# S3E40 - The Roller Coaster of Child Counseling Progress

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/s3e40-the-roller-coaster-of-child-counseling-progress
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/s3e40-the-roller-coaster-of-child-counseling-progress.md
Podcast: [Play Therapy Parenting: Real Parenting Questions Answered by a Child Therapist](https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974)
Published: 2026-04-24T15:46:00+00:00
Episode link: https://thekidcounselor.libsyn.com/s3e40-the-roller-coaster-of-child-counseling-progress
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thekidcounselor/PlayTherapyParenting_3_40_RollerCoaster.mp3?dest-id=689050
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/episodes/s3e40-the-roller-coaster-of-child-counseling-progress
Duration seconds: 811

## Resource

In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I explain why a child's growth and healing process is not linear, even though we often expect it to be. As adults, we tend to think in straight lines—progress should move steadily forward. But children don't think or process that way. As they work through emotions and experiences, their path looks much more like a roller coaster, with twists, turns, and moments that feel like they're going backward. What can feel confusing or discouraging is often a normal part of how children process and grow. I walk through how to reframe those moments when progress seems to stall or regress. Even when behavior feels chaotic or unpredictable, children are still moving in a positive direction overall. The goal is to trust the process, stay patient, and recognize that those ups and downs are part of the journey—not signs that something is wrong. This episode helps you understand what to expect so you can stay grounded and confident as your child works through change. Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com My Book: Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, And Raising Happier Kids - https://a.co/d/bThnKH9 Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/ My Newsletter Signup: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/newsletter/ My Podcast Partner, Gabb Wireless: https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/gabb/ Common References: 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.

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/episodes/s3e40-the-roller-coaster-of-child-counseling-progress/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/s3e40-the-roller-coaster-of-child-counseling-progress.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.