to strengthen connection within the global CCPT community.

    17 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    Episode 24- Christmas Special Part Two. 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas

    In Part Two of 10 Things Every Play Therapist Needs to Know at Christmas, Kylie speaks directly to child-centred play therapists navigating the emotional, physical, and relational load of the end-of-year period. Released during Christmas week, this episode is a compassionate reminder that therapists matter too. Kylie explores the realities of end-of-year fatigue, compassion fatigue, and reduced capacity, normalising how layered stress builds across the year. She reframes rest as an ethical and clinical responsibility, not a reward, highlighting how therapist regulation directly impacts therapeutic presence and client safety. Listeners are encouraged to let go of the pressure to “wrap everything up” before the year ends, to allow reflection to happen in their own time (including in January), and to embrace self-care that genuinely restores the nervous system — even if it looks simple, quiet, or “boring.” The episode closes with a powerful message about releasing guilt, challenging productivity culture in helping professions, and viewing rest as an act of sustainability and care for both current and future clients. This is a gentle, affirming episode offering permission to slow down, soften, and prioritise longevity in the work.

    25 min
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About

The Play Therapy Circle is a welcoming space for practitioners, students, and caregivers exploring the art of Child Centred Play Therapy. Hosted by therapist and educator Kylie Ellison, each episode offers thoughtful conversations, practical insights, and reflections to support your journey in the playroom and beyond.

Information

  • Creator
    The Play Therapy Circle
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Play Therapy Circle
  • Show Website
    The Play Therapy Circle

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