# 402 | Understanding Extreme Dysregulation and Trusting the CCPT Process

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-podcast-a-master-class-in-child-centered-play-therapy-5451171/402-understanding-extreme-dysregulation-and-trusting-the-ccpt-process
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-podcast-a-master-class-in-child-centered-play-therapy-5451171/402-understanding-extreme-dysregulation-and-trusting-the-ccpt-process.md
Podcast: [Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy](https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-podcast-a-master-class-in-child-centered-play-therapy-5451171)
Published: 2026-06-04T17:32:00+00:00
Episode link: https://9490a942-9aa8-4795-831a-19045bd9686f.libsyn.com/402-understanding-extreme-dysregulation-and-trusting-the-ccpt-process
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/9490a942-9aa8-4795-831a-19045bd9686f/PlayTherapyPodcast_402a_ExtremeDysregulation.mp3?dest-id=3452126
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Duration seconds: 1057

## Resource

In this episode, I answer a question about a 7-year-old child whose play therapy sessions have been marked by extreme dysregulation, constant limit setting, destruction of materials, and very little observable progress after 16 sessions. I explore several possible explanations for this kind of presentation, including neurodivergence, developmental immaturity, a complete lack of experience with self-regulation and autonomy, and the possibility that the child is testing whether the therapeutic relationship can withstand his most challenging behaviors. I also discuss why children who appear chaotic externally are often revealing the chaos they experience internally, and why those behaviors can provide valuable insight into what is happening beneath the surface. Most importantly, I address the therapist's understandable concern that the process feels "clunky" and ineffective. When a child is this dysregulated, progress is often slower and less obvious, but that does not mean change is not occurring. I explain why these cases require extraordinary patience, trust, and adherence to the model, even when there is little external evidence that things are improving. Sometimes our most challenging clients become our most remarkable transformation stories. This episode is a reminder that CCPT is enough, that self-actualization is always occurring, and that our role is to trust the child, trust the process, and remain faithful to the model even when the journey is difficult. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition thro…

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## Transcript

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