“I’m Literally So Good at This!”: Identifying and Working with Shame in the Child-Centered Playroom

In the child-centered playroom, shame often hides behind confidence, bragging, perfectionism, or silliness. When a child insists, “I’m literally so good at this!” we may be witnessing a protective response to feeling vulnerable, inadequate, or exposed. Part of the Play Therapy for the People series, this 3-hour zoom training helps clinicians recognize how shame shows up in play themes, understand the protective functions beneath these behaviors, and respond in ways that preserve dignity and strengthen a child’s sense of worth. Grounded in Child-Centered Play Therapy principles, participants will learn practical ways to track, reflect, and stay relationally present as children move from defending against shame toward experiencing themselves as capable, valued, and enough.