Description
Boundaries and limit setting are among the most fundamental aspects of effective play therapy practice. Yet despite being introduced early in our training, they remain some of the most complex and nuanced elements of therapeutic work with children. Boundaries are not static rules; they are living aspects of the therapeutic relationship that evolve alongside our professional development, personal experiences, and understanding of children’s needs.
This reflective and practice-focused Continuing Professional Development (CPD) webinar invites participants to revisit the role of boundaries and limit setting within the playroom. Together, we will explore how our own experiences, beliefs, anxieties, and therapeutic philosophies can influence the way we establish and maintain boundaries with children.
The session will examine the therapeutic purpose of boundaries, considering how they create safety, containment, predictability, and opportunities for emotional growth. Participants will explore the difference between boundaries that emerge from fear or self-protection and those that support authentic therapeutic connection while maintaining professional responsibility.
Drawing upon a range of recognised approaches to limit setting, the training will encourage discussion and critical reflection on different frameworks and their practical application in the playroom. Particular attention will be given to understanding boundary-testing behaviours, what children may be communicating through these interactions, and how therapists can respond with both firmness and empathy.
Through reflective exercises, discussion, and case examples, participants will deepen their understanding of how to hold therapeutic boundaries in ways that preserve both structure and attunement, supporting children to feel safe, understood, and emotionally contained.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this webinar participants will be able to:
Revisit the therapeutic purpose and function of boundaries within play therapy practice.
Reflect on how personal experiences, professional development, and therapeutic philosophy influence their approach to boundaries and limit setting.
Understand the role of boundaries in creating safety, containment, predictability, and emotional security for children.
Explore several recognised frameworks for therapeutic limit setting and consider their strengths and applications in practice.
Recognise the emotional impact of boundary-testing behaviours on therapists and identify strategies for responding effectively.
Understand boundary-testing as a form of communication and explore the underlying needs that may be expressed through such behaviours.
Develop confidence in responding to challenges in the playroom while maintaining both therapeutic authority and emotional attunement.
Strengthen their ability to hold boundaries ethically, compassionately, and consistently without compromising the therapeutic relationship.
Consider how boundaries can support both the child’s emotional development and the therapist’s professional wellbeing.
Why Attend?
Many therapists find that their relationship with boundaries changes throughout their career. Situations that once felt straightforward can become more complex as experience deepens and clinical judgement develops. This webinar provides an opportunity to revisit this essential area of practice with curiosity, reflection, and openness.
Participants will leave with a renewed understanding of how boundaries can serve as an expression of care, safety, and therapeutic presence—supporting children to explore, express, and grow within a relationship that is both secure and attuned.
