393 | When to Set Limits (and When Not To) in CCPT + Removing Toys

Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy

In this Q&A episode, I respond to two questions that highlight common areas of uncertainty in child-centered play therapy. First, I address a case involving a 7-year-old with significant behavioral challenges across settings. The core issue isn't what to "do more," but whether a limit is actually necessary. I walk through the three reasons we set limits and the three questions we ask ourselves, emphasizing that if safety isn't compromised, restraint is often the more appropriate response. What may feel like behavior "on the edge" is often far from it—and staying grounded in the model, without becoming agenda-driven, is what allows the child to work through what they need.

In the second question, I discuss playroom logistics—specifically, removing slime as a recurring activity. I explain why structuring the playroom for success is critical to maintaining permissiveness and therapist acceptance. If certain materials create stress, limits, or disruption, they may be getting in the way of CCPT rather than supporting it. I also explore what slime play may represent for children, such as competence, self-esteem, and comfort, and why removing it can actually open the door for important therapeutic work. Ultimately, this episode reinforces the importance of knowing yourself, trusting the process, and making thoughtful decisions that support both the child and your ability to remain fully present in the model.

2 SPOTS REMAINING - Six-Figure Play Therapist sixfigureplaytherapist.com. The next cohort for the Six-Figure Play Therapist coaching program starts on May 21st, on Thursdays @ 3pm EST. There are two spots left before enrollment closes. Visit the website, watch the video, and schedule your 30-minute Discovery Call.

Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them.

If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you.

Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast

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.

2026-04-30 16 min Transcript

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Transcript

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You're listening to the Play Therapy Podcast with Dr. Brenna Hicks,

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your source for centered and focused play therapy coaching.

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Hi,

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I'm Dr. Brenna Hicks,

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The Kid Counselor.

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This is the Play Therapy Podcast where you get

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a master class in child-centered play therapy

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and practical support and application for your

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work with children and their families.

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In today's episode,

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I am answering two questions from Lana.

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One is about a 7-year-old client

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and one is about

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Just play playroom logistics.

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So,

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both helpful questions.

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We will dive in

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before I get there.

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I don't typically do this.

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I just want to make y'all aware.

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I just

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closed out my coaching cohort for the Play Therapy Professional program,

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but I do want to let you know

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if you are interested in being in private practice,

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if you just opened a private practice,

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if your goal is to be in private practice,

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and you want CCPT training as well as private practice business coaching.

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I have my Six-Figure Play Therapist cohort starting

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in May,

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May 21st.

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It will be Thursdays at 3 and I have two spots open.

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So if you are interested.

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In the notes,

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you'll find where you need to go and you can schedule a discovery call

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and we'll make sure it's a good fit.

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Just a little PSA for those of you that wanna join the private practice ranks.

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All right.

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So,

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let's dive into the questions and then we'll

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take a look together.

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I'm working with a 7-year-old child,

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session 12,

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with a history of foster care and adoption and an ADHD diagnosis.

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Behaviorally,

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she presents with significant challenges at home and school,

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including aggression towards adults,

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siblings,

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peer friendship difficulties,

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struggles with regulation.

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She's consistently excited to attend sessions and often

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initiates connection such as hugging me goodbye.

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I've used ACT limit setting when needed,

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and she has responded well.

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Some behaviors,

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feel clear to me.

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Intentionally damaging toys or leaving the room,

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and I feel increasingly confident setting limits in those moments.

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Other strategies have also been successful.

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For example,

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when she abruptly moves toward the door,

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neutral tracking has allowed her to start to pause and self-correct,

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or,

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at a minimum,

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give me time to move into limit setting if needed.

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Other behaviors are more tricky,

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however,

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for example,

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if she chooses a board game and wants to set it up on the table,

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she might suddenly clear the table and knock all the items to the floor.

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Objects usually not at risk of breaking.

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I track the behavior and reflect the desire to play or urgency,

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but I sometimes find myself wondering whether that is sufficient

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or whether something more is needed.

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She may use a harsh tone.

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Move,

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grab items,

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toss things aside on the floor,

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or at times push past me while moving in the room,

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not aggressively,

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but without apparent awareness.

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She often presents with a relatively flat affect

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and can be difficult to read emotionally.

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I've tried reflecting tone.

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You told me to move using that voice,

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for example,

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and she ignores this.

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When these types of behaviors occur across settings,

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and they are contributing to her difficulties with peers,

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making friends,

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conflict with members and school staff,

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is there anything additional I should be holding in mind?

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I remind myself to trust the process,

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and yet I notice some internal uncertainty

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about how best to understand and respond,

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especially when they can be on the edge of requiring a limit.

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All right,

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so that's question one.

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We'll dive into the next question in a second.

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But

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I think it's really important to recognize

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your own

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answer that you've already provided,

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which is,

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you're on the verge of setting a limit,

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but you're not because the limits aren't necessary.

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So let's,

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let's pause on that note and then I'll go to the next level.

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So,

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we have questions that we ask ourselves.

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But we also have unspoken rules for why limits are required.

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So,

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pop quiz time,

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what are the 3 reasons we're going to set a limit unequivocally every time?

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I'm sure you all knew.

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I have to be safe,

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you have to be safe,

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toys can't be broken on purpose.

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All right,

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so then,

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If we recognize that none of those qualify,

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she's safe,

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you're safe,

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the toys are not getting broken,

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we know that we aren't going to immediately set a limit because it's not warranted.

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But then we have 3 questions that we ask ourselves also.

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Pop quiz number 2,

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what are the 3 questions that we ask ourselves?

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I'm sure that was also effective.

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I can,

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I imagine y'all like yelling at me and it makes me so happy.

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Like I just sit in silence,

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but I can imagine like all of you screaming out your answers.

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It makes me happy.

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OK,

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so the questions we ask ourselves are,

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is this limit necessary?

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All right,

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so

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if we've ruled out,

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I'm safe,

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you're safe,

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toys are not getting broken or damaged.

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Do I need to do anything?

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What sometimes begins as,

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oh,

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I have this propensity to set this limit

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if we actually say,

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but is it necessary

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and we pause and we give it a beat

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and we just wait.

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Often

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we end up going,

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no,

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I don't need to set a limit here.

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So that is probably a helpful litmus test

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in this scenario.

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Second question,

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can I consistently enforce this limit?

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In other words,

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if I'm going to set this,

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is this just a this moment thing,

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or is this something that I'm going to enforce

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forever?

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Because once a limit is established,

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it is established.

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And often we set limits flippantly and then

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we get ourselves in trouble because we're like,

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I can't enforce that 4 weeks from now.

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All right.

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So be mindful of is it consistently enforceable?

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And then final question.

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Which sometimes shoves us in one direction or another,

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quite frankly,

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is,

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can I allow this behavior to continue and

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still maintain full acceptance of the child.

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And I don't know this,

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Lana,

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for sure,

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but my gut tells me

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that part of why you're questioning this is maybe that

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it

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bothers you to a degree.

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Maybe you don't like being told to move.

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Maybe you don't like her shoving you out of the way.

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Maybe you don't like her swiping the table.

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Maybe there's something at the deep part of you like subconsciously,

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real small.

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I mean,

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I don't think you're overtly reacting by any means,

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but maybe there's this tiny little part of you that just kind of bristles

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at the whole thing and so

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you're kind of leaning towards setting a limit.

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Can you unconditionally accept the child

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if she does that every week for 30 weeks straight?

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And for some of us,

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sometimes the answer is no.

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You might get to a point where you're like,

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I am so frustrated

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that you keep doing this,

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you're no longer accepting the child

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and therefore

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it's potential fracture in a relationship

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and therefore it requires a limit.

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Is it violating one of the unspoken rules?

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No,

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because you're safe,

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she's safe,

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and the toys aren't getting broken,

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but maybe it's a conditional acceptance.

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And if we can't unconditionally accept,

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Then we're not at the heart of what CCPT is all about.

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So 3 reasons,

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3 questions.

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In this case,

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hearing what you've described,

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at least,

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Lana,

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I would not set a limit here.

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I don't think a limit is needed.

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I don't think it's warranted.

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Now I'm gonna tackle the second layer because the second layer is

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you're realizing that this is happening in other environments

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and they're contributing to difficulties because parents are

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reporting this and school are reporting this.

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So,

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is there anything else you should be holding in mind?

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You should be holding in mind that that's the very

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reason why she's playing this stuff out in your playroom.

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It's not happenstance or coincidence

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that

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she's working through this stuff with you.

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She knows she needs to.

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If she's behaving like this in the playroom,

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it's because she has to figure out how to adjust.

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She's trying to become a better version of herself.

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So,

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the,

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the bent

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or the inclination sometimes is,

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oh well,

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I mean this is like one of the major

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issues that this child's having.

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Like this is one of the things that the parents get most frustrated about.

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So I'm going to take this opportunity to really

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make sure that they understand that this isn't OK,

246
00:08:15,070 --> 00:08:16,750
and we do it in a CCPT way,

247
00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:17,220
maybe.

248
00:08:17,950 --> 00:08:20,670
It doesn't become like a directive teaching moment per se,

249
00:08:20,929 --> 00:08:23,690
but we use it as this very subtle way

250
00:08:24,190 --> 00:08:24,910
to quote,

251
00:08:25,109 --> 00:08:27,450
help the child understand what's going on.

252
00:08:27,670 --> 00:08:28,709
That's agenda driven.

253
00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:31,559
And it is directive in nature,

254
00:08:31,980 --> 00:08:33,260
and it's not CCPT.

255
00:08:33,340 --> 00:08:34,200
That's a drift.

256
00:08:34,979 --> 00:08:35,207
So,

257
00:08:35,258 --> 00:08:36,739
what do you hold in mind,

258
00:08:36,859 --> 00:08:37,369
Lana?

259
00:08:37,739 --> 00:08:40,799
You do trust the process as you already answered for yourself,

260
00:08:41,739 --> 00:08:42,558
and you

261
00:08:43,018 --> 00:08:43,758
believe

262
00:08:44,058 --> 00:08:46,119
that by staying adherent to the model,

263
00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:48,359
That's all that she needs.

264
00:08:48,739 --> 00:08:50,349
She doesn't need anything more from you.

265
00:08:50,580 --> 00:08:51,630
And when you said

266
00:08:51,780 --> 00:08:54,820
you have uncertainty when it's on the edge of requiring a limit,

267
00:08:54,979 --> 00:08:57,000
I think one of the challenges we all face

268
00:08:57,260 --> 00:08:57,799
is

269
00:08:58,059 --> 00:08:58,919
push the needle.

270
00:08:59,770 --> 00:09:00,630
In other words,

271
00:09:00,849 --> 00:09:04,510
what at one point we say that's on the edge of requiring a limit.

272
00:09:05,460 --> 00:09:07,270
To hear you describe this scenario,

273
00:09:07,349 --> 00:09:07,710
granted,

274
00:09:07,750 --> 00:09:09,950
I'm 21 years in and thousands of kids in,

275
00:09:10,020 --> 00:09:10,409
but

276
00:09:10,869 --> 00:09:12,150
I hear that and I go,

277
00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:13,030
Oh my gosh,

278
00:09:13,109 --> 00:09:14,630
that's so far from the edge of a limit.

279
00:09:14,710 --> 00:09:17,130
Like there are 47,000 things

280
00:09:17,479 --> 00:09:19,489
that would be closer to the limit than that.

281
00:09:19,989 --> 00:09:21,659
So we're always trying to

282
00:09:21,869 --> 00:09:23,130
adjust the threshold.

283
00:09:23,669 --> 00:09:26,210
We're always trying to ease toward the compass

284
00:09:26,460 --> 00:09:27,489
and the needle going,

285
00:09:27,710 --> 00:09:27,869
nope,

286
00:09:28,030 --> 00:09:28,219
I,

287
00:09:28,309 --> 00:09:29,179
I can handle that.

288
00:09:29,190 --> 00:09:29,950
I can handle that.

289
00:09:29,989 --> 00:09:30,830
I can handle that.

290
00:09:31,409 --> 00:09:31,419
Because

291
00:09:32,330 --> 00:09:33,690
the more permissive we can be,

292
00:09:33,729 --> 00:09:35,450
the more autonomy the child has.

293
00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,039
The more we're able to be fully CCPT.

294
00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:46,530
The playroom is not meant to have a lot of rules and expectations and limits.

295
00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:46,979
We're,

296
00:09:47,039 --> 00:09:49,080
we're trying to be as permissive as possible.

297
00:09:49,900 --> 00:09:51,700
And limits are only needed when they're needed.

298
00:09:52,190 --> 00:09:53,710
So I hope that that is helpful.

299
00:09:53,830 --> 00:09:53,950
We're,

300
00:09:54,030 --> 00:09:56,190
we're all struggling at times with limits.

301
00:09:56,229 --> 00:09:57,619
It's one of the trickiest skills.

302
00:09:57,989 --> 00:09:59,169
So I really appreciate the question.

303
00:09:59,270 --> 00:09:59,469
All right,

304
00:09:59,549 --> 00:10:00,849
let's move on to question two.

305
00:10:01,229 --> 00:10:04,739
I'm navigating a practical shift in my playroom and would value your perspective.

306
00:10:04,989 --> 00:10:05,869
During my internship,

307
00:10:05,950 --> 00:10:08,570
I had a small caseload and offered slime as a choice.

308
00:10:08,950 --> 00:10:11,429
I restocked materials between sessions and ensured

309
00:10:11,429 --> 00:10:13,250
the same amount was available per child.

310
00:10:13,510 --> 00:10:15,000
I absolutely love slime.

311
00:10:15,590 --> 00:10:16,489
God bless you.

312
00:10:17,469 --> 00:10:18,090
No thanks.

313
00:10:18,940 --> 00:10:19,369
However,

314
00:10:19,869 --> 00:10:21,510
now that my caseload has increased,

315
00:10:21,570 --> 00:10:23,090
it's becoming harder to clean up,

316
00:10:23,270 --> 00:10:25,530
harder to maintain the materials consistently,

317
00:10:25,950 --> 00:10:27,820
and in my new shared carpeted space,

318
00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:29,510
it does not work particularly well.

319
00:10:29,590 --> 00:10:30,729
I can imagine not.

320
00:10:31,429 --> 00:10:34,929
I've also noticed that with some of my more exuberant slime makers,

321
00:10:35,190 --> 00:10:38,090
I feel my own anxiety rise around the mess and containment.

322
00:10:38,510 --> 00:10:41,070
I currently have two clients who choose slime every session.

323
00:10:41,150 --> 00:10:43,250
I want to phase this out as a choice

324
00:10:43,429 --> 00:10:44,590
and approach this thoughtfully,

325
00:10:44,710 --> 00:10:48,109
but I'm unsure how to best do that in a way that feels congruent with CCPT.

326
00:10:48,669 --> 00:10:50,929
Especially since I expect at least one of them

327
00:10:51,309 --> 00:10:52,710
to push me for the why.

328
00:10:53,429 --> 00:10:57,260
I'd really value your thoughts on the underlying why of this choice as well.

329
00:10:57,340 --> 00:10:58,869
My sense is that for both children,

330
00:10:58,989 --> 00:11:00,130
there's a sensory piece

331
00:11:00,429 --> 00:11:02,109
and that slime connects to mastery,

332
00:11:02,349 --> 00:11:03,260
tolerance for mistakes,

333
00:11:03,270 --> 00:11:04,030
and self-esteem,

334
00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:07,929
but I'd love your perspective on what might be met through this type of play.

335
00:11:08,549 --> 00:11:08,830
All right,

336
00:11:08,950 --> 00:11:11,309
so two-part question on question number 2.

337
00:11:12,070 --> 00:11:12,650
1st,

338
00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:16,289
Every single one of us needs to know

339
00:11:16,989 --> 00:11:17,510
ourselves.

340
00:11:17,979 --> 00:11:17,989
I,

341
00:11:18,030 --> 00:11:18,190
I mean,

342
00:11:18,270 --> 00:11:18,590
honestly,

343
00:11:18,630 --> 00:11:19,950
in CCPT know thyself,

344
00:11:19,979 --> 00:11:20,409
y'all.

345
00:11:21,070 --> 00:11:22,849
You need to recognize what

346
00:11:23,710 --> 00:11:24,969
you have bandwidth for,

347
00:11:25,390 --> 00:11:26,809
what you have tolerance for,

348
00:11:27,109 --> 00:11:31,109
and what sets every part of the session up for success.

349
00:11:31,869 --> 00:11:32,619
In other words,

350
00:11:32,789 --> 00:11:34,510
if you have materials in the playroom that

351
00:11:34,510 --> 00:11:36,359
you're constantly having to set limits on,

352
00:11:36,789 --> 00:11:40,750
if you have options in the playroom that make a disastrous mess,

353
00:11:40,859 --> 00:11:43,450
and you're constantly frustrated when you're cleaning it up,

354
00:11:43,830 --> 00:11:46,630
if you have carpet and you have all kinds of liquid stuff in

355
00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:49,270
your playroom and you're always worried the carpet's going to get messed up,

356
00:11:49,309 --> 00:11:50,369
and then you're going to have to

357
00:11:50,729 --> 00:11:52,580
pay your landlord to clean the carpets,

358
00:11:52,590 --> 00:11:55,289
and then it's going to be an increase in your lease and so on and so forth.

359
00:11:56,349 --> 00:11:57,090
That's

360
00:11:57,429 --> 00:11:58,650
getting in the way

361
00:11:59,109 --> 00:12:00,489
of CCPT.

362
00:12:01,070 --> 00:12:02,169
The goal is

363
00:12:02,309 --> 00:12:04,650
we structure our playrooms for success

364
00:12:04,869 --> 00:12:07,099
so we can be as permissive as possible.

365
00:12:07,309 --> 00:12:09,729
The child can have as much freedom as possible,

366
00:12:10,229 --> 00:12:12,190
and we're not getting to a point where we can't

367
00:12:12,190 --> 00:12:15,090
allow the behavior because we can no longer accept the child

368
00:12:15,789 --> 00:12:16,960
for those reasons.

369
00:12:17,460 --> 00:12:19,359
I do not have liquid paint in my room.

370
00:12:19,539 --> 00:12:21,369
I do not have liquid glue in my room.

371
00:12:21,599 --> 00:12:23,780
I do not have any materials for slime.

372
00:12:23,940 --> 00:12:25,530
I do not have glitter in my room.

373
00:12:25,659 --> 00:12:27,349
I do not have sequins in my room.

374
00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:29,719
I do not have pearler beads in my room.

375
00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:30,760
I do not have.

376
00:12:31,179 --> 00:12:32,780
There are so many things that

377
00:12:33,020 --> 00:12:34,280
over the course of time

378
00:12:34,409 --> 00:12:35,169
I was like,

379
00:12:35,739 --> 00:12:37,739
this just gets in my way.

380
00:12:37,820 --> 00:12:39,099
I'm getting in my own way.

381
00:12:39,179 --> 00:12:40,419
I'm getting in the child's way.

382
00:12:40,479 --> 00:12:42,159
I'm getting in the way of CCPT.

383
00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:45,390
I'm going to structure my playroom for success.

384
00:12:45,890 --> 00:12:48,130
So if you reach a point where you're like,

385
00:12:48,570 --> 00:12:48,969
I,

386
00:12:49,090 --> 00:12:50,789
I just can't have this in my room anymore.

387
00:12:52,270 --> 00:12:54,349
It absolutely makes sense to remove them.

388
00:12:55,109 --> 00:12:56,729
And I think it's very helpful

389
00:12:57,119 --> 00:12:59,299
that you are trying to do this thoughtfully,

390
00:12:59,309 --> 00:13:01,809
because when a child is used to doing something,

391
00:13:02,340 --> 00:13:05,190
it is important to try to provide them with consistency.

392
00:13:05,429 --> 00:13:06,330
And so you have your

393
00:13:06,859 --> 00:13:08,150
perpetual slime makers,

394
00:13:08,210 --> 00:13:10,090
they're going to want to keep making slime.

395
00:13:10,549 --> 00:13:12,030
Let me tackle your second question,

396
00:13:12,039 --> 00:13:13,109
and then I'll come back to this one.

397
00:13:13,229 --> 00:13:15,809
So what do I think is at the heart of that kind of play?

398
00:13:16,140 --> 00:13:17,929
It very much is a competence

399
00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:18,510
thing.

400
00:13:19,109 --> 00:13:19,809
And

401
00:13:19,969 --> 00:13:21,849
there's all kinds of stuff worked in there.

402
00:13:21,929 --> 00:13:22,090
I mean,

403
00:13:22,130 --> 00:13:25,150
it's probably under the umbrella of self-esteem because there's

404
00:13:25,289 --> 00:13:26,450
likely perseverance,

405
00:13:26,690 --> 00:13:28,479
there's likely problem solving,

406
00:13:28,570 --> 00:13:29,030
there's

407
00:13:29,210 --> 00:13:30,270
competence in there,

408
00:13:30,739 --> 00:13:31,799
and essentially it's,

409
00:13:31,830 --> 00:13:32,669
it's comfort,

410
00:13:33,090 --> 00:13:33,250
you know,

411
00:13:33,330 --> 00:13:36,429
if a child can come in and do something that they know how to do

412
00:13:36,530 --> 00:13:38,270
and that they can do successfully

413
00:13:38,969 --> 00:13:40,429
and it makes them feel good

414
00:13:40,650 --> 00:13:41,190
and.

415
00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,400
They're willing to tough it out if things don't exactly go as planned,

416
00:13:44,479 --> 00:13:47,140
and then they sort it out and they're proud of the outcome.

417
00:13:47,510 --> 00:13:48,809
All of that is self-esteem build,

418
00:13:48,919 --> 00:13:50,260
but it's also safe.

419
00:13:50,719 --> 00:13:53,099
So for some kids it's likely

420
00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,830
this is something that I feel really competent in,

421
00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:57,840
and so it's an easy gravitation.

422
00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:58,590
For others,

423
00:13:58,599 --> 00:14:01,059
it's probably more of a self-esteem build.

424
00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,599
But in either scenario for the two that consistently use it.

425
00:14:05,359 --> 00:14:07,580
It would make absolute sense

426
00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,099
to just not buy any new materials.

427
00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:11,190
In other words,

428
00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:12,719
what you have on hand

429
00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,059
can get used up.

430
00:14:14,750 --> 00:14:16,289
And then when

431
00:14:16,950 --> 00:14:19,090
those materials have been consumed,

432
00:14:19,630 --> 00:14:21,159
there's nothing to replace it with.

433
00:14:21,419 --> 00:14:23,890
And then that is a very truthful response

434
00:14:24,229 --> 00:14:25,010
when the kid goes,

435
00:14:25,190 --> 00:14:25,349
Wait,

436
00:14:25,469 --> 00:14:26,309
where's the glue?

437
00:14:26,349 --> 00:14:27,030
or where's the,

438
00:14:27,109 --> 00:14:29,549
I don't even know what you use to make slime other than glue,

439
00:14:29,650 --> 00:14:30,059
so I,

440
00:14:30,070 --> 00:14:30,650
I'm out.

441
00:14:30,789 --> 00:14:33,729
But where's the whatever that they normally have access to?

442
00:14:34,109 --> 00:14:34,390
Oh,

443
00:14:34,469 --> 00:14:36,969
you're noticing that I don't have any more of that.

444
00:14:37,669 --> 00:14:38,280
Why?

445
00:14:38,390 --> 00:14:38,510
Where,

446
00:14:38,630 --> 00:14:38,729
where,

447
00:14:38,979 --> 00:14:39,559
where did it go?

448
00:14:39,669 --> 00:14:39,830
Oh,

449
00:14:39,909 --> 00:14:40,030
well,

450
00:14:40,070 --> 00:14:41,130
it got used up.

451
00:14:42,469 --> 00:14:42,919
OK,

452
00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,859
so now you're telling a truthful answer

453
00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,940
as to why there isn't any more in there.

454
00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:48,799
And

455
00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:50,020
when a child

456
00:14:50,559 --> 00:14:53,739
does not have access to something that they've always had access to,

457
00:14:54,309 --> 00:14:57,109
we do this in very infrequent scenarios,

458
00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:57,599
by the way,

459
00:14:57,669 --> 00:15:00,179
we're trying to be as consistent and predictable as possible.

460
00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:01,059
But for example,

461
00:15:01,159 --> 00:15:01,799
if we decide,

462
00:15:01,869 --> 00:15:02,239
you know what,

463
00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,340
I have to remove that from the playroom

464
00:15:05,039 --> 00:15:05,799
for safety,

465
00:15:05,919 --> 00:15:06,719
for sanity,

466
00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:07,549
for

467
00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:08,520
acceptance,

468
00:15:08,599 --> 00:15:09,179
whatever,

469
00:15:09,580 --> 00:15:09,590
I,

470
00:15:09,690 --> 00:15:11,200
I'm no longer going to have that in there.

471
00:15:11,789 --> 00:15:14,760
It actually allows a child to sort through

472
00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:16,989
therapeutically necessary stuff.

473
00:15:17,710 --> 00:15:17,719
Because

474
00:15:18,109 --> 00:15:19,390
has that become a crutch?

475
00:15:19,710 --> 00:15:21,419
Has that become the easy choice?

476
00:15:21,669 --> 00:15:25,500
Is that something that they depend on and they have very low frustration tolerance?

477
00:15:25,710 --> 00:15:27,059
Can they not handle change?

478
00:15:27,309 --> 00:15:28,500
Do they feel disappointed?

479
00:15:28,549 --> 00:15:29,690
Do they feel betrayed?

480
00:15:29,909 --> 00:15:32,609
All of those things that are going to come up possibly

481
00:15:32,750 --> 00:15:34,590
when there's no longer slime materials,

482
00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,309
they're all therapeutically necessary and valuable things to address.

483
00:15:38,950 --> 00:15:41,130
So we never have to be concerned

484
00:15:41,390 --> 00:15:41,869
that

485
00:15:42,070 --> 00:15:45,190
we're somehow doing some detrimental thing when we remove

486
00:15:45,190 --> 00:15:47,190
something if it's necessary to be taken out.

487
00:15:47,729 --> 00:15:49,710
And we give truthful answers.

488
00:15:50,090 --> 00:15:50,289
Oh,

489
00:15:50,369 --> 00:15:50,530
well,

490
00:15:50,650 --> 00:15:52,989
lots of kids use slime and I ran out of stuff.

491
00:15:54,250 --> 00:15:54,369
Well,

492
00:15:54,409 --> 00:15:55,429
you gonna buy more?

493
00:15:55,690 --> 00:15:55,849
Oh,

494
00:15:55,969 --> 00:15:58,510
you really hope that I buy some more slime stuff.

495
00:15:59,609 --> 00:16:00,549
And then

496
00:16:00,849 --> 00:16:02,489
they sort through what they need to sort through.

497
00:16:02,690 --> 00:16:02,950
So,

498
00:16:03,369 --> 00:16:04,250
I hope that is helpful,

499
00:16:04,359 --> 00:16:04,609
Lana.

500
00:16:04,650 --> 00:16:05,599
Thank you for the questions.

501
00:16:05,650 --> 00:16:06,239
I appreciate it.

502
00:16:06,289 --> 00:16:07,250
If y'all want to reach out,

503
00:16:07,330 --> 00:16:08,250
I would love to hear from you,

504
00:16:08,330 --> 00:16:10,070
brenna@thekidcounselor.com

505
00:16:10,489 --> 00:16:13,890
or you can always call 813-812-5525

506
00:16:14,010 --> 00:16:16,479
and you can leave me a message and then I can answer your question that way.

507
00:16:16,690 --> 00:16:17,289
I love y'all.

508
00:16:17,369 --> 00:16:18,130
We'll talk again soon.

509
00:16:18,289 --> 00:16:18,570
Bye.

510
00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,440
Thank you for listening to the Play Therapy Podcast with Dr. Brenna Hicks.

511
00:16:23,659 --> 00:16:25,570
For more episodes and resources,

512
00:16:25,770 --> 00:16:30,530
please go to www.playtherapypodcast.com.

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