aPPROACHES
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) in Tampa & St. Petersburg, FL
Create a stronger and more connected relationship with your child through CPRT, an evidence based, play therapy trusted by families across Tampa and St. Petersburg. Child-Parent Relationship Therapy helps to improve behavior, emotional regulation and empowers parents with tools to maintain lasting emotional bonds & confidence at home.
What Is Child-Parent Relationship Therapy?
CPRT is a play therapy intervention designed to strengthen the bond between parents and children (specifically ages 3–10) while reducing emotional and behavioral challenges. Rooted in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), Child-Parent Relationship Therapy empowers parents (while under the guidance of a licensed therapist) to use structured play sessions that improve attachment, enhance emotional regulation, and address issues like anxiety, aggression, and dysregulation. It is an ideal approach for families seeking a nurturing, effective alternative to traditional child therapy.
understanding Child-Centered Play Therapy
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a therapy approach that allows children to express thoughts, emotions, and experiences through play. In a safe, non-directive environment created by the therapist, children lead the session while building emotional awareness, resilience, and self-confidence. Play therapy is particularly effective for children dealing with anxiety, trauma, behavioral challenges, or life transitions. Learn more about our play therapy services in Tampa & St. Petersburg.
Who in Tampa Can Benefit From CPRT?
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy is used to address a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges in both children and their parents or caregivers.
How CPRT Helps Children in Tampa
Tantrums and Emotional Outbursts
CPRT helps children learn to regulate big emotions, reducing tantrums and improving emotional resilience.Aggression and Defiance
Through structured play and parent coaching, CPRT decreases oppositional behaviors and improves cooperation.Anxiety and Social Withdrawal
CPRT fosters emotional safety and connection, helping anxious or withdrawn children feel more secure and expressive.
Benefits of CPRT for Parents
Parenting Stress and Burnout
CPRT reduces parental stress by increasing confidence and providing tools to manage daily challenges with calm and clarity.Discipline and Power Struggles
Parents learn effective, non-punitive discipline strategies that promote respect and consistent behavior change.Difficulty Connecting with Their Child
CPRT strengthens emotional bonds, helping parents feel more connected, attuned, and supported in their parenting role.
How Does CPRT Work?
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy is a structured, 10-session play-based program that teaches parents how to use therapeutic play to strengthen attachment, reduce challenging behaviors, and support their child’s emotional growth. Under the guidance of a licensed child therapist, parents attend weekly training sessions (typically without the child present), where they learn specific skills like reflective listening, emotion labeling, limit setting, and therapeutic responses to misbehavior. Parents then apply these skills in weekly 30-minute play sessions at home with their child, while receiving ongoing support and feedback from their therapist. CPRT is typically completed in 10–12 weeks and has been shown to improve parent-child connection, reduce emotional reactivity, and increase parenting confidence, making it ideal for families in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota seeking a proven approach to child behavioral improvement.
cprt has been proven to help improve
Parent-child attachment and connection
Emotional regulation in children
Parental confidence and stress levels
Child self-esteem and social relationships
Behavioral concerns without the use of punishment
Research shows that CPRT significantly reduces behavior problems in children and enhances the parent-child relationship in just 10–12 weeks.
What Should Parents Know About CPRT?
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy empowers parents to be the primary agents of change in their child’s emotional and behavioral health. The most important things for parents to understand are:
You Become the Therapist – CPRT is not about sending your child to therapy, it's about learning tools to create a healing, connected environment at home through structured, play-based interactions.
It’s About the Relationship, Not Control – The goal of CPRT is to improve emotional connection and attachment, which naturally reduces defiance, aggression, anxiety, and other behavior issues.
It’s Brief but Effective – CPRT typically lasts 10–12 weeks and is supported by over 20 years of research showing long-term improvements in behavior, emotional regulation, and family dynamics.
Practice Skill Development – CPRT gives you evidence-based tools you can continue using long after the program ends, including how to set limits, praise effectively, and respond calmly to difficult behavior.
How CPRT Fits Into a Child’s Treatment Plan
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy can serve as both a standalone treatment and a complementary intervention within a broader therapeutic plan, depending on the child’s needs and family goals. For many children (age 3–10), especially those with behavioral challenges, anxiety, or attachment disruptions, it is highly effective on its own.
However, CPRT can also be integrated with other therapy modalities like individual play therapy, trauma-informed care, or family systems therapy. At It Begins Within in Tampa and St. Petersburg, our clinicians often use CPRT as an early or foundational intervention to stabilize the parent-child relationship before progressing to more specialized treatments, such as trauma therapy or ADHD coaching. In this way, CPRT not only addresses immediate behavioral concerns but also strengthens the emotional framework needed for deeper healing.
Related Therapy Approaches & Services
We understand that each family’s needs are unique. In addition to Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), we offer several related approaches & services including:
Parent Coaching & Support – Personalized sessions to help parents navigate discipline, boundaries, and emotional regulation strategies at home.
Child-Centered Play Therapy – A developmentally appropriate therapy that helps children express emotions and process experiences through play.
Trauma-Informed Child Therapy – Support for children recovering from grief, divorce, adoption, or early life trauma.
Family Therapy – Facilitated sessions to improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen the overall family dynamic.
ADHD Therapy For Children – Practical strategies for focus, self-regulation, and behavior management.
CBT For Kids - Structured, evidence-based therapy that helps children identify unhelpful thoughts, manage anxiety, and develop healthy coping skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is CPRT designed for?
CPRT is ideal for children ages 3–10 who are experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges.
Is this therapy for the parent or the child?
Both. CPRT focuses on empowering you, the parent, to create a therapeutic environment for your child through relationship-based play.
Do I need to come every week?
Yes, weekly participation is key to CPRT’s success. We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate busy families.
How long does CPRT take?
Most programs run for 10–12 weeks. Some families choose to continue with booster sessions or transition to other forms of family therapy.
Schedule Free Consultation
Struggling with tantrums, defiance, or disconnection at home? Our Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) program helps parents in Tampa and St. Pete build stronger bonds and reduce behavior challenges through evidence-based, play-focused strategies.