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In this episode, I answer a question about birth order and, specifically, what research and clinical experience tell us about only children. While birth order doesn't change how I practice child-centered play therapy, it does provide valuable insight into family dynamics, personality development, and the parent-child relationship. I explain why only children often develop differently from oldest, middle, and youngest siblings, how growing up primarily around adults shapes their worldview, and why understanding birth order can become a powerful tool when working with parents. I also discuss how birth order influences identity, family roles, and relationships, and why therapists can use this knowledge to help parents better understand their children without ever changing their adherence to the CCPT model. This episode explores how birth order provides context—not conclusions—and offers practical ways to support families by recognizing the unique strengths and challenges that come with each birth role. Episode Reference: Richardson, R. W., & Richardson, L. A. (2000). Birth Order and You (2nd ed.). Self-Counsel Press. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Military life brings unique parenting challenges, finding the right support can make all the difference. In this episode, we explore the Parenting-STAIR (P-STAIR) intervention model—specially adapted to help military-connected moms build confidence, manage stress, and strengthen family relationships. Learn how military and veteran moms can join the study.
In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling break down a key insight from a precision nutrition study — that insulin resistance isn't just one condition, and identifying whether yours sits more in the muscle or the liver could be the missing piece that finally makes your fasting lifestyle click. They walk through the two distinct patterns, explaining how each one shows up differently in how you feel after meals, how your energy moves throughout the day, and where you tend to carry extra weight. The hosts then translate that into practical fasting and nutrition guidance for each group, showing how pairing the right macronutrient emphasis with a consistent fasting window creates a more personalized and sustainable path to fat loss. Both Scott and Tommy share their own experiences fitting into these two buckets, making the conversation relatable and grounded in real-world application rather than clinical theory. This week's action step is to grab the free resource in the show notes, identify which pattern resonates most with you, make a few targeted plate changes, and give it two weeks to feel the difference — because when fasting meets the right fuel, the results follow. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: ***NEW RESOURCE!*** GRAB THE INSULIN RESISTANCE BUCKETS SUMMARY GUIDE SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413122005393
In this refreshingly honest episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling tackle one of the most common frustrations in the fasting community — when fasting stops producing results — and make the case that the problem is rarely fasting itself, but the context surrounding it. They walk through three major blockers that quietly undermine progress: a fasting schedule that doesn't match your current lifestyle or physiology, food choices inside the nutrition window that are working against the fast, and the tendency to push harder with longer fasts instead of adjusting smarter with smaller targeted changes. The hosts share a candid story about delivering 100 customized fasting plans early in the podcast's history, only to discover that the plan itself was never the missing piece — consistency within real life always wins. They also highlight how intentional morning hydration with quality mineral salts acts as a universal lever that supports all three blockers at once, helping to calm cravings, stabilize energy, and make the next fast feel easier. This week's challenge is simple: identify which of the three blockers resonates most, pick one small adjustment — whether that's shifting the eating window earlier, cleaning up the nutrition opportunity, or protecting sleep — and give it a week to feel the difference. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: ***NEW RESOURCE!*** GRAB THE INSULIN RESISTANCE BUCKETS SUMMARY GUIDE SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them!
In this episode, I begin a new series exploring what I believe is wrong with the play therapy field today. I share a surprising piece of anonymous conference feedback that challenged me personally, but more importantly, raised a much deeper question: Have some play therapists lost the heart of this work? I revisit the progression from Rogers to Axline to Landreth and argue that love, empathy, genuineness, and deep respect for children have always been at the center of our model. I also challenge the growing tendency to approach play therapy as simply a job or a set of techniques rather than a deeply relational calling. I explain why feeling compassion for our clients is not a weakness, why tears don't compromise professionalism, and why maintaining a tender heart is essential to remaining faithful to the child-centered philosophy. If we lose our capacity to grieve alongside children, we risk losing the very foundation of what makes CCPT so transformative. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Curious how respiratory therapists can master blood gas testing in an increasingly complex clinical landscape? This episode of the AARC Perspectives podcast features Wendy Gardner, BBA, RRT, and Cindy Raymond Buckley, BSRT, RRT, as they discuss the evolution of blood gas testing and AARC's new microcredential, designed to empower RTs to deliver more precise, confident respiratory patient care.Learn more about the AARC's new blood gas microcredential. This activity is supported by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc.Send us your thoughts on this podcastThank you for listening! Learn more at aarc.org
In this episode, I answer a question about one of the most nuanced aspects of child-centered play therapy: knowing when to return responsibility to a child and when to step into a nurturing role during regressive play. If a child is pretending to be a baby, should I get their bottle or blanket? What if they continue asking me to do things after the role play ends? I explain why there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, the key is understanding why the child is asking. Whether the request is rooted in role play, power and control, learned helplessness, cooperation, or a genuine need for nurturance determines how I respond. I also clarify the difference between the encouragement pillar and returning responsibility, and why it's important not to confuse the two. Throughout the episode, I emphasize that CCPT is never about rigid rules—it's about understanding the child's motivation and responding in a way that protects both the therapeutic relationship and the child's growth. This conversation highlights the importance of clinical discernment and trusting the principles of the model rather than relying on automatic responses. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this fascinating deep dive, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling break down a landmark study from Nature Metabolism that tracked what happens inside the body during a seven-day water fast — and the findings go far beyond weight loss. The hosts walk through the three distinct phases of an extended fast, explaining how the first 48 hours switches the body into fat-burning mode, day three triggers a dramatic biological renovation involving immune function, brain health, and cardiovascular protection, and days five through seven begin locking in longer-lasting metabolic changes. One of the most reassuring takeaways is around lean muscle loss — the hosts explain why the apparent muscle decrease during a longer fast is largely water and glycogen, not actual tissue, and how fat loss from the fast is what actually stays off. They also address how everyday fasters can capture some of these deeper benefits through consistent fasting windows, strategic low-carb nutrition opportunities, and proper electrolyte support without needing to do a week-long fast. The episode closes with practical guidance on how to break an extended fast gently — starting with easy proteins and healthy fats — and a challenge to pull out the calendar and schedule your next longer reset before the week is out. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Link: https://staycuriousmetabolism.substack.com/p/what-happens-to-your-body-during?publication_id=2682303&post_id=201125972&r=wn02o&triedRedirect=true
In this final episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a myth that many child-centered play therapists quietly carry with them: the belief that if we practice long enough, we'll eventually become 100% adherent to the model. I explain why adherence isn't something that develops automatically with experience or time. Instead, it is a moment-by-moment commitment grounded in a deep understanding of why we do what we do. True mastery doesn't come from repetition alone—it comes from purposeful, intentional practice rooted in the philosophy of child-centered play therapy. I also share why even the most experienced CCPT therapists continue to make mistakes, and why that shouldn't discourage us. While fidelity to the model is essential, perfection is not the goal. The therapeutic relationship remains at the heart of the work, and our commitment to continual growth is what allows us to become increasingly faithful to the model over time. This episode is an encouragement to pursue excellence without expecting perfection, trusting that every session is another opportunity to grow as a child-centered play therapist. Play Therapy Professional Coaching is OPEN for enrollment! Only 2 spots left! The next cohort will start on August 17th, meeting on Mondays @ 12pm EST. Click the following link for more information: https://playtherapycoaching.com/ptpro/ New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question about what to do when children create artwork or craft projects during child-centered play therapy. Should they take their creations home? Should therapists keep them? And if a child spends an entire session coloring or painting, are they missing out on "more important" therapeutic work? I explain why the child's creations should never be displayed in the playroom, how to approach the child's choice to take projects home or leave them with the therapist, and why preparing parents ahead of time to respond neutrally is an important part of preserving the therapeutic process. I also address a deeper assumption hidden within the question—the idea that some ways of spending a play therapy session are better than others. Child-centered play therapy calls us to release that mindset entirely. Whether a child spends the session creating art, building, talking, sitting quietly, or doing nothing at all, I explain why every moment is therapeutically valuable when we truly trust the child, embrace expectancy rather than expectations, and remain fully committed to the CCPT model. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana and New Jersey. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th, and I just added New Brunswick, New Jersey on Oct. 18th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Executive Director Jay Height discusses the vision and mission behind Shepherd's new Launching Center.
In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling unpack the cortisol-dopamine-insulin loop — the hidden neurochemical cycle that drives cravings, emotional eating, and the "one bad decision snowball" that so many fasters experience. They explain why this isn't a willpower problem but a hormonal and behavioral feedback loop rooted in stress, sleep deprivation, and the brain's hardwired search for quick energy and dopamine reward. The hosts walk through each stage of the loop and share practical pattern interrupts — from breathwork and environment changes to proper mineral and electrolyte support — that can break the cycle before it restarts. A key insight from the episode is the cortisol-sodium connection, and how simply prioritizing proper hydration with unrefined salts first thing in the morning can calm the entire stress response system and make fasting feel dramatically easier throughout the day. The conversation wraps with a reminder that protecting sleep, eating earlier in the day, and building consistent fasting windows are the long-game levers that finally let your physiology work for you instead of against you — and this week's action step is to identify where you tend to enter the loop and apply just one targeted tool to interrupt it. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Link: https://drjockers.com/electrolytes/
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle one of the most common labels adults place on children: "They're just manipulative." I explain why manipulation requires cognitive planning, rational thinking, and intentional strategy—abilities that children simply don't possess developmentally. Instead, I unpack the difference between manipulation and conditioning, showing how children learn through emotional experiences and repeated interactions with the adults in their lives. When we view behavior through a child-centered lens, what appears to be manipulation is actually a child trying to meet emotional needs in the only ways they know how. I also discuss how this understanding transforms our conversations with parents. Rather than accepting the label of "manipulative," we can help caregivers recognize how patterns of reinforcement shape behavior and how CCPT interrupts those cycles by preserving relationship, maintaining healthy limits, and fostering genuine emotional growth. This episode is a reminder that when we stop judging children's behavior through an adult lens, we begin to see what they truly need—and that's where healing begins. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana and New Jersey. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question about using whispering and "I wonder" statements during role play in child-centered play therapy. One of the biggest challenges therapists face is knowing when to continue in a role the child has assigned versus when to seek additional direction. I explain why our goal is never to improvise or steer the play, but rather to follow the child's cues while remaining fully adherent to the CCPT model. Sometimes the most therapeutic response isn't another question or wonder statement—it's simply reflecting what the child has already established and patiently waiting for the next cue. I also discuss how to know when a whisper or wonder statement is appropriate, why rushing role play can unintentionally influence the child's process, and how to avoid taking the play in a direction the child never intended. This episode offers practical guidance for navigating one of the most nuanced aspects of CCPT while reinforcing a simple principle: our role is to support the child's play, not shape it. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question from a new CCPT therapist who wonders whether a child who quietly builds with Legos session after session is really doing therapeutic work. When play seems repetitive, surface-level, or disconnected from the child's personal life, it's easy to question whether meaningful progress is being made. I explain why narration, predictable play, and even seemingly simple activities can be important parts of the therapeutic process, especially early in treatment. Rather than looking for deeper themes before the child is ready, I encourage therapists to trust that every aspect of a child's play has purpose and value. I also discuss the difference between symbolic play and thematic play, why not all play is thematic, and how our own desire to understand or "figure out" the play can interfere with true child-centered practice. This episode is a reminder that we don't have to rush children toward deeper work or ask questions to move therapy forward. Our role is to remain fully accepting, trust the process, and believe that children will naturally work on what they need in their own way and in their own time. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this power-packed episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling break down the eight hormones that are either working for or against your fat loss goals, and explain exactly how a consistent fasting lifestyle shifts that balance in your favor. They walk through the metabolic gatekeepers — insulin and glucagon — explaining why lowering the total daily insulin load through structured fasting windows is the master lever that makes every other hormone work more efficiently. The conversation moves into the appetite and stress hormones, covering how cortisol, leptin, and ghrelin all respond to sleep quality, meal timing, and consistent fasting windows, and why protein-first nutrition opportunities are the single biggest tool for quieting hunger and resetting cravings. The hosts round out the episode with a look at testosterone, estrogen, and growth hormone, sharing personal stories about how excess weight directly suppressed their own sex hormones and how fasting, sleep, and resistance training created a powerful upward spiral. This week's challenge is simple: pick one fasting habit, stack it with better sleep, and let time and consistency do the heavy lifting — because when the hormones are working for you, the results follow. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them!
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a misconception that exists even within the child-centered play therapy community: the belief that CCPT doesn't work with older children. Too many therapists assume that once children reach nine or ten years old, they have "outgrown" play therapy and need a more traditional talk therapy approach. I explain why this simply isn't true. While older children may express themselves differently and rely more on conversation and activity-based play, the foundational principles of CCPT remain exactly the same. Healing has never depended on toys—it has always depended on the therapeutic relationship. I also share practical insights from working with older children and adolescents, including why so many initially resist play but eventually embrace it as they experience genuine acceptance and emotional freedom. Whether you're working with a 4-year-old or a 14-year-old, the core conditions that Carl Rogers identified still apply. This episode is an encouragement to trust the model, challenge your own adulthood bias, and confidently offer child-centered play therapy to older children who need it just as much as their younger peers. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question about working with a young child who repeatedly tries to leave the playroom during the first few sessions of therapy. Whether the child says they need to see their parent, use the bathroom, or simply can't stay in the room, I explain why these behaviors are often rooted in anxiety, a need for control, and difficulty with emotional regulation—not a true desire to end the session. I walk through how to establish and enforce limits around staying in the playroom while remaining deeply empathic and accepting of the child's experience. I also discuss why consistency is essential when working with anxious children, how holding firm boundaries actually creates safety, and why giving in to escape behaviors unintentionally reinforces the child's anxiety. This episode offers practical guidance for managing "runners" in child-centered play therapy while reminding us that our role is to stay calm, trust the process, and help children discover that they are capable of working through difficult emotions without escaping them. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Imagine having a trusted roadmap for navigating food allergies during the infant and toddler years—whether you're a parent, caregiver, or healthcare professional. A newly launched platform from Mass General Brigham for Children may be changing the way families and clinicians access food allergy information. We're joined by the project lead behind FAMP-IT (Food Allergy Management and Prevention for Infants and Toddlers), Dr. Michael Pistiner, to explore this exciting new resource and why it could be a gamechanger for our community. Resources to keep you in the know:FAMP-IT - For FamiliesFAMP-IT - for Clinicians FAMP-IT Office Hours - for Clinicians with Dr. PistinerYou can find FAACT's Roundtable Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, Podbay, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube.Sponsored by: National Peanut BoardThanks for listening! FAACT invites you to discover more exciting food allergy resources at FoodAllergyAwareness.org!
In this episode, I answer a question about working with children who are being raised in nontraditional family systems, including homes where grandparents or other caregivers play a significant parenting role. I explore the unique challenges that arise when one caregiver embraces child-centered play therapy principles while others continue using more traditional parenting approaches. Rather than viewing these differences as obstacles, I share practical strategies for bringing everyone into the conversation, including involving extended family in parent consultations, using CPRT as a shared learning experience, and helping caregivers understand that they all want the same outcome—a more emotionally healthy, regulated child. I also discuss why consistency matters, but perfection isn't required. When one caregiver faithfully models CCPT principles over time, those attitudes and responses often begin to "bleed" into the rest of the family system. I explain how the therapist can serve as the educator, reducing tension between family members while advocating for the child and the therapeutic process. This episode is full of practical ideas for helping families navigate multigenerational parenting dynamics without losing sight of the healing power of child-centered play therapy. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this listener Q&A episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling tackle the real questions the fasting for life community has been asking, starting with an inspiring update from a longtime listener whose carnivore and OMAD lifestyle has kept him medication-free for years. They dig into whether flavored seltzers and electrolyte drinks break a fast, making the case for flexibility over rigid perfectionism as long as consistency stays the priority. The conversation shifts to extended multi-day fasts, with the hosts sharing how they personally use longer resets a couple times a year for the mental and metabolic benefits, while stressing that the real fat loss progress comes from consistent shorter fasting windows. They also offer guidance for postmenopausal women looking to get back into resistance training, pointing toward beginner-friendly strength programs and reminding listeners that the best routine is the one they'll actually enjoy and stick with. The episode wraps with an honest conversation about carb cravings, explaining why certain foods trigger loss of control and how a flexible, protein-first approach can help listeners stop viewing carbs as off-limits forever. As always, the takeaway is the same: progress comes from sustainable habits, not all-or-nothing rules. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links:
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle one of the most widely accepted assumptions in children's mental health today: that diagnosing and medicating children is the best path to helping them. I explain why child-centered play therapists often find themselves working against systems that prioritize labels and prescriptions before fully understanding the whole child. While there are rare situations where diagnosis and medication are appropriate, I challenge the idea that they should be the default response. Instead, I share why CCPT begins with trust—trust in the child, trust in the therapeutic relationship, and trust in the child's innate capacity for growth when the right conditions are provided. I also discuss how to navigate conversations with parents who are considering evaluations or medication, and why I encourage families to pursue a full course of child-centered play therapy before making those decisions whenever appropriate. Drawing on more than two decades of clinical experience, I explain why so many children experience remarkable transformation without diagnoses or medication, and why preserving a child's identity and emotional development should remain at the center of our work. This episode offers practical talking points and reinforces the role of the CCPT therapist as a compassionate advocate for the whole child. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question about working with a 7-year-old child with a profound history of neglect, abandonment, foster placements, reunification, and complex attachment trauma. Sixty-six sessions into the therapeutic process, the child continues to demonstrate significant dysregulation, attempts to flee the playroom, intense verbal aggression, and destructive behaviors. I explore why these behaviors are not signs that therapy is failing, but rather evidence of the child's desperate need for safety, control, and unconditional acceptance. I also discuss how trauma, attachment disruption, and reunification can create powerful fears of loss that naturally emerge in the playroom. I also offer practical guidance for navigating highly dysregulated sessions, including strategies for managing escape attempts, avoiding power struggles, prioritizing reflections and limit setting, and remaining grounded when external pressure pushes therapists toward more directive interventions. Most importantly, I explain why children with significant attachment wounds often "test" the therapeutic relationship—not to manipulate the therapist, but to discover whether someone will finally remain present, accepting, and trustworthy no matter how difficult things become. This episode is a reminder that some of the most challenging cases require the deepest trust in the child, the process, and the transformative power of the therapeutic relationship. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question about how to handle the end of a play therapy session when a child is deeply engaged in an activity and isn't finished when time runs out. While it's natural to want to help children find closure, complete a project, or avoid frustration, I explain why those desires can subtly shift us away from adherence to the child-centered model. CCPT requires us to trust that whatever happens at the end of a session—even disappointment, frustration, or unfinished work—is therapeutically valuable. I discuss the importance of avoiding therapist agenda, honoring the time limit, and trusting the child's process even when it feels uncomfortable. I also provide practical guidance on end-of-session transitions, including how to use five-minute and two-minute warnings effectively, how to navigate unfinished art projects and games, and how to think through limit-setting when a child refuses to stop playing after time is up. Along the way, I explore why our wording matters, how subtle language choices can reveal drift from the model, and why consistency with limits ultimately helps children learn responsibility, ownership, and self-regulation. This episode is a reminder that some of the most important therapeutic work happens in the moments when things don't go exactly the way either the therapist or the child would prefer. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this fascinating episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling reveal why willpower is not a fixed personality trait but a biological state shaped by your morning cortisol response, circadian rhythm, and light exposure — and how understanding this changes everything about your fasting consistency. They break down the science behind why so many fasters cruise through the day only to find themselves standing in the pantry at night, and why the fix starts in the first 60 minutes after waking. The hosts walk through practical morning anchors — consistent wake times, outdoor morning light, early low-intensity movement, delayed caffeine, and protein-forward earlier meals — that prime the brain's decision-making center to stay strong when ghrelin peaks and temptation hits later in the day. They also tackle the evening danger zone, explaining how blue light exposure quietly shifts your risk-reward thinking and erodes the prefrontal control you built all day, making light discipline and a closed kitchen ritual non-negotiable tools for fasting success. This week's challenge is simple: pick one morning lever and one evening guardrail, stack them consistently, and watch how much easier it becomes to close your fasting window and wake up with a win. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811915007259 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-97370-z
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle one of the most common misconceptions in child-centered play therapy: the belief that therapists have to figure out what a child's play means. Many clinicians feel pressure to identify themes, decode symbolism, interpret behavior, and connect every play sequence to a specific life event or presenting concern. While symbolic and thematic play certainly exist, I explain why understanding the meaning of the play is not what makes CCPT effective. In fact, becoming overly focused on interpretation can pull us out of the moment and away from the very thing that matters most—our presence with the child. I share examples from my own clinical work and discuss why CCPT works even when we don't fully understand what is happening in the playroom. The child is the one doing the work, not the therapist. Our role is not to analyze, diagnose, or solve the play. Our role is to provide the therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic environment while trusting the child's innate capacity for growth. When we become preoccupied with figuring everything out, we risk missing the child's experience entirely. This episode is a reminder that trust—not interpretation—is the foundation of child-centered play therapy. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
Foundations of Amateur Radio The other day I was asked a question on social media. Having answered this question several times before, I admittedly .. initially .. groaned, then provided the bare bones of a response. A little while later, I recalled that I had provided a detailed response to this same question, as it turns out, five years earlier on a different social media platform, so I added another response that included the link to that answer. It all still felt very incomplete and inadequate and I couldn't leave it alone. Which leads me to the anxiety generating question and my response to it. Here goes: "[h]ow do you get into amateur radio? Is there like a 101 guide you could link me?" This is a question I've been answering for quite some time. Searching for the word "start" across the titles of my podcasts, there's 17 articles on the topic. So, having searched previously and fruitlessly for something resembling a universal answer, this to disclaim that I didn't look again and perhaps someone else has done something about it, I started a new project, because of course I did. I named it: "Getting Started in Amateur Radio" and published it on my GitHub repository. The intent of the project is to give the visitor a gentle introduction to the hobby, provide some idea of why you need a license, how it's different from things like the Citizen's Band, how you'll be starting on a life-long journey and introducing the concept that each country is slightly different. Think of it as an onramp into the hobby and our community. To deal with those, essentially legal differences between countries, I also consulted the International Telecommunications Union, the ITU, and created a folder structure of Regions and within it a folder for each country that the ITU as a United Nations specialised agency recognises. Before you ask, Yes, I'm aware that the UN doesn't recognise some countries that you might. I don't know how the International Amateur Radio Union, the IARU, our global representative body deals with that. If you know, get in touch. Since I'm based in Australia, I started with populating the information there. It contains some information about the regulator, representative bodies, callsigns, links to more information and hopefully initial information sufficient to "find" the community. It's still a work in progress, but it gives a good idea of the intent. Now comes the hard part. You. My log processing tool, "awstats", tells me that there are 209 different countries in my logs that represent you listening, reading and sharing my articles. So, I daresay that between all of us there is enough to cover pretty much all of the globe and with it, personal knowledge on how to become an amateur in your country. So, as one amateur to another, let's get on-air and make some noise! Let's try and document what's needed to become an amateur in your country. Please supply issue tickets, patches, emails, whatever you like, to get the information pertinent to your experience into one central place, so next time someone asks any of us: "How do you get into amateur radio?", there's a place we can share, that you contributed to and that contains the information pertinent to anyone who'd like to play. Look forward to hearing from you. I'm Onno VK6FLAB
In this episode, I answer a question about allowing interns, supervisees, and other clinicians to observe child-centered play therapy sessions. I discuss what happened when an intern sat in on a session and unintentionally disrupted the therapeutic process by interacting with the child in a directive manner. Using this scenario as a springboard, I share what I believe are the essential best practices for introducing another person into the playroom, including obtaining permission from both the parent and the child, thoroughly preparing the observer beforehand, and debriefing after the session to help them understand what they observed and why. I also explore how the presence of an observer can impact the therapeutic relationship and the child's behavior. Children may respond differently when a new person enters the room, and it is important that the therapist maintain the alliance with the child while helping the observer understand the philosophy and techniques of CCPT. This episode provides practical guidance for therapists who are training others and serves as a reminder that successful observation experiences depend on preparation, clear expectations, and preserving the integrity of the child-centered relationship. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling challenge the idea that the number on the scale is the best measure of metabolic progress, revealing why fasting is less about making the scale move and more about why it's moving. They break down the critical difference between being metabolically healthy at a higher weight versus metabolically at-risk at a normal weight, and why BMI alone misses the full picture. The hosts walk through five key markers to track alongside fasting — waist circumference, fasting glucose and insulin, triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, blood pressure, and visceral fat indicators — and explain how each one reflects real metabolic healing that the scale simply can't show. Listeners will come away understanding why consistency with fasting windows and simplified, protein-forward food choices accelerates cellular healing far more than chasing a daily weigh-in number. As a challenge this week, Dr. Scott and Tommy encourage listeners to measure their waist-to-height ratio, pull their most recent labs, and set one new scoreboard metric to track their true metabolic progress. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://www.levels.com/blog/what-can-weight-tell-you-about-your-metabolic-health
In this special episode, I take a break from the MythBusters series to reflect on the life, influence, and legacy of Dr. Garry Landreth. Like so many in the child-centered play therapy community, I have spent the past several days processing the loss of a man whose work shaped not only my career, but also my identity as a therapist, teacher, coach, and advocate for children. I share personal stories from my interactions with Garry, including my first conversation with him, a memorable discussion about proper citations, and the qualities that made him such a remarkable ambassador for the model he championed. More than anything, I reflect on the congruence he embodied—how he didn't simply teach child-centered play therapy; he lived it. I also explore the profound impact Garry's work has had on generations of therapists and children around the world. As I process what his passing means for the future of CCPT, I discuss the responsibility we now carry as practitioners to preserve, protect, and faithfully steward the model he helped establish. This episode is both a tribute and a challenge—a reminder that Garry's legacy lives on through every therapist who continues to trust children, honor their innate capacity for growth, and remain committed to the principles of child-centered play therapy. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a follow-up question about children bringing items from home into the playroom and explore a specific scenario involving a child who brings schoolwork and homework into session. I discuss why children often bring meaningful objects from their lives outside the playroom and why those items can serve important purposes, including self-soothing, safety, connection, and communication. Rather than focusing on whether an item is traditionally considered a "play therapy toy," I encourage therapists to consider the deeper significance of why the child chose to bring it and what need it may be meeting in that moment. I also share my perspective on children reading books, completing homework, or engaging in other nontraditional activities during session. When we truly trust the child and trust the process, we recognize that every choice the child makes is meaningful and necessary for their therapeutic journey. Whether a child spends the session playing, reading, coloring, doing homework, sitting quietly, or simply being present, our role remains the same: provide acceptance, reflect the child's experience, and honor their autonomy. I also discuss how to navigate parent reactions when a child's choices in session don't align with adult expectations and why setting clear expectations with parents is a critical part of supporting the therapeutic process. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS June 10th, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In this episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling dive deep into what they call the insulin matrix — the idea that chronic disease, weight loss resistance, and metabolic dysfunction are fundamentally insulin problems that develop quietly for years before showing up in labs or on the scale. Inspired by a conversation between Dr. Rhonda Patrick and Dr. Ben Bikman, the hosts explain why fasting is uniquely powerful not just for losing weight, but for changing how and where the body stores and releases energy at a cellular level — shrinking overfilled fat cells rather than simply creating a calorie deficit. They break down why a consistently high-insulin environment, even with good food choices, can keep the body locked in fat-storage mode and why stacking more daily "insulin-off hours" through foundational fasting is the most direct lever for restoring metabolic flexibility. The hosts also walk through the key lifestyle multipliers that either amplify or undermine the fasting effect — sleep, movement, food quality, and stress management — and why matching your fasting intensity to your current life load produces better long-term results than white-knuckling aggressive extended fasts. Listeners leave with a clear, trackable one-week action plan focused on morning energy, cravings, and fasting comfort as early signs that the insulin matrix is finally shifting in their favor. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them!
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle the belief that children need guidance to change. This myth is deeply embedded in our culture and shows up in many therapeutic approaches through advice, instruction, worksheets, lessons, and adult-directed interventions. I explain why this assumption directly contradicts the foundations of person-centered and child-centered theory. From the beginning, Carl Rogers challenged the idea that people need an expert to tell them how to grow. Instead, he demonstrated that when the right conditions are present, human beings naturally move toward healing, growth, and self-actualization. Children are no different. I also explore what children actually need in order to change. Rather than guidance, they need a therapeutic relationship, a therapeutic environment, and unconditional acceptance. In CCPT, we trust that children understand their struggles and possess an innate capacity to work through them. Our role is not to write the script, direct the action, or determine the path forward. Instead, we provide the stage and trust the child's process. This episode is a powerful reminder that effective therapy is not about controlling change—it is about creating the conditions where change can naturally occur. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
In this episode, I answer a question about a 7-year-old child whose play therapy sessions have been marked by extreme dysregulation, constant limit setting, destruction of materials, and very little observable progress after 16 sessions. I explore several possible explanations for this kind of presentation, including neurodivergence, developmental immaturity, a complete lack of experience with self-regulation and autonomy, and the possibility that the child is testing whether the therapeutic relationship can withstand his most challenging behaviors. I also discuss why children who appear chaotic externally are often revealing the chaos they experience internally, and why those behaviors can provide valuable insight into what is happening beneath the surface. Most importantly, I address the therapist's understandable concern that the process feels "clunky" and ineffective. When a child is this dysregulated, progress is often slower and less obvious, but that does not mean change is not occurring. I explain why these cases require extraordinary patience, trust, and adherence to the model, even when there is little external evidence that things are improving. Sometimes our most challenging clients become our most remarkable transformation stories. This episode is a reminder that CCPT is enough, that self-actualization is always occurring, and that our role is to trust the child, trust the process, and remain faithful to the model even when the journey is difficult. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS June 10th, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In this timely and motivating episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling tackle one of the most common fasting lifestyle challenges — how to stay consistent through summer without falling into the all-or-nothing trap that quietly undoes months of hard-earned progress. Using the simple but powerful "keepy uppy" analogy, they reframe the goal from perfect execution to simply never letting your fasting habits go to zero, making consistency feel achievable even during the busiest, most unpredictable weeks of the year. The hosts walk through five practical categories — fasting windows, food choices, hydration, movement, and mindset — offering concrete summer-specific strategies like anchoring just one end of your eating window, using travel days to extend rather than abandon your fast, and letting the event be your meal at barbecues and pool parties. They also share a key mindset shift for navigating social situations with food, emphasizing the value of choosing one indulgence on purpose rather than grazing mindlessly and regretting it later. The episode closes with an encouraging challenge: pick two or three of today's strategies, apply them now before the summer slips away, and you'll look back in September knowing you stayed in the game the whole time rather than starting over again from scratch. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them!
In this episode of the CCPT Mythbusters series, I tackle a belief that quietly shows up in many therapists' thinking: that what the child is doing in session isn't enough. Whether it's a child who only draws, only colors, only builds with Legos, or simply sits quietly week after week, there is often an underlying assumption that the child should be doing more. I challenge that assumption and explore how these thoughts reveal subtle agendas, expectations, and a lack of trust in the child's process. In child-centered play therapy, every behavior, every choice, and every moment in the playroom is meaningful. What the child is doing is enough because it is exactly what the child is choosing and able to do in that stage of their therapeutic journey. I also discuss how this myth can lead therapists away from full adherence to the model. When we begin believing that children should be talking more, playing differently, or progressing faster, we risk interfering with the very process we claim to trust. Instead, I encourage therapists to view every session through a lens of curiosity and confidence. The child who draws for twenty weeks, the child who makes a mess, the child who resists, and the child who sits in silence are all communicating something important. The more deeply we trust the child, the process, and the model, the more we can celebrate what is unfolding rather than wishing it were something else. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
IAMGOLD has published a consolidated mineral resource estimate for its Côté Gold mine in Ontario. New drill results out from Brixton Metals and Radisson Mining. American Pacific have commenced drilling in Montana. Aldebaran announces its spin-out arrangement of Centauri Metals. ______Terrahutton empowers junior mining companies to secure investment with immersive, interactive, and visually striking storytelling. Learn more about the Terrahutton platform HERE______This episode of Mining Stock Daily is brought to you by... Revival Gold Vizsla SilverEquinox GoldIntegra Resources
This week's episode is a special one—the recording of our 400th Play Therapy Podcast livestream celebration. What began as an experiment with six episodes has grown into a global community of child-centered play therapists, with listeners in more than 120 countries and nearly one million downloads. In this episode, I share some reflections on that journey, celebrate what we have built together, announce the launch of the Parent Companion for Play Therapy book, and discuss my hopes for the future of the child-centered play therapy community. One of the central themes of this conversation is the difference between consuming knowledge and taking action. I challenge therapists to move beyond simply learning CCPT and to begin sharing it—through mentoring, supervision, writing, speaking, advocacy, and leadership. I also discuss why no one drifts toward mastery, why competence requires intentional effort, and why our responsibility extends beyond our own playrooms. As our profession gains greater credibility and influence, I encourage listeners to see themselves not only as therapists, but as stewards of the model and advocates for children. The second half of the episode is an extended Q&A session covering a wide range of topics submitted by listeners. We discuss trusting the CCPT process when self-doubt creeps in, helping parents explain therapy to children, role-play dynamics in the playroom, graduate training options for CCPT therapists, screen addiction and its impact on children, termination criteria, unrealistic parental expectations, common therapeutic buzzwords, and much more. Whether you joined us live or are listening afterward, this episode captures the heart of what the Play Therapy Podcast has always been about: equipping, encouraging, and supporting therapists who are committed to helping children through the child-centered model. New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call (813) 812-5525, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast 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. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS June 10th, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In this listener Q&A episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling tackle five real questions from the fasting community, delivering honest, practical answers that cut through the confusion and help listeners troubleshoot their fasting journey with confidence. They address acid reflux during fasting — explaining why it happens in the early stages and what simple dietary and timing adjustments can calm it down — and give a realistic, honest answer to the common question of how long it actually takes to see results with a consistent 16 to 20 hour fasting window. The hosts also break down the protein shake debate, explaining how to think about workout nutrition within a fasting lifestyle and why adjusting the eating window timing may be a smarter solution than breaking the fast early. A listener dealing with frequent bathroom trips learns why this is a normal and even positive early sign of metabolic adaptation, and how proper mineral-based hydration makes all the difference. The episode wraps with an in-depth response to a listener navigating a weight loss plateau after rapid progress — covering the body's natural hormonal adaptation process, the risks of extended fasting without proper refeed planning, and why shifting to an earlier eating window and prioritizing protein are the keys to getting momentum back. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11154-026-10018-9
NEW RESOURCE! The Manager's Prompt Pack: Scripts for All Types in All SituationsDownload Now for just $47.Striving to Feel Perfect Meets Striving to Feel SafeWhat happens when the person striving to get everything right teams up with the person striving to feel safe and certain? In this episode of the Coworker Chemistry series, we're diving into one of the most quietly complex pairings in the Enneagram: Type 1 and Type 6.On the surface, these two look like the dream team. Both are dependable. Both are thorough. Both would rather over-prepare than be caught off guard. But underneath that shared work ethic, two very different strivings are running the show, and when they rub up against each other, things can get complicated fast.We're breaking down:Why the One's striving to feel perfect and the Six's striving to feel safe and secure are more compatible than they look...and where they can collideThe specific friction points this pairing creates (including why Six's questions feel like undermining to a One, and why One's certainty feels like a threat to a Six)How these two types communicate completely differently under stress, and what each one actually needs to hearWhat this dynamic looks like when a One is leading a Six, when a Six is leading a One, and what peer-to-peer looks like when trust is (and isn't) establishedThe growth paths that can turn this pairing from a loop of perfectionism and anxiety into one of the most reliable duos on your teamIf you work with a Type 1 or a Type 6 (or you ARE one!) this episode might feel a little uncomfortably familiar. :) Reflection Question from This Episode: Where on your team is someone striving to get it right and someone else striving to feel secure? And are you letting both of those be valuable?Resources + Links:Learn more about the Dream Team Momentum program hereConnect with Sarah on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahlynnwallace/Take the Enneagram assessment: the 2-question quizLooking for a gift for your coworker or boss? Find their type-specific mugHave a request for a future episode? Drop a text here!
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS June 10th, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In this research-backed episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling break down a gold-standard meta-analysis comparing the most popular intermittent fasting protocols head-to-head — time-restricted eating, alternate day fasting, and the 5:2 method — against traditional calorie restriction to see which approach actually moves the needle on blood sugar and insulin resistance. The hosts cut through the complexity to deliver a clear takeaway: time-restricted eating consistently wins for improving fasting glucose and A1C, while alternate day fasting is the most powerful tool for directly lowering insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels — the upstream markers that determine whether your body is stuck in fat-storing mode or freed up to burn. They also tackle the real-world gaps the research can't capture — the simplicity, food noise reduction, and decision fatigue relief that make fasting dramatically easier to sustain long-term compared to the slow grind of calorie counting. Listeners will come away knowing exactly how to match the right fasting tool to their current situation, whether the goal is better lab numbers, breaking through stubborn weight loss resistance, or building a flexible lifestyle that doesn't require restarting every Monday. The episode closes with a straightforward reminder that consistency in a foundational fasting window will always outperform an aggressive protocol done halfway — and that fasting wins not by being perfect on paper, but by being livable in real life. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them!
In this deep-dive follow-up episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling flip the metabolic conversation from insulin resistance to insulin sensitivity — explaining what it actually means for your cells to respond efficiently to insulin and why improving that response is the real key to lasting fat loss, stable energy, and long-term health. The hosts break down the four main drivers that quietly erode insulin sensitivity over time — excess visceral fat, poor food choices, chronic stress and sleep deprivation, and sedentary living — and why understanding each one helps listeners stop blaming willpower and start pulling the right levers. They walk through a practical framework for rebuilding insulin sensitivity, covering movement, a protein-forward low-carb nutrition approach, healthy fats and fiber, stress management, and sleep protection — with fasting anchoring the entire strategy as the single most powerful tool for giving the body a break from constant glucose and insulin demands. Listeners will come away with a clear understanding of why early eating windows consistently outperform late-night dinner schedules, and how the compounding effect of small daily choices either accelerates or undermines metabolic flexibility over time. The episode closes with a direct challenge: identify your personal weakest metabolic link from today's conversation and take one concrete action on it today — not tomorrow — because that next right decision is always just one choice away. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://www.levels.com/blog/how-to-improve-insulin-sensitivity?__s=72dghf497nkahcwgdg5y
For thirty years, the United States largely ignored critical minerals. We mined less, processed less, and stockpiled less — while China quietly built the most dominant mineral supply chain in modern history. When China imposed rare earth export restrictions in 2024, manufacturers from Detroit to Tokyo scrambled. The invisible inputs powering electric vehicles, semiconductors, AI data centers, and defense systems had suddenly become visible — and vulnerable.In this episode of TechSurge, host Sriram Viswanathan speaks with Dr. Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Mineral Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A mining economist with over a decade of field experience across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, Gracelin is one of the sharpest minds working on how the world secures the raw materials that make advanced technology possible.Gracelin brings a clarifying perspective to a topic that is often framed as a geopolitical contest: the real challenge, she argues, is economic. Until mining in allied countries is genuinely profitable — until the capital, energy infrastructure, processing technology, and policy stability are all in place — supply chain security remains aspirational, regardless of how many executive orders get signed.Sriram and Gracelin work through the full landscape: what critical minerals actually are and why the term matters, how China built its dominance not just through geology but through industrial strategy and foreign policy, and why the 29-year average timeline from mineral discovery to production creates a fundamental tension with the pace of technology investment. They examine the gap the CHIPS Act left unfilled, the case for aggregating allied demand to change the economics of new mines, and what tech CEOs are dangerously wrong to assume about their own supply chains.They also dig into the emerging policy architecture: Project Vault as a demand-driven civilian stockpile, the critical minerals ministerial that brought 55 countries to Washington, and the role of recycling and AI-driven exploration in accelerating a supply chain that cannot be built on mining alone.Ultimately, Gracelin argues that America's greatest advantage is not its geology — it is its capacity to innovate. But innovation without investment, and investment without durable policy, will not be enough. The window is open. The question is whether the commitment holds.If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Sign up for our newsletter at techsurgepodcast.com for updates on upcoming TechSurge Live Summits and future Season 2 episodes.Episode Links:Connect with Gracelin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracelinbaskaran/ Learn more about CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program: https://www.csis.org/programs/energy-security-and-climate-change-program/critical-minerals-securityTimestamps:[00:00] China's Rare Earth Wake-Up Call[02:57] The Origin Story Behind Gracelin[05:02] What “Critical Minerals” Actually Means[08:17] Saudi Arabia's Mineral Strategy Playbook[10:33] Why Economics Matters More Than Geology[13:54] Why New Mines Take Decades to Build[16:42] China's Supply Chain Dominance Explained[24:57] America's Workforce and Processing Problem[27:05] Innovation vs Scale in the Mineral Race[29:54] Can the US Rebuild Mineral Processing?[33:10] Startups, Capital, and the Mining Challenge[35:02] Belt and Road, Security, and Global Supply[41:19] The CHIPS Act's Missing Ingredient[46:21] The Policy Blueprint for Critical Minerals[51:59] Project Vault Explained[53:54] Rapid-Fire Takeaways and Final Reality Check
The challenges facing farmers and ranchers can take a toll on mental health and well-being. Chad Smith has more on how to weather the storm.
In this foundational episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling tackle the metabolic basics that most fasting resources skip — explaining why fasting alone isn't always enough and what's really happening beneath the surface when weight loss stalls or energy stays low. They break down metabolic health in plain English, unpacking the relationship between blood sugar, insulin resistance, and the chronic lifestyle conditions that develop silently for years before showing up in labs or on the scale. The hosts make a compelling case for why fasting is the most powerful single lever for restoring metabolic flexibility — not just because it creates a calorie deficit, but because it fundamentally reduces the number of glucose and insulin spikes the body has to manage each day. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of what optimal metabolic markers actually look like versus standard lab ranges, and why getting ahead of dysfunction early is far more effective than waiting for a diagnosis. The episode closes with a practical three-step action plan for the next seven days — clean up your fasting window with protein-first meals, move after your biggest meal, and protect your metabolic night shift by stopping food at least three hours before bed — giving every listener a concrete place to start regardless of where they are on their fasting journey. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://www.levels.com/blog/metabolic-basics?__s=72dghf497nkahcwgdg5y
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling dive into a clinical review on dietary restraint to unpack why so many weight loss efforts fail long-term — and how adopting a true fasting lifestyle addresses the root causes that dieting alone never can. They break down the three core drivers of weight regain — biological adaptation, environmental food pressures, and psychological habit patterns — and explain why understanding each one is just as important as the fasting plan itself. The hosts tackle the frustrating reality of weight loss plateaus head-on, reframing them as predictable "settling points" rather than failures, and offer a mindset shift that helps listeners stay consistent when the scale stops moving. Listeners will walk away with a clearer picture of how fasting uniquely addresses all three drivers at once — regulating insulin and hunger hormones, simplifying food decisions, and reinforcing the identity shift from chronic dieter to confident faster. The episode closes with a powerful three-path framework and a simple challenge: choose one sustainable behavior or mindset shift this week and begin building the fasting lifestyle that finally gets you into the 5% who keep the weight off for good. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cob.12134
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS April 22nd, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In this compelling episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling break down a groundbreaking study showing that simply moving your last meal at least three hours before bed — without changing calories, macros, or activity — can produce meaningful improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health markers. They explore how aligning your fasting window with sleep acts as a powerful lever for lowering nighttime heart rate, reducing diastolic blood pressure, cutting cortisol levels, and producing a sharper, more efficient insulin response the following morning. The hosts connect the research to real-world fasting lifestyle habits, explaining why protecting your overnight fast is one of the most underrated tools for reducing long-term cardiometabolic risk — whether you're new to fasting or already well into your journey. Listeners who rely on dinner OMAD or late-night eating windows will gain a fresh perspective on why shifting that meal earlier can be the missing piece that makes the next day's fast easier, cravings more manageable, and fat burning more efficient. The episode wraps with a clear, actionable framework: anchor your foundational fasting window around sleep, finish dinner earlier, and let the compounding benefits of better sleep quality and improved metabolic timing do the heavy lifting for your health. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13014689/pdf/nihms-2141791.pdf
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS April 22nd, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling break down a promising randomized controlled trial exploring how a simple time-restricted eating window can meaningfully improve cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment — and what that means for everyone's long-term brain health. The hosts connect the dots between blood sugar regulation, insulin balance, and the growing body of research linking metabolic dysfunction to dementia and Alzheimer's, making a compelling case for why fasting is about far more than the number on the scale. They walk through the key mechanisms behind fasting's brain-protective effects — including circadian alignment, reduced neuroinflammation, improved insulin signaling, and the promotion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor — and why eating earlier in the day may be one of the most underrated levers anyone can pull. Listeners caring for aging loved ones will find practical, immediately actionable strategies for shifting meal timing and building a brain-supportive environment, even in small ways. The episode closes with a powerful reminder that building a consistent foundational fasting lifestyle today — anchored by protein, quality sleep, and earlier eating windows — is one of the most proactive investments anyone can make in their cognitive future. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/calories-in-calories-out
***JOIN THE NEXT MASTER YOUR FASTING CHALLENGE THAT STARTS April 22nd, 2026!*** We'll GUIDE you on how to FAST to LOSE FAT for good, and use ‘fast cycling' to achieve uncommon results! REGISTER HERE! Click the link for DATES, DETAILS, and FAQs! In today's episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling settle the long-running debate between the calorie in/calorie out model and the carb-insulin model of obesity — and the answer might surprise you. They break down why fat loss is fundamentally a hormonal process, explaining how insulin acts as the gatekeeper to your fat stores and why fasting is one of the most powerful tools for creating the hormonal environment where the calorie equation finally works in your favor. The hosts walk through the actual physiology of fat loss — including how your body shrinks fat cells, not eliminates them — and why that matters for long-term weight maintenance and avoiding the rebound trap. They also tackle the often-overlooked drivers of weight loss resistance like poor sleep, chronic stress, and thyroid function, and how even one bad night of sleep can dramatically impact your body's ability to burn fat the next day. Listeners will come away with a practical three-part framework for identifying their primary hormonal roadblock — whether it's insulin, cortisol, or thyroid — and a personalized fasting strategy to match. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12750691/pdf/12877_2025_Article_6788.pdf
In this medication-prevention focused episode, Dr. Scott Watier and Tommy Welling analyze a late-2025 systematic review from Frontiers in Nutrition examining how simple time-restricted eating without any calorie counting significantly improves blood pressure and cardiometabolic markers in non-diabetic adults. They reveal that participants using 6-10 hour eating windows experienced drops in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, BMI, and triglycerides—all without tracking a single calorie or changing food choices—challenging the eat-less-move-more paradigm that fails 95% of dieters long-term. The hosts explain why blood pressure and cholesterol medications are typically the first dominoes to fall in the medication cascade, and how this study demonstrates that compartmentalizing eating times creates deliberate decreases in insulin levels across the day, making it harder for your body to guard long-term fat stores. They break down critical timing insights showing that metabolic benefits truly kick in at the 12-week consistency mark, with weight loss predicting blood pressure improvements more than duration alone, while emphasizing that even a modest eating window serves as foundational root-cause therapy that can help listeners avoid dependence on the medical system and medication cascade that dominates American healthcare. Take the NEW FASTING PERSONA QUIZ! - The Key to Unlocking Sustainable Weight Loss With Fasting! Resources and Downloads: SIGN UP FOR THE DROP OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL GRAB THE OPTIMAL RANGES FOR LAB WORK HERE! - NEW RESOURCE! FREE RESOURCE - DOWNLOAD THE NEW BLUEPRINT TO FASTING FOR FAT LOSS! SLEEP GUIDE DIRECT DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD THE FASTING TRANSFORMATION JOURNAL HERE! Partner Links: Get your FREE BOX OF LMNT hydration support for the perfect electrolyte balance for your fasting lifestyle with your first purchase here! Get 25% off a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone monitor (discount shown at checkout)! Click here! Our Community: Let's continue the conversation. Click the link below to JOIN the Fasting For Life Community, a group of like-minded, new, and experienced fasters! The first two rules of fasting need not apply! If you enjoy the podcast, please tap the stars below and consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it helps bring you the best original content each week. We also enjoy reading them! Article Links: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1631477/full