363 | Reducing Attrition by Preparing Parents for Resistance
Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy · Dr. Brenna Hicks
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Show Notes
In this episode, I respond to Elliott's question about children who strongly resist play therapy from the very beginning and parents who eventually give up and terminate early. I explain why early resistance is not a red flag for CCPT failure, but often a clear indicator of high anxiety, a deep need for control, and a child who desperately needs the therapeutic process. The real issue isn't the child's resistance—it's whether parents were fully prepared for it before therapy ever began.
I walk through how to front-load expectations during the initial parent consultation by explaining the phases of therapy, normalizing resistance, and equipping parents with scripts for what to say and do when their child refuses to come, escalates, or tries to avoid sessions. When parents understand that giving in reinforces anxiety and avoidance, they're far more likely to stay the course. High attrition is almost always a communication problem, and when parents are prepared, children are given the consistency they need to work through their anxiety and reach natural termination.
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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.