Child-Parent Relationship Training
Children don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling or experiencing. Sometimes, their emotions, worries, and needs come through most clearly during play. Child-Parent Relationship Training (CPRT) is a structured, 10-session program that helps parents and caregivers recognize these moments as opportunities to better understand their children, strengthen their relationships, and learn how to respond to their emotional needs through play.
Throughout the program, I work with parents in a small group setting to teach skills rooted in child-centered play therapy. Parents learn how to recognize and respond to their child's feelings, build their confidence and self-esteem, encourage independence and self-responsibility, and establish appropriate limits. During our group sessions, you'll have opportunities to ask questions, share experiences, practice new skills, and receive guidance and feedback as you learn to apply these approaches at home.
An important part of CPRT involves setting aside 30 minutes each week for a special, structured playtime with your child using carefully selected toys. These playtimes are different from everyday play. Your child takes the lead while you follow, creating an environment where they can express their feelings and experiences without judgment, correction, or pressure. This dedicated time allows your child to feel heard, understood, and accepted while strengthening the relationship you share.
Rather than focusing solely on changing a child's behavior, CPRT focuses on strengthening the relationship between parent and child. The skills you learn throughout the program can also extend beyond these special playtimes, helping you communicate, connect, and navigate everyday challenges with your child.
How Can CPRT Help My Child?
Children need opportunities to explore their emotions without feeling pressured to explain themselves or respond in a particular way. CPRT creates space for these experiences while helping parents develop a deeper understanding of what's happening beneath their child's behavior.
As children begin to feel more connected to their parents and confident in themselves, they may develop greater emotional awareness, self-control, independence, and the ability to work through challenges. Through the special playtimes used in CPRT, your child has an opportunity to explore their feelings and experiences in an environment where they don't have to worry about being judged, corrected, or told what to do.
One of the most meaningful aspects of CPRT is that the benefits can extend beyond the 30-minute playtimes. As you learn to respond to your child's emotions with greater understanding and confidence, you begin building a different way of communicating and connecting with one another. These skills can help strengthen your relationship and create a foundation of trust, acceptance, and emotional security that continues long after the program ends.
Child-Parent Relationship Training (CPRT) is an evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Garry Landreth and Dr. Sue Bratton.
Building a stronger relationship with your child doesn't mean having all the answers or knowing exactly what to do in every situation. Sometimes, it's about learning to listen differently, recognizing what your child may be communicating, and finding new ways to connect.
Through Child-Parent Relationship Training, I'll help you develop skills that bring greater understanding, patience, and confidence into your relationship with your child. Together, we'll explore how small changes in the way you respond, communicate, and engage can make a meaningful difference.
The goal isn't to become a perfect parent or eliminate every challenge. It's to build a relationship where both you and your child can continue learning, growing, and feeling more connected to one another.