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Podcast: Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy
Episode: 352 | Power, Control, and Anxiety: Unpacking the Child's Need for Dominance
Description: In this episode, I respond to Heather's question about a client who returned to therapy after a higher level of care. This child's play is dominated by themes of money, power, and control — and I explain how these themes often reflect underlying anxiety and a need to avoid vulnerability. I discuss how aggression frequently serves as a mask for powerlessness and how self-aggrandizing behaviors, like declaring oneself the "favorite," reveal deeper struggles with insecurity. I also share guidance on handling personal items children bring into the playroom and why these items often carry emotional or thematic significance. Ra...