{"podcast":{"title":"Play Therapy Parenting: Real Parenting Questions Answered by a Child Therapist","slug":"play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974","podcast_index_feed_id":845974,"rss_url":"https://thekidcounselor.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"https://www.playtherapyparenting.com/","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/3/f/7/e/3f7ea3faa10dfb58d959afa2a1bf1c87/Play_Therapy_Parenting_Podcast_Coverart.jpg","author":"Brenna Hicks","episode_count":228,"summary":"Parenting can be confusing—especially when you're dealing with tantrums, anxiety, aggression, emotional outbursts, sibling conflict, ADHD concerns, school struggles, or behavior that just doesn't make sense. On the Play Therapy Parenting Podcast, child therapist Dr. Brenna Hicks answers real parenting questions and helps you understand what's really going on beneath your child's behavior. Each episode provides practical insight into emotions, development, behavior, and the parent-child relationship so you can respond with greater confidence and connection. No gimmicks. No parenting hacks. No Ads! Just straightforward guidance from over two decades of working with children and families.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-26T00:18:03.524200+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974"},"episode":{"title":"S3E26 - Parent Companion for Play Therapy: Understanding Anxiety in Child-Centered Play Therapy","slug":"s3e26-parent-companion-for-play-therapy-understanding-anxiety-in-child-centered-play-therapy","published_at":"2026-01-15T19:23:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/s3e26-parent-companion-for-play-therapy-understanding-anxiety-in-child-centered-play-therapy","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974","url":"https://thekidcounselor.libsyn.com/s3e26-parent-companion-for-play-therapy-understanding-anxiety-in-child-centered-play-therapy","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thekidcounselor/PlayTherapyParenting_3_26_Anxiety.mp3?dest-id=689050","summary":"In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I focus on anxiety — one of the most common reasons parents seek child-centered play therapy for their children. I explain how anxiety usually isn't something that suddenly appears, but instead reflects an underlying predisposition that has been present for a long time. Often, a single event brings that anxiety to the surface, and from there, children begin fearing the fear itself. As anxiety increases, so does a child's need for control, which is why anxiety and power struggles so often show up together. I walk through what anxiety looks like inside the playroom, including resistance, hesitation, and the slow pace anxious children need in order to feel safe. I explain how fear-facing play, repetition, and desensitization help children rebuild trust in themselves. Over time, as anxiety decreases, we also see a decrease in control behaviors, alongside increases in self-esteem and emotional vocabulary. This episode helps parents understand what anxiety really is, how CCPT addresses it, and how growth in therapy leads to lasting change beyond the playroom. 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.). Routledg…","meta_description":"In this episode of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy series, I focus on anxiety — one of the most common reasons parents seek child-centered play ther…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1029,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/episodes/s3e26-parent-companion-for-play-therapy-understanding-anxiety-in-child-centered-play-therapy/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/play-therapy-parenting-real-parenting-questions-answered-by-a-child-therapist-845974/s3e26-parent-companion-for-play-therapy-understanding-anxiety-in-child-centered-play-therapy.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}