✨ The Reflective Responding series continues! ✨

This week, Drs. Kristie & Maggie dive into Reflecting Content—a powerful skill that helps children feel truly heard and valued. 💬💛

Reflecting content is more than just repeating words back. It’s about tuning in, understanding the heart of the message, and letting children know their voice matters.

In this episode, we break down the what, why, and how of this essential play therapy skill.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

🎧 New Episode Alert!

We’re breaking down the foundational skills of Child Centered Play Therapy—one by one—so you can understand not just what they are, but why they matter.

This chapter? Reflective Responding—and we’re kicking it off with Part One: Tracking.

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, Drs. Kristie and Maggie dive into: ✨ The purpose of tracking in the playroom ✨ How to use it effectively ✨ Real examples from their own sessions

Think of it like sitting in a university play therapy class—without the tuition bill. No scripts. No fluff. Just practical, real-world insights to help you strengthen your skills and deepen your work with children.

🎙️ Tune in now for a deep dive into the art (and heart) of tracking.

#PlayTherapySpace #PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #PlayTherapySkills #TrackingSkill #ReflectiveResponding #TherapistTraining

You asked, we listened! 🎧✨ You wanted skills—so we’re bringing them! But not just the what or the how.

Drs. Kristie and Maggie are diving deep into the essential play therapy skills: 🔹 What they are 🔹 Why they matter 🔹 What they look like in practice 🔹 How to develop them authentically in the playroom

These episodes deliver university-level play therapy training—no classroom required. Whether you're new to the field or need a solid refresher, we’re here to help bridge the gap.

🎙️ Start listening today and grow your skills with us—one episode at a time.

🎙️ Part 2 – Chaos in the Playroom In this episode, Drs. Kristie and Maggie dive into the realities of chaos in the playroom—what it looks like, how it feels, and how they’ve navigated it in real time. They share personal experiences and practical strategies for staying grounded, regulating themselves, and responding with intention—all while holding true to the core relational principles of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT). Whether you're new to the playroom or a seasoned therapist, this conversation offers insight and encouragement for meeting the messiness with connection and clarity.

Do your kiddos sometimes feel out of control? Or do they move from one activity to the next? Do you struggle in maintaining calm and connection when there is chaos in the room? In this episode, Drs. Kristie and Maggie explore how kids can show up in the play therapy space and how they maintain their "be with" attitudes to ensure children feel safe, secure, and understood. Next week, we will explore examples of chaos and the skills we use to continue engaging authentically and therapeutically. Enjoy!

🎙️ New Episode: Supporting Grieving Children After the Texas Floods with Drs. Jenifer Balch, Kristie Opiola, and Maggie Parker

In this powerful episode of Playful Beginnings, we come together in the wake of the devastating floods in Texas to talk about how children experience grief—and how parents, teachers, and communities can show up to support them.

Dr. Jenifer Balch, an expert in grief and trauma, joins Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker to share insights into the ways children may express loss through behavior, play, and silence. Together, we explore the unique ways grief shows up in childhood and how adults can respond with presence, compassion, and developmentally appropriate care.

From creating space for big feelings to offering consistent routines and emotional safety, this episode offers practical, heartfelt guidance for anyone walking alongside grieving children.

Whether you're a caregiver, educator, or mental health professional, this conversation is a reminder: you don't have to fix grief—you just have to be willing to witness it.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and playtherapyspace.com

#ChildGrief #TexasFloods #SupportingChildren #PlayTherapy #GriefAndLoss #PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #MentalHealthSupport #CommunityCare #DrJeniferBalch #DrKristieOpiola #DrMaggieParker #PlayHeals

Ask ChatGPT

🎙️ Episode 2 — Tech, Play, & Presence: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Altvater

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we sit down with Dr. Rachel Altvater, licensed psychologist, registered play therapist supervisor, and leading voice on the integration of technology in child therapy.

Dr. Altvater brings her signature clarity and compassion to a conversation about how modern therapists can thoughtfully incorporate technology into their work without losing the heart of play therapy. From virtual sandtrays to avatar-based interventions, we explore what’s possible when digital tools are used intentionally—and how therapists can still show up with presence and attunement in virtual spaces.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

• The ethical and clinical considerations of using tech in play therapy
• How to preserve core CCPT principles in a digital environment
• Strategies for building connection and co-regulation online
• How to manage screen fatigue—for both kids and therapists
• The difference between digitally replacing and digitally enhancing the therapeutic process

Whether you're navigating telehealth, supporting digitally immersed children, or simply curious about how to hold space across a screen, this episode will ground you in what matters most: relationship, presence, and play.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #RachelAltvater #TechAndTherapy #PlayTherapyOnline #ChildCenteredPlayTherapy #VirtualPlayroom #TherapistTools #MentalHealthForKids #PresenceOverPerfection

🎙️ New Episode Alert! We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Rachel Altvater to Playful Beginnings! 💛

In this episode, we dive into the power of presence, play, and connection in the therapy room. Dr. Altvater brings her wisdom on integrating technology, co-regulation, and authentic attunement into work with children—and how therapists can show up fully, even when the work gets messy.

Whether you’re a clinician, parent, or teacher, this one’s packed with insight you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Available now wherever you listen to podcasts! 🔗 [Insert link here]

#PlayfulBeginningsPodcast #DrRachelAltvater #PlayTherapy #ChildTherapy #TherapistCommunity #CoRegulation #TechAndTherapy #PresenceMatters #MentalHealthForKids