Counseling Process Practice Test 2026 - Free Counseling Process Practice Questions and Study Guide

In play therapy with children, starting off with a non-directive stance is most effective. The therapist should keep comments observational and non-leading, describing what they see and reflecting the child’s feelings without interpreting or steering the play. This approach honors the child’s view, reduces pressure to define meaning too soon, and helps the child express worries and experiences in a safe, self-directed way. Building this trust and giving the child control early on lays a solid foundation for understanding the child’s inner world and guides later, more purposeful interventions if needed. Leading comments or interpretations at the outset can push the child’s play in the therapist’s direction and risk misreading the child's experiences, while criticizing the play undermines safety and rapport.