Setting Clear Expectations: How to Get Parents to Commit to Weekly Sessions

Play Therapy Podcast

In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Sarah in Missouri about encouraging parents to commit to weekly play therapy sessions. Sarah has noticed that some families are scheduling sessions every other week or missing several weeks in between, which is affecting the child's progress. I explain why consistency is crucial in child-centered play therapy (CCPT) and how to set clear expectations with parents from the start. I share strategies for communicating the importance of weekly sessions and how to articulate this in the initial parent consultation, using specific language to ensure parents understand the process and expectations.

I also offer practical advice on how to frame the conversation if parents are resistant to weekly sessions due to financial concerns, emphasizing that extended gaps between sessions simply lengthens the duration of therapy. Breaking down the commitment into chunks, such as scheduling five weekly sessions before re-evaluating, can help parents feel more comfortable with the process while ensuring the child receives the necessary consistency.

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Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Bratton, S. C., Landreth, G. L., Kellam, T., & Blackard, S. R. (2006). Child parent relationship therapy (CPRT) treatment manual: A 10-session filial therapy model for training parents. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.