How Do Play Therapists Decide When to Include Parents in Play Therapy Sessions?

In the world of play therapy, it’s easy to get swept up in the child’s story. After all, they’re the identified client. They’re the ones we meet with, the ones we build rapport with, the ones we track progress around. But here’s the truth: when we overlook the role of parents in the therapeutic process, we risk missing opportunities for deeper healing, stronger relationships, and lasting change.

This episode is all about helping you pause and think intentionally about how and why you involve parents in play therapy—especially when those family systems feel… complicated.

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Clarify Your Core Beliefs

Before you figure out how to include parents in sessions, it’s important to know what you believe about play therapy.

Ask yourself:

Do I believe individual play therapy is always best?
Do I see parents as active partners—or as background characters?
What do I believe about the goal of play therapy?

Your answers will shape your decision-making—everything from whether to invite a parent in for a session, to how you respond when a child says, “Can my mom come in today?”

Being clear about your beliefs helps you avoid reactive decisions and instead build a strategy that’s intentional and aligned with your model.

Step 2: Align with Your Play Therapy Model

Different models have different philosophies when it comes to parent involvement.

Theraplay, for example, builds the parent directly into the treatment process.
Child-Centered Play Therapy may focus more on the therapeutic relationship between therapist and child, with parallel or supportive work with parents.

Ask yourself:

What does my model say about the role of the parent?
Do I align with that? Why or why not?
Where can I stretch or adapt based on my case conceptualization?

Understanding your model inside and out will help you stay grounded when the inevitable “Can my sibling come in too?” moments arise.

Step 3: Use Case Conceptualization as Your Compass

Your case conceptualization gives you the roadmap for whether and how to involve parents.

Look at:

What’s driving the child’s presenting concerns?
What family dynamics are influencing or perpetuating the issue?
Where are the patterns of safety and resiliency?

In some cases, you may identify insecure attachment patterns between a parent and child that need to be addressed directly through joint sessions. In others, a parent’s consistent presence might offer critical emotional support for a child working through trauma. For some families, including siblings or even extended family can deepen healing.

Your conceptualization helps you answer real-world questions like:

“Can my dad join us today?”
“Should I involve this caregiver at all?”
“How often should the parent be in session?”

Intentional answers flow from a clear, grounded understanding—not guesswork.

Application: Practice with Real Cases

One way to deepen this skill is by workshopping a current case:

Think of a child client, ideally one with complex family dynamics.
Review your initial assessment—what did you learn about the parent-child relationship? What three-generational patterns showed up?
Reflect on both the challenges and the strengths in the system.
Then, decide: Based on this, what is the parent’s role in treatment? How will you include them?

This kind of reflective exercise is a powerful way to sharpen your clinical thinking—and build confidence for your next tough decision.

So, What Now?

If you’re ready to feel more equipped in this area of your practice, I’ve created two courses designed to help you go deeper:

Getting Grounded in Case Conceptualization
Learn how to turn assessments and observations into clear case formulations that guide treatment—including decisions about parent involvement.
Getting Grounded Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy (No longer available)
A step-by-step guide for working with parents—especially when it’s hard. You’ll learn how to engage them using neuroscience and attachment frameworks, and how to turn even the most challenging dynamics into opportunities for growth.

These courses are designed to give you the clarity and confidence you’ve been craving—so you can stop second-guessing and start leading your sessions with intention.

Final Thoughts

Working with children in play therapy is powerful. But it becomes even more impactful when we understand and intentionally include the adults in their world. When we partner with parents effectively, we build bridges that last far beyond the therapy room.

So take a few minutes today to reflect: What do you believe about the parent’s role? What does your model say? And how can your case conceptualization guide your next move?

When you're ready for deeper support, the Getting Grounded Excellence Series of courses are here to help.

Categories: : Assessment, Case Conceptualization, Play Therapy, Play Therapy Model, Podcast, Role of parents