The Secret Life of Structuring

The Secret Life of Structuring is a 3-hour training that explores the often overlooked depth and nuance of structuring in Child-Centered Play Therapy. Grounded in CCPT theory and best practices, this class reframes structure as a relational, attuned process rather than a set of rules or scripted statements. Participants will examine how structure communicates safety, predictability, and respect for the child’s autonomy, and how it quietly supports regulation and trust from the very beginning of the therapeutic relationship. Through clinical examples and guided discussion, the training explores how structure flexes in response to trauma, neurodiversity, culture, and context without compromising the child-led foundation of CCPT. Common missteps such as over-structuring, inconsistency, or unintended power shifts are addressed, helping clinicians refine their language, presence, and clinical decision-making. Participants will leave with greater clarity, confidence, and practical tools for using structure intentionally to support safety, autonomy, and meaningful therapeutic change in the playroom.