8 Oct 2026
Episode 58- Working with Parents & Caregivers: Part One
In the playroom, we might have 45 minutes a week with a child. Parents are there for everything else. In part one of this special two-part episode, Kylie Ellison begins a deep dive into one of the most important (and sometimes most challenging) parts of our work: partnering with parents and carers in child-centred play therapy.
Coming from a Rogerian, person-centred lens, Kylie explores why parents are the experts in their child's life and why they belong at the heart of the therapeutic process, not on the sidelines. She reflects on how therapy has moved away from older models of working with children in isolation, and how research consistently shows that caregiver involvement leads to stronger outcomes for children. For Kylie, this collaborative approach was one of the very reasons she was drawn to CCPT in the first place.
Kylie shares how she approaches the initial consultation as a two-way conversation, an opportunity for parents to get to know her and for her to get to know them. She talks about setting clear, joint expectations from the very first meeting, explaining play therapy in plain language, preparing parents for what to expect in the first session, and talking openly about confidentiality and how regular parent consults will work.
She also shares a simple but powerful example of how play themes, such as a child showing learned helplessness in the playroom, can become a launchpad for curious, collaborative conversations with parents, rather than a final explanation of progress.
A big theme in this episode is attunement. Kylie reflects on the courage it takes for a parent to recognise their child is struggling, that they're struggling too, and to walk into a clinic to meet a therapist for the first time. She talks about the small, intentional ways she helps parents feel comfortable from the moment they sit down, and how the core conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard guide every interaction with parents, just as they do in the playroom.
In this episode, we explore:
Viewing parents as experts, collaborators and agents of change
Why the initial consultation matters so much, and how to set expectations early
Using play themes as a starting point for conversations with parents
Validating and attuning to parents who may be exhausted and overwhelmed
Translating CCPT skills to home, and why Kylie now offers just one skill per parent consult
How long initial and follow-up parent consultations really need to be
Checking in on parents' wellbeing, from sleep and food to support and downtime
The growing pressures on Australian families, including the rise of dual-working households, school holiday gaps and endless "life admin"
How practitioners can adapt, including offering telehealth when families can't make it in
This episode also offers a taste of what's to come from Dr Jodi Mullen, who will be presenting on working with parents, including navigating more challenging situations, at our very first Play Therapy Circle Conference. Recordings of her presentations will be shared after the event for anyone who can't attend.
Plus, Kylie is trying out a brand-new video format, so if you're watching on YouTube, let us know what you think!
Part two drops next week, where Kylie continues the conversation and breaks down the structure of parent consultations. Be sure to follow so you don't miss it.
If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, share it with a colleague, or leave a short review. It really helps others find our circle.
This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not provide therapeutic advice, and listening does not create a client-therapist relationship. Any case examples have been de-identified to protect privacy.
