How To Use Games in Child Centered Play Therapy

What kind of play therapist are you? Are you a purist that practices one theory and one theory only? Child Centered Play Therapy or bust?

OR do you have multiple core modalities and theories that you use based on the development, age, and presenting concern of the child?

If you’re like me - you’re definitely the second one.  And because I see a variety of ages in my playroom that means that developmentally I need a broad range of tools.  From the classic Child Centered Play Therapy room setup (see more about that HERE and HERE) to more teen toys, I have it all.  

And the toys that my middle schoolers and teens are drawn to? Games!  All kinds of games - card games, board games, sorting games and activities - you name it. 

So what is a play therapist to do when they are in a Child Centered Play Therapy session and their 5 year old grabs the Uno cards? 

Gasp? Set a limit? Explain the rules? 

So… experts agree - it’s not if you play games in Child Centered Play Therapy - it’s how. 

Let’s unpack that a little.  In a directive type of play therapy like Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy you will likely adhere (sometimes loosely) to the rules of the game as well as having play therapy rules or dynamics built into the play. With this way of playing with games the therapists often will teach the game, explain the rules, and share control over the way the game is played.

In Child Centered Play Therapy?  The client (with few exceptions where limits are needed) leads the way.

This means the therapist uses their facilitative statements and CCPT toolbox to approach games just as they would for any other CCPT course of play.  (If you need more support with CCPT skills grab my absolutely free cheat sheet HERE!).  

Just like kids can make up games with a number of items and objects (hello to playing “keepy uppy” with a balloon) they may use the cards to do almost anything they want! AND it is not uncommon for these kids to make up their own games, just use the cards to sort or do something completely un-game related, or attempt to play and then get stuck in the rules. 

And all of this? Well…. There is likely a theme behind it! Check out my top three themes HERE that I see with games in Child Centered Play Therapy! 

So, when games come to play in Child Centered Play Therapy we need to remember to maintain a nondirective stance and use our core CCPT skills.  This means - we don’t grab up the cards and start dealing.  We make our facilitative statements and see how the play unfolds! 

If a child asks a question about how to play, we don’t immediately answer.  We use our CCPT skills to respond to questions or use the “whisper technique” only when necessary.  We use tracking statements to track the play and then based on what happens next we either play the role the child has designated us to play OR put ourselves in the role of the observer.  

And truth be told? 99.9% of the time we aren’t playing the game as it is intended.  The child has the freedom to decide, create, and play and knows exactly what to do with the cards or the game as a piece of their vocabulary to express the difficult things that brought them into the playroom in the first place! 

AND if you are looking for more resources and support around play therapy themes, check out the training Dinosaurs In The Dollhouse: Interpreting Themes in Play Therapy  and learn the 7 frameworks and tools to interpret play themes with TONS of case examples! ​​

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