Lessons from the Playroom: Recent Episodes

Lisa Dion

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute's “Lessons From the Playroom” Podcasts are a series of recorded podcasts designed to help therapists understand the little lessons that kids teach us that make a big difference in the play therapy process.

Our podcast host, Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an innovative and inspiring teacher and pioneer in play therapy. She founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and the creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, a cutting-edge model of play therapy that bridges the gap between neuroscience and psychology. Lisa teaches and supervises all over the world, helping transform the lives of thousands of therapists and children. With these podcasts, she'll teach you practical ways to transform both you and the child clients you work with. These inspiring educational lessons are sure to leave you feeling more confident and excited for your next session!

Originally aired April 8, 2025

"Every part of us, even the ones we've been taught to reject, holds the potential for growth and healing." – Mili Shoemaker

Aggression in the playroom is a familiar topic—but what happens when it's not coming from the child, but from within us as therapists? This is a conversation we rarely hear in the play therapy world, yet it's a reality many therapists silently grapple with. In this eye-opening episode, Lisa sits down with Mili Shoemaker, a seasoned play therapist, Synergetic Play Therapy trainer, and clinical supervisor, to explore what it means when therapists feel their own aggression arise in session.

With honesty and compassion, Lisa and Mili unpack the discomfort, shame, and stigma that often accompany these experiences. They dive into the protective patterns that emerge when we try to suppress these feelings, and how true healing begins when we stop rejecting these parts of ourselves.

Together, Lisa and Mili explore:

✨ The taboo of therapist aggression – Why this conversation is missing in the play therapy world and why it needs to be heard. ✨ Recognizing therapist activation – How to notice when your own history, protective mechanisms, and triggers show up in the playroom. ✨ Befriending aggression – How shifting from judgment to curiosity about our own aggressive parts creates deeper therapeutic presence. ✨ Embodied expression vs. catharsis – Why aggression isn't something to suppress, but also isn't about explosive release. ✨ The unmet needs beneath aggression – Understanding what these feelings are signaling and how to meet them with self-compassion. ✨ Breaking free from shame – How to reframe aggression as part of our full humanity rather than something to fear or reject. ✨ Integration and authenticity – Why making space for all parts of ourselves strengthens our ability to hold space for our clients.

This episode is an invitation to step into a conversation that has been long overdue—to acknowledge, explore, and ultimately embrace a part of ourselves that holds the potential for healing and growth.

🔗 Tune in and take the next step toward deeper self-acceptance and authenticity in the playroom.

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Originally aired March 25, 2025

"Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs." – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Tony Vallance from the Building Better Brains Clinic for a conversation about supporting children with ADHD through play therapy. ADHD is often misunderstood, but with the right tools and understanding, play therapists can help children tap into their strengths while navigating the challenges they face.

This conversation also explores ADHD from a dual perspective—not only through the experiences of the children we work with but also by reflecting on how therapists who identify as neurodivergent or have ADHD/ADD engage with their clients. How do we navigate the "mirrors" or parts of ourselves we see reflected in the children we serve?

Together, Lisa and Tony dive into:

What Play Therapists Need to Know About ADHD: Tony explains the core characteristics of ADHD and how play therapy can help children manage the unique challenges of ADHD.
Creating ADHD-Friendly Play Spaces: Practical tips on designing sensory-friendly, ADHD-conscious therapeutic environments that foster emotional regulation and focus.
The ADHD Brain and Its Impact on Behavior: Insights into how ADHD affects cognitive functioning and behavior, and how play therapy helps children build strategies for resilience.
Supporting Caregivers and Challenging Stigma: The importance of empowering parents and caregivers, and how to combat the societal stigma placed on children with ADHD.
Integrating ADHD Strategies into Play Therapy: Practical strategies for play therapists to create more inclusive and effective therapy sessions.

This episode will help therapists reflect on their own experiences, both as professionals and as individuals who may share similar neurodivergent traits with their clients. Tony's wealth of knowledge and lived-experiences provide valuable guidance for clinicians and caregivers alike.

Tune in to explore the many perspectives on ADHD in play therapy and learn how to adjust your approach to make your practice more inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent children. 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Find Tony at www.buildingbetterbrains.com.au
Learn more about Hannah's work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Originally aired March 11, 2025

"Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs." – Hannah Young

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Hannah Young, an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor, and child-parent relationship practitioner, for a deeply moving conversation about the role of poetry in play therapy. Hannah shares how poetry can serve as a bridge between a child's inner world and therapeutic processing—offering a powerful way to witness, contain, and reflect their experiences.

With her unique blend of clinical expertise and personal storytelling, Hannah invites us to reimagine the role of language in the playroom—not just as a form of communication, but as a gift of presence, attunement, and deep connection.

Together, Lisa and Hannah explore:

✨ Poetry as a therapeutic tool – How writing and reflecting through poetry can deepen attunement and support self-regulation for both therapists and children. ✨ Capturing the unsaid – Using poetry to put words to children's experiences, especially in moments of struggle, transition, or emotional overwhelm. ✨ Bringing case notes to life – How therapists can transform their clinical reflections into mindful, compassionate narratives. ✨ Offering poetry back to the child – Ethical considerations, creative approaches, and the profound impact of witnessing a child's experience through poetry. ✨ The rhythm of healing – Understanding how poetry mirrors the tempo and flow of the therapeutic relationship.

And this episode takes an unexpected turn as Lisa is brought to tears for the first time on the podcast, moved by the depth and beauty of Hannah's words. In a moment of profound resonance, Lisa experiences firsthand the power of poetry to touch the heart, validate emotions, and create space for healing.

Join Lisa and Hannah for this heartfelt and illuminating episode, and discover how to integrate poetry into your practice in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and transformative. ✨🔗

Podcast Resources:

Learn more about Hannah's work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Originally aired February 25, 2025

"We all walk around in our little cultural bubble, and sometimes, without realizing it, that bubble shapes how we show up in the playroom." – Dr. Carmen Cubillo

In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa sits down with Dr. Carmen Cubillo, a clinical psychologist, Registered Play Therapist, and cultural advocate based in Australia, for an essential conversation about culture—our own, our clients', and how both shape the therapeutic relationship.

Together, Lisa and Carmen dive into:

✨ The therapist's cultural lens: How our personal cultural background influences the way we show up in the playroom and why it's crucial to reflect on it. ✨ Layers of cultural curiosity: Beyond heritage, how systemic and societal influences shape our clients' experiences and why we must stay open and adaptable. ✨ Cultural safety in therapy: What it means to be a culturally safe therapist and how unconscious biases can create barriers to connection. ✨ The importance of rupture and repair: Why acknowledging cultural missteps—rather than avoiding them—deepens trust and strengthens relationships. ✨ Connecting to the land: How understanding the cultural history of where you live can ground your practice and help you become more attuned to the experiences of the children and families you work with.

This episode is an invitation to lean into cultural awareness, embrace the discomfort of learning, and grow into more attuned and connected therapists. With Carmen's wisdom, vulnerability, and deep experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and expand your perspective.

💡 Join Lisa and Carmen for this transformative discussion and take your cultural curiosity to the next level.

🔗 Resources Mentioned: Learn more about Dr. Carmen Kubio and her work in culturally responsive play therapy.

🎧 Tune in, reflect, and lean on in. 💜

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: Feb 11, 2025

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Mili Shoemaker, a Synergetic Play Therapy supervisor trainer, long-time consultant, and dear friend. Together, they dive into one of the most foundational concepts in Synergetic Play Therapy: attachment to self.

Join Lisa and Mili as they explore:

How attachment to self differs from traditional attachment theories.
Why moments of mindful awareness are key to healing and integration.
The connection between attachment styles, perception, and self-regulation.
Practical ways therapists can foster attachment to self within themselves and their clients.
Personal stories and reflections on the profound impact of this concept in therapy and beyond.

Lisa also shares actionable insights, including a reflective exercise to observe and strengthen your connection to self throughout your week.

Whether you're a therapist, a parent, or someone curious about deepening your self-awareness, this episode is packed with transformative insights.

Grab a notebook, and tune in to learn why attachment to self is not only the cornerstone of healing but also the foundation for developing secure relationships with others.

Resources mentioned: 👉 The Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Course – https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-signature-programs/

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: Jan 28, 2025

In this episode, Lisa reconnects with Natascha Lawrence, a Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor, EMDR Practitioner, and founder of the FASD Institute, for an essential conversation about supporting children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) through play therapy. This is Part 2 of their dialogue, revisiting a topic that rarely gets the attention it deserves in the field of play therapy.

Together, Lisa and Natascha dive into:

What play therapists need to know about FASD: A holistic understanding of FASD as a whole-body diagnosis and its implications for therapeutic practice.
Creating neurodivergent-friendly play spaces: Practical steps to make playrooms sensory-safe and accessible for children with FASD and other neurodiverse conditions.
The FASD iceberg analogy: Understanding the layers beneath the surface and how they influence behavior, communication, and regulation.
Challenging the stigma: Reframing the narrative for children with FASD and their families, starting with compassion and respect.
Supporting caregivers: Why empowering parents and destigmatizing FASD is vital for meaningful therapeutic outcomes.

With Natascha's blend of professional expertise and personal insights as a parent of a child with FASD, this conversation provides invaluable tools and perspectives for therapists and caregivers alike.

Join Lisa and Natascha for this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, and discover how to make your play therapy practice more inclusive, effective, and empowering for children with FASD. 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Learn more about Natascha's work and the FASD Institute: www.fasdinstitute.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: Dec 31, 2024

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Georgie Wissen Vincent. She is a play therapist, co-founder of the Play Strong Institute, and co-author of The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, renowned psychotherapist, speaker, and author specializing in parenting and child development (...you likely know her from her co-parenting books with Dr. Dan Siegel). Together, they dive into the magic of play—not only as a therapeutic tool but as a way to strengthen relationships and foster meaningful connections.

Together, Lisa and Georgie explore:

Why play is more than just an activity—it's a language.
The importance of involving parents in the therapeutic process and how to make it meaningful.
A sneak peek into The Way of Play's "Play Strong Strategies" that blend neuroscience with practical tools for connection.
How this book fills a gap in resources for parents and therapists alike, offering an approachable way to communicate the magic of play.
Georgie's reflections on customizing play therapy to meet the unique needs of every child and family.
Tips for therapists to reconnect with their own playfulness.

Grab a notebook, and tune in for a conversation that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to bring new energy into your play therapy practice!

Podcast Resources:

The Way of Play Book: www.playstronginstitute.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/

Original air date: Dec 03, 2024

We're diving into another special Q&A episode of Lessons from the Playroom! Lisa is answering three thought-provoking questions from our listeners, offering insights into some of the tricky moments that arise in the playroom.

Tune in as Lisa explores messes, transitions, and those unexpected trips to the bathroom, unpacking what they might signify for the therapeutic process and how to respond with intention.

This week's questions include:

Jasmine asks: "What do you do when a child makes huge messes [in the playroom]?"

Lisa explores the art of setting boundaries while respecting the therapeutic needs behind the mess.

Amy asks: "How do you help a child transition when they don't want to leave the session?"

Lisa shares insights into the emotional significance of endings and how to make transitions smoother and more meaningful.

Heather asks: "What do I do when a child keeps leaving the session to go to the bathroom?"

You're invited to get curious about what is happening beneath the surface and what this behavior might reveal about the child's inner process.

This episode is packed with rich insights and practical takeaways to help you navigate some of the trickiest moments in therapy.

We love hearing from you! Have a question or scenario you'd like Lisa to discuss? Send your questions to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or submit an audio clip. Your stories inspire meaningful growth and learning for all of us.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: Dec 17, 2024

In this episode, Lisa welcomes back the inspiring Dr. Stacy Jagger, affectionately known as "Dr. Sassy," to dive into a topic that has shockingly never been fully explored in the series: working with the entire family system in play therapy. With her groundbreaking Mountain Method and a reputation for blending bold truth-telling with heartfelt humor, Dr. Stacy shares her unique approach to supporting families as a unit, rather than focusing solely on the child as the client.

Together, Lisa and Dr. Stacy discuss:

Reframing the family as the client: Why working with the entire system transforms outcomes.
A step-by-step roadmap: The Mountain Method's stages and how to engage every family member in the healing journey.
The role of creativity and intuition: How therapists can embrace their inner artist to navigate family dynamics.
Addressing resistance: Strategies for working with families who are hesitant to engage in the process.
Healing through play: The profound impact of helping parents reconnect with their own inner child to better connect with their children.

With her refreshing honesty and deep compassion, Dr. Stacy inspires therapists to think beyond traditional methods and reimagine what's possible when the whole family becomes part of the healing process.

Join Lisa and Dr. Stacy for a conversation that's as insightful as it is empowering, and discover practical tools and encouragement to bring more creativity, authenticity, and connection to your work with families.

Tune in to uncover how you, too, can support families in climbing their own mountains of transformation. 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Dr. Stacy Jagger's work: www.drsassy.com
The Mountain Method: www.themountainmethod.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: Nov 11, 2024

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa steps into the spotlight as she's interviewed by long-time colleague and Certified SPT Supervisor, Polly Douglass. Together, they explore Lisa's deeply personal experience of transitioning into the "empty nester" phase of life when her daughter left for college.

This episode isn't just for parents—whether you're facing a significant life change, are a therapist supporting others through transitions, or are simply curious about navigating life's changes, this conversation offers deep insights on how to move through them with intention and grace.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How the principles of Synergetic Play Therapy support navigating major life transitions
Lisa's personal reflections on the "empty nester" experience and conscious endings
Navigating parallel processes during life transitions with others
The importance of finding new routines during times of change
The emotional waves that come with transitions and how to stay connected to yourself

Join Lisa and Polly for an intimate, thoughtful conversation that will resonate with anyone moving through the unknowns of change—whether you're an empty nester or simply navigating life's evolving journey.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: Oct 01, 2024

Lisa is back to answer more of your burning questions! And this time, we're diving deep into the world of teens, one of the most complex and rewarding populations to work with in the playroom.

In this episode, Lisa addresses 3 thought-provoking questions submitted by listeners, shedding light on adolescents' nuanced and sometimes perplexing behaviors.

Karen asks: "What do you do when a teen doesn't want to engage or say anything?"

Lisa explores multiple angles to approach this challenge and offers insights into how to keep the relational connection alive, even when words are few.

Sorina wonders: "How do you handle it when tweens repeatedly ask when the session can be done or if they can be done with therapy (parent wants them in therapy)?"

Lisa explores how to respond to these moments and how to create a space that aligns with a teen's unique needs and interests, even when those interests clash with their parents'.

Mary asks: "What do you say when a 17-year-old autistic teen is showing you their video game. You don't understand something and you ask them a question. Their response is, 'That is the dumbest question anyone could ever ask'?"

Lisa shares how to handle these tricky situations and turn them into opportunities for deeper understanding and connection, using key concepts from Synergetic Play Therapy.

Join us for a rich discussion filled with insights, strategies, and reminders on how to connect with and support teens in a meaningful way.

*We appreciate your questions and encourage you to keep them coming! If you have a question or a scenario you'd like Lisa to discuss, email us at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com, or better yet, send an audio clip of your question. Your questions help us all grow and learn together in this beautiful journey of play therapy.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: May 14, 2024

Lisa is joined by three remarkable professionals, Jacque Maben, Cara Smith, and Amy Pennington, to uncover the boundless potential of play therapy across various contexts and non-traditional mental health settings. This episode expands the definition of play beyond traditional toys to encompass movement, body experiences, and relational dynamics.

Meet our guests: Cara Smith, a Certified Child Life Specialist; Amy Pennington, an Occupational Therapist; and Jacque Maben, an Equine/Animal Assisted Therapist. Learn more about them below. In this episode, each guest infuses the principles of play therapy into their unique practices, resulting in a magical fusion of healing modalities.

Cara enlightens us on integrating play into medical settings, using it as a tool to alleviate stress and anxiety surrounding medical procedures. Amy brings play into the realm of occupational therapy, shedding light on how it aids in sensory processing and skill development. Jacque shares her insights into incorporating animals, particularly horses, into play therapy, emphasizing their authenticity and ability to provide a sense of safety.

Discover how these professionals serve as external regulators, co-regulating with children toward trauma integration across various contexts. Tune in to explore the myriad forms of play and the transformative power it holds in diverse therapeutic practices, witnessing the beautiful unity that emerges when harnessing play therapy principles for healing in any setting.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: September 3, 2024

Lisa welcomes Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S, to explore a transformative approach to bibliotherapy. Moving beyond the traditional view of books as cognitive tools, Tammi introduces us to using bibliotherapy as a means for co-regulation, attachment, and creating a sense of safety within the therapeutic space.

Tammi, who was initially trained in client-centered play therapy, shares her journey of discovering the profound impact that books can have when used as co-regulators. Through her experiences and insights, she reveals how stories can extend beyond mere words, becoming powerful tools that facilitate deeper connections between children and their caregivers.

Key Takeaways:

Tammi's Journey with Bibliotherapy: How she discovered the power of books as a co-regulation tool.
A Paradigm Shift: Using bibliotherapy from a "bottom-up" approach to support attachment, safety, and emotional regulation in children.
Integrating Books into Play Therapy: Practical strategies for making books an extension of a child's play, fostering a more client-centered therapeutic experience.
Engaging Kids Who Aren't Interested in Reading: Innovative ways to use books beyond just reading the words.
Types of Bibliotherapy: Differentiating between developmental, therapeutic, and play-based bibliotherapy.
Enhancing Parent-Child Relationships: How books can strengthen the bond between parents and children, addressing attachment and repair in relationships.
Attunement and Trusting the Process: The importance of being present and attuned to the child, allowing books and other tools in the therapy space to facilitate healing naturally.

*Check out Tammi's new book on Amazon, PESI website, or Tammi's website: The Bibliotherapy Toolbox: 100+ Creative and Playful Story-Based Interventions to Help Kids Create Safety, Overcome Challenges, and Build Resiliency.

*Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S™, is a leading expert in attachment, sandtray play therapy, and sensory integration with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and advanced training from the Family and Play Therapy Center in Philadelphia. Tammi is the author of Casey's Greatness Wings and The Bibliotherapy Toolkit, and she delivered a TEDx Talk, "Stories in the Sand: Healing Trauma, Anxiety, and Grief," in 2023. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: August 20, 2024

In this episode, Lisa responds directly to your questions! And today, we have three fantastic questions from our listeners that Lisa will be answering.

Jennifer asks: "What do you do if a child wants to bring food or their own toys into the session?"

Lisa gives insights and shares different ways to respond. She delves into the therapeutic function of foods and emphasizes the importance of including the child's toys in sessions, in line with Synergetic Play Therapy's philosophy.

Sarah asks: "What do you do when a child lies or exaggerates their stories?"

Lisa helps us understand why it's not about the specific details of the story and highlights what's more important when working with a child who lies or exaggerates.

Jennifer asks: "How do you handle it if a child wants to show their caregiver something they created in the playroom?"

Lisa discusses the larger question we need to consider first and then offers various ways to respond to different ways that this can play out.

We have three amazing questions that came from YOU! Keep your questions coming and join us for an engaging and insightful episode that deepens your understanding of the little lessons children teach us in the playroom.

If you would like to be part of the conversation (...because yes, we're going to keep doing these episodes), send your questions to Lisa at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com. Or even better, send us an audio of your question to share. 🙂

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: June 24, 2024

In this episode Lisa welcomes Jennifer Shivey, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor with a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ children and their families. Jennifer, who has personal experience as the mother of a transgender child, shares her journey and how it transformed her approach to creating safe and affirming play therapy spaces.

You'll gain practical insights on inclusive practices, the importance of understanding evolving language around gender diversity, and how to support both children and their families through their journeys of self-discovery. Jennifer emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of therapists to engage in ongoing education and offers advice for those who may feel challenged by these conversations.

This episode is a call to action for therapists to reflect on their practices, understand the profound impact of inclusive therapy, and ensure their playrooms are welcoming spaces for all children. Join us for this vital discussion and learn how you can make a difference in the lives of transgender and gender-diverse children.

*Want to take a full 90-minute course on this very topic? Join Jen and other amazing presenters including Marshall Lyles, Val Bruno, and Jodi Mullen for the upcoming Play It Forward: Elevating Play Therapy through Education and Service. This one-day virtual summit on July 25th, 2024 is designed to empower therapists while support play therapy training scholarships awarded through the Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation (....yes, every dollar of your registration).

Learn about reflections and reflective functioning in Sandtray therapy with Marshall Lyles. Val Bruno will guide you with navigating legal processes as a play therapist. Jodi Mullen will offer insight into play therapy with sexually traumatized children. And Jennifer Shivey will help you to create an affirming play therapy space for transgender and gender-diverse children and their families. Secure your spot today! 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"Your fear will always be the ceiling of your innovation." – Lisa Dion

In this special post New Year's episode, Lisa is joined by Jen Taylor, therapist, educator, and mastermind behind Jen Taylor Productions. Together, they kick off the first month of 2025 with an inspiring conversation about goal-setting, vision, and how therapists can master the business side of their practice to create greater impact.

Lisa and Jen dive into:

The psychology of setting congruent goals that align with your values and what inspires you the most.
Why "fantasy goals" often fail and how to replace them with actionable, meaningful ones.
The critical difference between resolutions and sustainable visions for growth.
How to manage fear and navigate challenges as a therapist and entrepreneur.
A behind-the-scenes look at Lisa's Business of Therapy course, which blends strategic planning with emotional and psychological insights to help therapists succeed.

This episode will leave you inspired and ready to tackle this coming year with a clear vision and renewed energy. Whether you're looking to build your private practice, expand your offerings, or simply align your goals with what inspires you, this conversation offers practical tools and heartfelt wisdom.

Resources Mentioned:

The Business of Therapy Course: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/business-of-therapy/

*Original Air Date:

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, where she answers your insightful questions about the complexities of working in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa dives deep into the theme of authenticity and how it plays a critical role in the therapist-client dynamic.

Tune in as Lisa responds to 3 thought-provoking listener questions, exploring how to stay genuine and present when navigating imaginative play, emotional congruence, and handling personal questions from clients.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Carolyn's question: "When doing imagination play and a client assigns you a role, how do you play that role? I'm often asked to be a child and the client is the adult. I find I respond as the "child" in ways that either surprise my client or I'm given the exact lines and actions to portray. My version of the authentic child when I'm improvising without lines isn't always what the client expects, nor is it always the ideal example because I usually play what I would have felt/said/done as a child and wait for guidance from my client. Hmmm?"

Lisa breaks down how to stay in the moment and respond from a place of genuineness and presence while allowing the child to lead.

An anonymous listener asks: Please elaborate on the statement you (Lisa) made: "I have never seen a child damaged because the therapist was real. However, I have seen children who never deeply connected to their therapist and didn't go as deep as they could have gone because their therapist was too scared to share and express their authentic experience congruently."

Lisa discusses how emotional congruence builds trust and safety, and why being authentic helps children connect more deeply in therapy.

Patricia's question: "How do you handle personal questions from a child in session?"

Lisa explains how to navigate personal inquiries while staying attuned to the therapeutic goals and the child's unique needs.

Join Lisa for a rich, reflective conversation that offers practical insights for therapists looking to deepen their authenticity and connection in the playroom.

*We love hearing from you! Have a question or scenario for Lisa to discuss? Send your questions to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or submit an audio clip. Your questions inspire meaningful growth and learning for all of us.

*Original Air Date: October 28, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this special episode, Lisa reconnects with a long-time colleague, Nilüfer Devecigil, who joins her from Turkey. Nilüfer completed her master's degree in psychology in the US and worked closely with Byron and Carol Norton, the pioneers of Experiential Play Therapy. She's also the lead teacher for Experiential Play Therapy in Turkey. With extensive experience in attachment parenting and trauma healing, Nilüfer currently practices as a play therapist for young children and an attachment parenting therapist for pregnant women and new mothers.

Listeners, you might not know that Experiential Play Therapy is one of the foundational models that influenced Synergetic Play Therapy. This conversation feels like we're going back to our roots a bit.

Episode Highlights:

Lisa and Nilüfer's Journey: Discover how Lisa and Nilüfer met over 20 years ago, learning Experiential Play Therapy together.
Foundations of Experiential Play Therapy: Understand the philosophy and humanistic approach championed by Byron and Carol Norton.
Parent Involvement: Learn how parents are integrally involved in the therapeutic process, making it very relational.
Unique Aspects of Experiential Play Therapy: Explore what sets this modality apart, including the five stages of the therapeutic process and the use of themes and metaphors in play.
Active Participation in Play: Lisa shares her appreciation for the unique aspect of experiencing play alongside the child, fully engaging in the roles assigned by the child.
Healing Through Play: Hear how parents heal alongside their children through this model of play therapy.
Framework and Personal Focus: Discover how Nilüfer integrates her focus on attachment and relational work within the framework of Experiential Play Therapy.
Double Awareness in Play Therapy: Learn about the concept of dual or "double awareness" and its significance for both child clients and therapists.
Therapist's Own Work: Hear why it's so important for us as therapists to do our own therapeutic work.

Experience Experiential Play Therapy through numerous examples and stories of how it works with child clients and their parents. Join us for an enlightening conversation that takes us back to the roots of Synergetic Play Therapy and gives a beautiful overview of this impactful therapeutic approach.

If you would like to connect with Nilüfer Devecigil, follow her on her Instagram page here.

*Original Air Date: August 6, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa welcomes back the remarkable Marie José Dhaese, a trailblazer in the field of play therapy and the original creator of expressive play therapies. Building on their previous conversation about Holistic Expressive Play Therapy, Lisa and Marie José dive even deeper into the profound journey of healing, attachment, and reconnecting to one's true nature. With over 50 years of experience as a registered clinical counselor, art therapist, and play therapy supervisor, Marie José shares her deep wisdom and heartfelt reflections on what it takes to create a therapeutic environment where children can reconnect to themselves and thrive.

In this episode, you will explore:

The metaphor of the "white dot": Discover how this symbol represents our core essence or true nature, and why nurturing this inner light is central to healing.
Attachment and true nature: Understand how early attachment experiences shape a child's development, and how caregivers and therapists can reflect the child's true self back to them.
The role of trauma in disconnection: Learn how attachment disruptions and trauma sever a child's connection to their true self, and how therapy can help repair these ruptures.
The therapist's own journey: Hear how Marie José emphasizes the importance of therapists being on an ongoing journey of self-discovery and healing, and how this inner work allows them to hold space for others.
Creating an environment for transformation: Explore the significance of designing therapeutic spaces that invite safety, creativity, and how nature and expressive therapies play a vital role in transformation.
The importance of closure in therapy: Discover why creating a clear beginning, middle, and end in therapy sessions is essential for healing, and how a lack of closure can impact therapeutic outcomes.
Navigating the complexities of healing: Gain insight into the delicate balance therapists must maintain between structure and spontaneity, allowing children to explore, express, and reconnect with their true selves at their own pace.
Tending to your own "dot": Lisa and Marie José discuss the ethical imperative for therapists to engage in self-care, self-reflection, and self-compassion to remain present and attuned to their clients' needs.

Join Lisa and Marie José for a thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation that will inspire therapists to reflect on their own journey, deepen their connection to their clients, and create spaces where true healing can unfold. This episode is filled with wisdom for those seeking to support children on their path to self-discovery and resilience.

As mentioned in the podcast, explore Marie José's play sanctuary for children here: 💛 https://youtu.be/Lb20F3jF2nA?si=HSKWeTLQcrwlDtQn

*Original Air Date: October 15, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this insightful episode, Lisa welcomes back the incredible Liliana Baylon, a bilingual English and Spanish multicultural therapist and cultural ambassador for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. Building on their previous conversation about the experiences of immigrants and refugees, Lisa and Liliana delve into the evolving language and understanding around newcomers, which includes migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Liliana, who has over a decade of clinical experience primarily treating LatinX community members, shares her expertise on the complexities newcomers face beyond migration trauma, such as post-migration trauma, acculturation stress, and assimilation challenges. They discuss the misconceptions and biases that therapists might hold, the multi-faceted traumas newcomers endure, and the importance of creating a culturally aware and curious therapeutic environment.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The shift from using terms like "migrants" to "newcomers" and the significance behind this change.
The global nature of issues faced by newcomers and common misconceptions.
The extensive range of traumas experienced by newcomers, including generational, cultural, racial, and educational traumas.
The impact of racism and bias on newcomers and how therapists can address these in their practice.
The concept of acculturation stress and its effects on mental health.
How to support newcomers by fostering curiosity and understanding their unique identities and experiences.
Practical tips for intake processes that honor the experiences and identities of newcomers.
The importance of relationship-building and staying curious as a part of the healing process.
Liliana's powerful TedEx talk about her personal experiences with assimilation and cultural identity.

Join Lisa and Liliana for a heartfelt and educational conversation that will deepen your understanding and enhance your therapeutic practice with newcomers. Don't miss out on Liliana's wisdom and practical advice for creating a supportive and culturally aware therapeutic environment.

"Beyond simple labels, such as Latina or Immigrant, our individual and collective identities encompass a range of experiences, aptitudes, and viewpoints that add to a complex and nuanced understanding of our shared humanity" - Liliana Baylon

Find Liliana's powerful TedEx talk about her personal experiences of assimilation and cultural identity on her website at lilianabaylon.com.

*Original Air Date: September 17, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this special episode, Lisa is joined by two extraordinary guests, Isabella Cassina and Claudio Mochi, pioneers using play therapy in international crisis intervention. As co-founders of the INA International Academy for Play Therapy Studies and Psychosocial Projects in Switzerland, Isabella and Claudio have dedicated their careers to supporting children and families in some of the most challenging environments around the world.

Isabella, Director of Project Management, and Claudio, Director of the Academy, bring decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the table. They have worked in over 30 cities across 15 countries, addressing the needs of those affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and high-risk situations. Together, they developed the "Coping with the Present while Building for the Future" (CPBF) model, which they have shared globally.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How Isabella and Claudio began their journey in crisis and humanitarian work.
The unique challenges and rewards of using play therapy to support children and their families affected by international crises.
The philosophy behind "Recovering the Lost Play Time"—a program designed to restore play opportunities for children during migration and other crises.
Insights into their model, CPBF, and its impact on mental health professionals worldwide.
How to create play sanctuaries and foster a culture of play in international crisis contexts.
The MAP (My Awareness Process) as a guiding reference point, emphasizing a comprehensive awareness process rather than just therapeutic techniques.
The importance of co-constructing with populations in crisis to ensure program sustainability after providers leave, highlighting the need for community collaboration and cultural sensitivity regarding language, customs, and traditions.

Claudio and Isabella also share personal stories from the field, highlighting the emotional impact of their work and the resilience of the children and communities they serve. Learn about their strategies for self-care and the significance of creating safe play environments amidst chaos.

This is an inspiring conversation filled with practical insights and heartfelt stories, showcasing the transformative power of play therapy in crisis situations. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from two of the leading experts in the field.

For more information about their work and the International Academy of Play Therapy, visit Crisis Play Therapy.

Tune in to explore how play therapy can be a beacon of hope in the darkest times and how you can be a part of this vital work.

*Original Air Date: July 9, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this especially important episode, we shine a spotlight on the harrowing issue of child sex trafficking and explore how we can support the young survivors of this modern-day slave trade. Join Lisa for a deeply insightful conversation with Alejandro (Alex) Castro Croy, a bilingual, bicultural Trauma and Addiction Counselor, and the owner/Lead Clinician of Transcending Consulting Group in Denver, Colorado.

Alex brings his extensive experience from training law enforcement professionals and collaborating with the FBI on Crimes Against Children to the discussion. Together, they delve into the complexities of working with children who have endured compounded trauma and exploitation. Alex shares his journey into this challenging field and sheds light on the often-overlooked facets of child sex trafficking, including the surprising demographics it affects and the role of social media.

Together they discuss the indicators of sex trafficking and key red flags to watch for. Alex also provides invaluable insights into the physical and behavioral signs that therapists should be aware of to help identify survivors. Learn why some clients might go AWOL or refuse treatment and how clinicians can approach these situations with sensitivity and care.

Self-care for therapists is paramount, and Alex emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, debriefing, and the PERMS model—Physical, Emotional, Relational, Mental, and Spiritual domains of self-care—while sharing various intervention techniques and stressing the importance of honoring the human side of both therapist and client.

This episode is a must-listen for therapists and anyone in the human services field. We encourage you to breathe and regulate as you listen to this important conversation, and as we navigate the challenging but essential work of supporting child survivors of sex trafficking.

Talking Points:

Understanding the true scope and demographics of child sex trafficking.
The impact of social media and the daytime occurrences of trafficking.
Recognizing indicators and key red flags.
Identifying physical and behavioral signs of child sex trafficking survivors.
The importance of self-care for clinicians and the PERMS model.
Various therapeutic interventions: music, play, art, somatic, and narrative therapies.
The importance of working with the client's protective strategies.
Developing awareness of our own reactions as therapists to clients' trauma stories.

Join us for this so-very important conversation to better understand and support the healing journey of child sex trafficking survivors.

*Original Air Date: June 4, 2024

Additional Resources:

For more information about Online training for introduction to Sex Trafficking: https://connect.missingkids.org/learn/learning-plans/4/introduction-to-child-sex-trafficking
Physical and Behavioral Indicators: https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/pdfs/CST-Identification-Resource.pdf
Reporting Sex trafficking:
Local Social services and Police department
- Call 1-800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678)
- www.Cybertipline.org

In this episode, Lisa is joined by special guest Brian Keating, a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Certified Group Psychotherapist. Brian specializes in tele-play therapy and is a contributing author to Advances in Online Therapy: Emergence of a New Paradigm. He's presented on topics including grief, childhood bereavement, and the therapeutic use of the video game Minecraft, which is the focus of this episode.

Join Lisa and Brian as they demystify the use of video games in therapy, with a particular focus on Minecraft, the most popular and successful video game ever to hit the market. Here are just a few of the key takeaways from this episode:

Gain insight into Minecraft's therapeutic potential and ways to integrate it into the therapeutic process.
Explore transitioning from a "doing" to "being" perspective of Minecraft during therapy.
Understand various modes of gameplay and the therapeutic themes they evoke, including how Minecraft is a version of sandtray and art therapy.
Learn to communicate gaming's therapeutic benefits to parents and caregivers.
Examples of directive interventions and non-directive interventions when playing the game.
Understand how video games can support a client with body awareness and how to regulate their nervous system.
Reflect on using Minecraft in one-on-one versus group therapy settings and learn from Brian's experiences (including his mistakes) with video games in therapy.

Tune in and discover the transformative potential of incorporating something as seemingly simple as a video game into your therapy sessions. Uncover the therapeutic magic behind Minecraft and how special it is for kids when we speak their language!

*Original Air Date: April 23, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Dave Hompes, renowned author, nutritionist, and functional medicine practitioner, to explore the fascinating connection between the mind and body.

Together, they dive into how mental health and physical symptoms are intertwined—looking at everything from nutrition and genetics to environmental influences and the stories people tell about their bodies. Dave shares insights from cases involving epilepsy, Autism Spectrum, Tourette syndrome, and more, helping therapists recognize subtle clues that point to mind-body correlations.

This conversation invites clinicians to expand their lens, asking the right questions, noticing patterns beyond lab results, and integrating a holistic perspective into their work.

Prepare to rethink mental health through the lens of the body—and discover how awareness of these connections can transform the way we support clients.

Original Air Date: March 5, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Emotional flooding is inevitable; it's part of relationship. It's not about shame, but connection—providing a platform upon which real repair can flourish. – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa explores emotional flooding from the therapist's perspective and why finding ourselves outside our window of tolerance is not a failure—but a natural part of relational work.

Through a nervous-system-informed lens, Lisa reframes emotional flooding as meaningful information rather than something to avoid or fix. When approached with curiosity, attunement, and repair, these moments of rawness can deepen authenticity, strengthen the therapeutic relationship, and create powerful opportunities for healing.

This conversation invites therapists to release shame, embrace humanity, and see emotional flooding as an ally in the work—both in the playroom and within themselves.

Original Air Date: March 6, 2019

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"The more we try to avoid conflict, the more it shows up in our life." – Lisa Dion

Why does conflict feel so uncomfortable—and why do we work so hard to avoid it?

In this episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa Dion explores why conflict is not a sign that something has gone wrong, but a necessary part of growth and relational depth. Through a nervous-system-informed lens, she unpacks what happens internally when conflict arises and how our responses are shaped by regulation, protection, and connection.

This conversation invites therapists to develop a different relationship with conflict—one that begins within ourselves and extends into our work with clients, families, and colleagues, both in and out of the playroom.

Original Air Date: September 7, 2020

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Re-airing in honor of the International Week of Play Therapy.

In this special episode Lisa is joined by Amit Chintan Ramlall and his father, Dr. Kumar Ramlall, for a powerful conversation about autism, identity, and the transformative impact of assuming competence.

Amit shares his lived experience of navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder and how embracing his strengths—rather than being defined by limitations—opened pathways to purpose, contribution, and connection. Together, they explore common misconceptions about autism, the importance of meeting clients where they are, and how curiosity and humility create space for genuine therapeutic relationship.

This episode invites therapists to reconsider assumptions about neuroplasticity, sensory experiences, and communication, while offering a profound reminder of the untapped potential that exists within every individual.

Assume competence—there's always more to uncover.

Language note: While many Autistic individuals prefer identity-first language, Amit prefers person-first language, which is honored throughout this conversation.

***For a transcript of this episode, please visit our website at synergeticplaytherapy.com.

Original Air Date: April 2, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

PANS and PANDAS are among the most misunderstood—and frequently requested—topics in the therapy world. In this episode, Lisa is joined by Dr. Montserrat Casado for a thoughtful, compassionate conversation on how these conditions impact children, families, and the therapeutic process.

Together, they explore what PANS/PANDAS are, how immune responses and brain inflammation affect behavior and nervous system regulation, and why symptoms such as OCD, rage, regression, and restrictive eating require a broader, integrative lens. Dr. Casado also shares her personal journey and decade-long commitment to educating clinicians on how to support children and caregivers navigating these complex challenges.

This episode offers clarity, context, and hope—inviting therapists to deepen their understanding, support attachment and regulation, and bring a more informed, systemic approach to their work with children affected by PANS/PANDAS.

Original Air Date: March 19, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"It is a sparkling thing when I encounter realness of another person… When this happens, I leap to meet it." – Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers is one of the most influential—and often misunderstood—figures in psychology. In this episode, Lisa returns to Rogers' own words and teachings to explore what he was truly inviting clinicians to embody.

Through a nervous-system-informed lens, this conversation highlights how authenticity, presence, and self-acceptance create the conditions for felt safety and relational connection. Lisa explores why Rogers' emphasis on "realness" isn't just philosophical—it's deeply regulatory, shaping how clients experience safety, attunement, and healing in the therapeutic relationship.

Some of what emerges may challenge what you thought you knew about Rogers and deepen how you understand the embodied foundations of effective therapy.

Original Air Date: April 3, 2019

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

What does play therapy look like beyond childhood?

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Tara McDonald and Karen O'Neill of PIP Solutions UK to explore how play therapy can support healing across the lifespan. Together, they discuss how play adapts from infancy through adulthood, the importance of creating safety around play for older clients, and the powerful role of symbolic repair in psychotherapy.

This conversation invites clinicians to expand their understanding of play, embrace developmentally responsive approaches, and recognize the healing potential of play at any age.

✨ Tara and Karen will also be hosting Lisa for a 3-day in-person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program in October 2026 in Solihull, UK. https://pipsolutions.co.uk/courses/an-introduction-to-synergetic-play-therapy/

Original Air Date: February 20, 2024

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"The dysregulation in our body is information about the congruency of our decisions." – Lisa Dion

How do you know if a decision is truly aligned with who you are?

In this episode, Lisa explores how our nervous system offers critical information about the congruency of our choices. Moving beyond logic alone, you're invited to integrate left-brain reasoning with right-brain awareness to make decisions that feel grounded, authentic, and whole in this New Year.

This episode isn't just about therapy—it's about learning how to plan, reflect, and choose in ways that honor both the mind and the body. Lisa unpacks how to recognize when a decision is aligned, why discomfort doesn't automatically mean something is wrong, and how releasing the idea of "good" or "bad" decisions can open the door to greater clarity and self-trust.

Original Air Date: January 5, 2021

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: June 12, 2019

"When it comes to giftedness, one of the most important things to focus on is how these children manage their internal worlds." – Lisa Dion

Gifted children are undeniably bright, but their intellectual abilities come with unique emotional and regulatory challenges. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores the nuances of working with gifted children in play therapy, highlighting how self-imposed high standards, perfectionism, and intense inner expectations can lead to boredom, frustration, or anxiety.

What You'll Learn:

How gifted children differ from highly intelligent children in their emotional and regulatory needs
The impact of self-imposed standards on their emotional well-being
Strategies to help gifted children navigate and manage their internal worlds
Practical ways to support creativity, curiosity, and self-regulation in the playroom

Tune in for insights and practical approaches to help gifted children thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually, while honoring their unique inner experiences.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: May 29, 2019

"Every family has both peace and war, dysregulation and regulation, support and challenge." – Lisa Dion

Parents often wish for a home without arguments, but sibling rivalry is an inevitable—and often valuable—part of childhood. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how conflicts between siblings can be opportunities for learning, growth, and empowerment.

What You'll Learn:

Why disagreement is a natural and important part of sibling relationships
How conflicts can foster emotional regulation, problem-solving, and resilience
Strategies to support children in navigating sibling dynamics without taking sides
Ways to help families embrace both harmony and healthy conflict as part of a balanced household

Tune in to gain insight into the sibling dynamic and learn how to turn inevitable conflicts into meaningful opportunities for development and connection.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: January 02, 2024

Get ready to embrace the playful—and profound—world of villains in therapy! In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the amazing Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT, RPT-S, as they explore how villain characters can offer clients a unique lens to understand themselves, their struggles, and their identities.

Together, they dive into why villains aren't "bad" or diagnosable, how heroes rely on their counterparts, and how children often see reflections of themselves in both roles.

What You'll Learn:

Why villains are complex characters with their own narratives and motivations
The indispensable role villains play in our lives and personal growth
How perspective shapes our labeling of heroes and villains, challenging binary thinking
The connection between a child's self-perception and their attraction to hero or villain characters
Practical tools, including sand tray figures and dress-up items, to explore duality in therapy
How to follow the client's lead, honoring their expertise in identifying with heroes or villains

This episode encourages curiosity, self-reflection, and celebration of all the parts within us. Join Lisa and Maria to challenge binary thinking and discover how understanding both heroes and villains can enrich your play therapy practice and personal growth.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: November 28, 2023

In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Ludmila (Mila) Golovine, CEO and President of MasterWord Services, to explore a topic rarely addressed in play therapy: working with interpreters.

Interpreters play a critical role in helping children heal, but their experience and the challenges they face are often overlooked. Lisa and Mila dive deep into how therapists can collaborate effectively with interpreters to create safe, attuned, and trauma-informed play therapy sessions.

What You'll Learn:

The role of the interpreter and how to honor the client's preferred language
Recognizing cues in sessions when a child speaks their primary language or the language of their trauma
Supporting both the child and interpreter as external regulators during trauma processing
Setting boundaries that protect interpreters' window of tolerance and emotional safety
Why family members should not act as interpreters
Navigating cultural and language differences, non-verbal cues, and possible session ruptures
Understanding attribution bias and its impact on client-therapist-interpreter relationships
Practical strategies for attuned collaboration that promote healing for children

Mila also shares trauma-informed resources for interpreters and offers actionable guidance for therapists working with children across languages and cultures.

This episode is essential listening for therapists committed to inclusivity, attunement, and best practices in cross-linguistic play therapy. Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and tools to navigate these complex and critical sessions. 💕

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: April 17, 2019

"Twins are master co-regulators but also susceptible to losing themselves. The key is to help them find the 'I' in 'we.'" – Lisa Dion

Twins may be nature's "2-for-1 deal," but being a twin—or working with twins—comes with unique challenges that singletons rarely face. In this episode, Lisa Dion (a fraternal twin herself) is joined by Susan Stutzman (mother of identical twins) to explore the joys and complexities of supporting twins in the playroom.

What You'll Discover:

How twins regulate each other and what happens when they struggle to find individuality
Strategies for helping twins navigate separation anxiety and establish their own identities
Insights from both personal and professional perspectives, bridging lived experience with play therapy expertise

Tune in for a heartfelt and informative conversation about honoring the unique dynamics of twins while supporting their growth, self-expression, and emotional well-being.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: June 28, 2019

"It isn't about being a parent or not. It's about showing up in the playroom and being real." – Lisa Dion

Being both a parent and a play therapist comes with unique insights—but it doesn't automatically provide all the answers in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa explores the benefits and challenges of navigating these dual roles, highlighting why every parent—and every child—is different.

Tune in to discover:

How parenthood can inform your work with children
Why having children doesn't equal having all the answers in therapy
Ways to show up authentically in the playroom, regardless of your parenting experience

This episode is a thoughtful exploration of balancing personal and professional perspectives, helping therapists connect more deeply with the children they serve.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: November 7, 2023

Join Lisa Dion as she dives into a topic we all experience—therapists, parents, children—negative self-talk. Despite the countless affirmations we try, negative self-talk refuses to go away. But what if it wasn't meant to?

In this perspective-shifting episode, Lisa explores the purpose behind negative self-talk and how it can actually support us.

What You'll Learn:

How negative self-talk shows up in thoughts like "I should," "I shouldn't," and "I'm not good enough"
Why positive affirmations alone often don't work
The surprising function of negative self-talk and what it's really trying to do
The neuroscience behind it as a homeostatic mechanism in the mind
Shifts in understanding depression and the role of negative self-talk
Strategies to honor yourself while working with your inner critic
How negative self-talk can become an ally in your journey toward authenticity

Tune in to gain a new perspective on your inner dialogue and discover how understanding negative self-talk can help you navigate life with wisdom, self-compassion, and authenticity. 💕

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: October 24, 2023

In this captivating episode, Lisa Dion is joined by three incredible colleagues—Michelle Wayman, Mili Shoemaker, and Lisa Walton—from Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Together, they explore a fascinating question: why do therapists attract the clients they do?

Have you noticed patterns in your caseload, with clients showing up who reflect similar struggles or challenges? Lisa and her guests dive into how these connections are far from random. Clients often act as mirrors, reflecting parts of our own experiences and guiding us toward self-discovery and growth.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Why the clients who enter our therapy spaces are not random and what they reveal about our own journeys
How clients serve as teachers, mirroring experiences we might be avoiding or haven't yet integrated
Why countertransference can be embraced as a tool for deeper understanding and connection
How awareness of these patterns can transform your practice, infusing it with curiosity, self-awareness, and deeper opportunities for co-regulation and healing

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that clients are more than recipients of therapy—they are guides and mirrors helping us illuminate where we need to grow, heal, and show up more fully. Tune in to explore how understanding these connections can enrich both your professional practice and personal journey. 💕

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

The brain is a high-maintenance organ—and it thrives on challenge! In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how play therapists can stay energized, inspired, and fulfilled by giving the brain the growth it craves while also giving ourselves permission to be authentically ourselves.

"We all have deep within us the desire to pursue something that inspires us. We have a natural desire to evolve and grow." – Lisa Dion

Tune in to discover practical ways to honor your brain's need for growth, embrace what excites you, and stay connected to what drew you to play therapy in the first place. This episode is a reminder that personal evolution and professional fulfillment go hand in hand.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: October 10, 2023

In this powerful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the incredible Heather Fairlee Denbrough—Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor—to tackle one of the most challenging and important topics in child therapy: supporting children experiencing suicidal ideation or attempts.

This conversation is an essential resource for caregivers and professionals alike. Lisa and Heather offer practical guidance, hope, and strategies to help children navigate these overwhelming experiences safely and compassionately.

What You'll Learn:

How to recognize subtle signs of suicidal thoughts in children
Creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for children to share their feelings
Using play as a tool for children to explore and shift their stories
Developing safety plans with children and caregivers, identifying triggers and red flags
Facilitating open conversations about suicidal ideation with children and families
Prioritizing therapist self-care and maintaining emotional safety in difficult sessions
Accessing support networks and resources for challenging situations

Join Lisa and Heather for this crucial conversation that emphasizes empathy, connection, and compassion when supporting children through some of life's most difficult moments. ❤️

Note: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: September 19, 2019

"Broken toys may be a metaphor for how children see themselves." – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa tackles the "little" questions that often carry big meaning in the playroom. What do you do with broken toys? How should you handle food, lying, or a child wanting to take a toy home? Each situation offers insight into a child's inner world and an opportunity for connection, growth, and understanding.

Tune in as Lisa shares practical strategies and thoughtful reflections to turn everyday playroom moments into meaningful learning experiences.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Often, when we think about boundaries, we imagine a list of rules and restrictions like: you can't do this, you can do this, and if you don't do this, this is going to happen. But this isn't actually the essence of a boundary and it's not what the boundary is designed for.

Setting boundaries is actually a courageous act that requires self-awareness and self-love. It's about prioritizing your own well-being and honoring your own needs. And by understanding the importance of boundaries, we can navigate relationships and maintain our connection to ourselves.

Join Lisa in this episode where you're invited to embrace a more flexible approach to boundaries … but we get it - even the words "flexible" and "boundary" may seem contradictory to you right now.

Here's what you'll learn:

Why boundaries are flexible and can change from moment to moment;
How setting boundaries is about taking responsibility for ourselves, not controlling others;
How to recognize the clues (in our bodies) that tell us when it's time to set a boundary;
Why nervous system work is essential for boundary work;
Different ways to set boundaries, such as redirecting, being honest, or removing oneself from the situation;
Why rejection often makes setting boundaries challenging (... and when we don't set a boundary, how it's a form of self-rejection);
Why sometimes perceived deal breakers aren't actually deal breakers; and
How to translate this more relational-boundary setting into our work as clinicians.

Tune in to this episode and discover how honoring your boundaries not only allows for connection and maintains relationships, but is a deep act of self-love and acknowledgement of your own worthiness. ✨

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: July 30, 2023

In this deeply insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Dee Ray, an expert in the field of multicultural play therapy, to discuss an incredibly important and timely topic for every play therapist: Multiculturalism in Play Therapy. If you don’t already own Dee’s book, Multicultural Play Therapy, you’ll definitely want to grab a copy after listening to this conversation—it’s an essential resource for therapists working with children!

In this episode, you’ll hear Dr. Ray’s wisdom on how to integrate multiculturalism into your play therapy practice to connect more deeply with your clients from diverse backgrounds.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🌎 What multicultural play therapy is—and what it means to be a culturally-inclusive play therapist.

🤝 Cultural humility—How cultural humility is the cornerstone of creating cultural opportunity in therapy.

⛔ Barriers and fears—Identifying and addressing barriers that prevent us from fully connecting with ourselves and our child clients.

🔨 Repairing ruptures—What to do when a rupture occurs in the therapeutic relationship and how to use cultural humility and cultural comfort to bring about cultural opportunity.

👨‍👩‍👧 Working with families—How to develop a more multicultural orientation when working within the family system and with parents/caregivers.

📚 Multicultural playroom—What research says about creating a multicultural playroom and how to incorporate multiculturalism into your play therapy room.

This episode is a must-listen for all clinicians, especially those working with children from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Ray offers practical insights and advice on how we can be more culturally aware and inclusive in our work as play therapists.

Don’t miss this important conversation that will inspire you to bring multiculturalism more consciously into your practice and to create an environment where all children feel seen, understood, and valued.

🌟 Listen now and share this episode with anyone who could benefit from learning about multiculturalism in play therapy.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

"Perfectionism is the strategy the child is using to manage their anxiety and fear." – Lisa Dion

That child who needs everything just right? Who gets upset when the block tower falls or the drawing isn't “perfect”? There’s more going on than meets the eye.

In this episode, Lisa unpacks the deeper truth behind perfectionism in the playroom—and why it’s not just about wanting to do things well. At its core, perfectionism is often a protective strategy, a way for a child to manage inner uncertainty, fear, and anxiety.

You’ll learn how to recognize the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways perfectionism shows up in your sessions, and most importantly, how to help children return to themselves—to a place of safety, self-trust, and inner regulation.

This episode is a beautiful reminder: we don’t have to “fix” perfectionism—we just have to meet it with presence.

Original Air Date: November 22, 2019

In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa is joined by Gabriel (Gabe) Lomas, an expert in the field of play therapy, to address a topic rarely discussed in the world of therapy: working with deaf children in the playroom. This episode offers a unique and insightful perspective that will deepen your understanding and approach to supporting children who are deaf.

In this episode, Gabe shares his expertise on the challenges and nuances of working with deaf children in therapy, helping to shine a light on an often misunderstood and overlooked aspect of play therapy.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🔍 Understanding deaf children—Why deaf children are often misunderstood and how to address these misunderstandings in the therapeutic space.

💬 Challenges of being deaf—The emotional and developmental challenges deaf children face, especially in the parent-child relationship.

🗣️ Effective communication—Why it's crucial to speak to deaf children in a language that makes sense to them and how this influences the therapeutic relationship.

🎲 The role of play therapy—How play therapy can bridge the gap, helping deaf children explore perceptions of themselves and their world.

🤝 Joining the world of a deaf child—How to offer deaf children a felt sense of being understood, seen, and validated during play therapy sessions.

🔊 Advocacy for deaf children—What therapists, educators, and caregivers need to be aware of when advocating for deaf children’s needs in therapy and beyond.

This episode will provide you with deep insights into the lived experiences of deaf children and how to be a more effective and compassionate therapist, parent, or educator for them. Gabe shares real-life case examples from his own experiences in child welfare and play therapy, and he even reveals what he believes to be the superpowers of deaf children—a powerful ending you won’t want to miss!

🌟 Listen to this episode and gain a profound understanding of how to support and advocate for deaf children in your practice and beyond.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

Original Air Date: July 5, 2022

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Carmen Jimenez-Pride—a fellow SPTer, therapist, healer, and a beautiful example of what it means to live fully, expansively, authentically, and without playing small.

Carmen left her mark in countless ways—through her innovative tools, creative resources, powerful trainings, books, advocacy, and her deeply healing presence. She poured her heart into supporting the play therapy community, always pushing the edges of what was possible with boldness, brilliance, and compassion.

Her clients, colleagues, supervisees, trainees, and all who knew her were profoundly touched by her gifts. We hold them—and her loved ones—in our thoughts during this time.

In her honor, we are resharing this powerful and inspiring conversation between Lisa and Carmen on integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) into the playroom. Like Carmen’s work, this episode continues to expand hearts and inspire play therapists around the world. 🌿💜

In this conversation, you’ll hear Carmen and Lisa explore:

What IFS looks like in the playroom and with child clients
How to help clients build a relationship with all their parts (exiles, protectors, firefighters)
How to support children in fully embracing who they are and the experiences that shaped them
Ways to share IFS work with parents/caregivers and help them understand their own parts
How to recognize our own therapist parts and how they might show up in sessions
One of the biggest lies play therapists often tell themselves—and why it impacts our wellbeing

And as a bonus, you’ll get to hear a funny story about how Carmen didn’t want to be a therapist at first … and the journey that eventually brought her here (thank goodness it did!).

🌿 Carmen, thank you for everything you gave. Your legacy lives on in the many marks you’ve made on this world. 💜

This is both a milestone and a farewell. After years of heartfelt conversations, transformative insights, and connections across the globe, Lessons from the Playroom reaches its 200th—and final—episode (at least for now).

To mark this occasion, Lisa is joined by someone who has been part of the podcast from the very beginning: her daughter, Avery Dion. Many listeners will remember Avery’s sweet childhood voice in the podcast jingle—today, at 19 years old, she returns for her third and most profound conversation with Lisa.

Together, they explore what it truly means that the body keeps the score. Avery courageously shares her lived experience with chronic Lyme disease and the surprising ways her body has become both messenger and teacher. From pain and symptoms that point toward hidden truths, to the psychology of autoimmune illness and the role of self-compassion, Lisa and Avery dive into the raw, real, and deeply human ways the body holds memory, emotion, and wisdom.

Together, they explore:

How the body holds memory, emotion, and unfinished stories
Avery’s journey with chronic Lyme disease and the wisdom it revealed
The connection between autoimmune illness and self-criticism
Why pain and symptoms can be seen as protectors and messengers
What it means to find neutrality and balance in life’s highs and lows
An invitation for listeners to pause, tune into their bodies, and welcome symptoms as guides toward authenticity

Recorded in the intimacy of their own space, this episode is as tender as it is inspiring. It is not only about Avery’s healing, but also about the ways her journey has shaped Lisa as a therapist, teacher, and mother.

As Lisa closes this chapter of Lessons from the Playroom, she extends deep gratitude to every listener who has been part of this journey. While the podcast itself is wrapping up, the library of 200 episodes remains—an ongoing resource and companion for therapists, parents, and seekers of wisdom both inside and outside the playroom.

💜 Thank you for listening, sharing, and growing alongside us. May these lessons continue to guide and inspire you for years to come.

Original Air Date: June 22, 2023

We are so excited about this hot topic and our incredible guest—Stacy Jagger!

Stacy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), and AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She is the founder and clinical director of Music City Family Therapy and the author of 30 Day Blackout and A Letter from Emma. You may have seen her as a regular guest on “Today in Nashville” or sharing her expertise on child development on local morning and evening news.

In this episode, Stacy and Lisa dive into how screens—phones, tablets, TVs, and computers—impact children and families. For many families, screens have become a distraction from connection or a way to avoid deeper issues. More importantly, excessive screen use is a major cause of dysregulation in kids' nervous systems.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:

📱 The impact of screen time on children—How excessive digital engagement can influence nervous system regulation and emotional well-being.

🔍 Assessing screen time use—How to evaluate a child and family's screen habits and connect it to their treatment goals.

🔄 Shifting focus to connection—Ways to help families disconnect from screens and rebuild relationships with themselves and each other.

⏳ The 30-Day Digital Detox—What it looks like to recalibrate a child and family’s nervous system through a screen-time blackout (or greyout).

🌱 Rebuilding a new normal—How to artfully reintegrate screens after a blackout period without returning to old habits. This powerful conversation will give you insights, tools, and practical strategies to help families find balance in their screen use and prioritize connection over digital distraction.

📌 Curious to see if your family (or your clients) might benefit from a 30-Day Blackout? Take Stacy Jagger’s Screen Time Quiz: Click here to take the quiz. 🌟

Listen now and discover how to help families reset, reconnect, and create a healthier digital balance.

Additional Resources:

💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Find us on Facebook

In this episode, Lisa welcomes back Ana Gomez, internationally recognized expert in EMDR Therapy, complex trauma, and dissociation, for her third appearance on the podcast. Ana shares insights from her brand-new book, EMDR Sand Tray-Based Therapy: Healing Complex Trauma and Dissociation Across the Lifespan, offering practical, innovative strategies for trauma work.

Together, Lisa and Ana explore the evolution of Ana’s integrative approach, combining her love of symbols, dreams, and sand tray work with EMDR therapy. This powerful union creates a flexible pathway for clients to safely access and process traumatic experiences, reorganize their relationship with their life stories, and unlock reparative, healing moments—even when verbal language is limited.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

How sand tray symbols and avatars act as “story keepers,” allowing children and adults to safely engage with overwhelming experiences.
Real-life clinical examples, including a transformative case with a child in foster care who connected with his experiences through symbolic play before he could verbalize them.
Strategies for integrating EMDR and sand tray therapy with individual clients, parent-child dyads, families, and group settings.
How to honor protective patterns and internal defenses while gradually moving experiences from implicit memory into explicit awareness.
Ways parents can actively participate in sessions, supporting attachment completions and delivering guided interweaves under the therapist’s guidance.
Practical insights for therapists, play therapists, and trauma professionals seeking adaptable, client-centered approaches that facilitate healing, integration, and identity work.

Ana also shares where to find her book and access her global trainings and workshops, providing clinicians with tools to deepen their practice and expand their therapeutic repertoire.

Whether you’re EMDR-trained, a play therapist, or simply curious about innovative trauma work, this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical guidance for your clinical toolkit.

Original Air Date: May 3, 2020

The word compassion means ‘to suffer with’ or merge with. This is different than empathy." – Lisa Dion

As play therapists, we hold so much. And often, we don’t realize how deeply the work impacts us—especially when we’re navigating crises both personally and professionally.

In this essential episode, Lisa explores the nuanced differences between vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue—experiences that are far more common in the field than we may recognize. She also reflects on what happens when therapists are living through the same crises as their clients (as many did during the COVID-19 pandemic), and how that overlap can amplify the emotional toll.

This is a deeply important conversation that shines a compassionate light on the realities of holding space for others—without losing ourselves in the process.

🎧 If you’re a play therapist, caregiver, or anyone who supports others through pain, this one is for you.

What happens when therapists bring their own attachment histories into the playroom—consciously or not? In this deeply validating and insightful conversation, Lisa welcomes back Dr. Clair Mellenthin—renowned play therapist, author, and professor—to unpack her groundbreaking dissertation research and explore how a therapist’s personal story shapes their clinical work, especially within family-based play therapy.

Together, they explore:

Why many play therapists are drawn to the work as “wounded healers”
Research that debunks the myth of needing to be fully healed to help others
How personal attachment wounds show up in the playroom—and why doing our own work matters
The power of mentorship and community in creating earned security and ongoing healing
How support systems help therapists feel seen, grounded, and more confident with families
Common struggles therapists face when working with parents, especially with limited training
Practical steps for building confidence through integration, connection, and focused learning
Moving stories that show the healing ripple from therapist to family

Whether you’re a student, seasoned therapist, or supervisor, this episode offers normalization, challenge, and inspiration—helping you reflect on your therapeutic presence, embrace your vulnerabilities, and cultivate authentic connection in the healing space.

This episode originally aired in June 2023 when Synergetic Play Therapy turned 15 this year 🎉 (and was also Lisa’s birthday week! 🥳), which made it the perfect moment to pause and reflect on how far the field of play therapy has come—and where it might be headed next.

In this celebratory episode, Lisa dives into the evolution of the mental health and play therapy fields—from early models focused on behavior change to today’s integrative approaches that honor the nervous system, the body, and the power of relationship. You’ll hear about the rise of neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and the increasing recognition that you—the therapist—are the most important toy in the playroom. 💕

And of course, Lisa can’t help but look to the future, offering thoughts on what might be next for the field, including the emerging role of perception and the mind in the healing process.

🎧 Whether you’ve been tuning in since 2017 or just recently joined us, thank you. We’ve reached over a million downloads, and we’re so grateful you’re part of the journey.

In this powerful follow-up episode, Lisa reunites with psychologist, author, and digital play therapy pioneer Dr. Jessica Stone to explore the ever-evolving intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and mental health.

Together, they dive into why the playroom must evolve—offering a grounded, nonjudgmental look at how digital tools and AI are showing up in children's lives and what that means for us as therapists.

Together they explore:

Is digital play therapy the same as virtual play therapy?
How do you ethically use tools like ChatGPT, story generators, or VR in the therapeutic process?
And what deeper needs might children be trying to meet when they turn to technology?

From theoretical foundations to real-life examples and practical strategies, Lisa and Dr. Stone address common clinician concerns—like fear of the unknown, resistance to change, or overwhelm—and reframe digital tools not as replacements for traditional play, but as powerful entry points for connection, healing, and expression.

You’ll hear honest reflections, tips for engaging tech-wary caregivers, and new ways to bring congruence and confidence to your practice—whether you’re curious, cautious, or actively integrating technology into your sessions.

🎧 Bonus: This is Part 2 of Lisa and Dr. Stone’s conversation! Be sure to check out their earlier episode 84: Wrapping Our Minds Around Digital Play Therapy.

In this latest episode, Lisa tackles three little, yet powerful questions that every play therapist faces at some point in their practice. These insightful answers will expand your approach and deepen your work with children.

🔹 What to do when you see your clients outside of a session? 🔹 How to navigate working with imaginary friends in therapy? 🔹 What to do when a child refuses to do their chores or other tasks they should be doing?

These are just a few of the essential questions Lisa dives into, giving you practical answers that can make a world of difference in your play therapy work.

🎧 Don't miss part 1 of this series (Episode #57), where Lisa answers even more common "little questions" such as:

What to do with broken toys
The role of food in the playroom
How to handle lying in the playroom
What to do when a child tries to take a toy home

Get answers to the questions you might not have learned in graduate school but will absolutely need in your play therapy practice.

Original Air Date: June 24, 2021

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

In this powerful and deeply human episode, Lisa is joined by two internationally recognized leaders in the field of complex trauma and dissociation—Ana Gómez and Jill Hosey—for a heartfelt conversation about their monumental new release: The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children.

More than just a book discussion, this episode offers a reverence-based reframe of dissociation—not as pathology, but as a brilliant, adaptive survival strategy used by children navigating overwhelming experiences. Ana and Jill share their personal insights from editing this groundbreaking 900+ page volume, which weaves together theory, research, clinical case work, and embodied practices from over 60 contributors.

Together, they explore the profound responsibility therapists carry—not only to understand dissociation in their clients but to honor how it arises in their own inner worlds. You’ll hear candid reflections on what it means to be a regulated presence in the therapy room, how fear of dissociation may show up in clinicians, and how co-regulation becomes the foundation for relational healing.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore the topic of dissociation or are a seasoned trauma therapist, this episode invites you to shift from fear to curiosity—from fragmentation to integration.

💡 Key Topics Include:

Why The Handbook is the first of its kind in the field
Dissociation as a creative, protective superpower
Therapist nervous system responses and the importance of co-regulation
Misdiagnosis, marginalization, and what happens when dissociation is misunderstood
The emotional labor of this work—for both therapist and client
A call to action for deeper training, relational attunement, and self-reflection

📘 The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children is available through Routledge, Amazon, Caversham Booksellers (Canada), and other major online retailers.

One of the most highly requested topics in play therapy is finally here—understanding sexualized play in the playroom. In this deeply insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Jodi Mullen, a leading expert in play therapy and child trauma, to explore what it means when sexualized play emerges in sessions.

🔹 How to trust your felt sense as a clinician when sexualized play appears 🔹 Identifying red flags and themes that may indicate sexual trauma 🔹 Understanding transference and countertransference as clinical clues 🔹 The key differences between medical trauma vs. sexualized trauma 🔹 How aggression presents in children with sexual trauma and what it means 🔹 How to talk to parents and caregivers when trauma or abuse is suspected 🔹 The single most important thing we can do for children when justice isn’t possible

Dr. Jodi Mullen shares real-life examples, clinical insights, and powerful strategies to help play therapists feel more prepared and confident when working with children who have been sexually abused or demonstrate sexualized play.

✨ This episode is a must-listen for any therapist navigating this complex and sensitive work.

Original Air Date: August 29, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

She’s back—and the energy in the room just elevated. In one of the most moving and illuminating episodes to date, Lisa Dion reunites with internationally renowned occupational therapist, author, and teacher Kim Barthel—one of the most beloved guests in the podcast’s history.

Together, they take us deep into the world of psycho-sensory interventions, a term Kim coined decades ago during a pivotal moment that forever changed her clinical approach. Through a powerful real-life case study, this conversation explores how the body holds the story of trauma, how sensation can unlock memory, and why true healing happens when we integrate the mind, body, and play.

Through their dual lenses—Lisa’s Synergetic Play Therapy perspective and Kim’s expertise in sensory integration, posture, and neurobiology—they reflect on working together with a young client whose developmental trauma was revealed not only through his play, but through his body, his relationships, and the clinician’s own internal experience. You’ll also hear about Kim’s early work with children on the streets of Winnipeg, the origin of psycho-sensory work, and how her interdisciplinary lens continues to evolve after 40+ years of practice.

This episode will invite you to:

Track what the body is telling you through posture, breath, and muscle tone
See play as only one part of the unfolding story—because the story lives in the body
Tune into the relational field and your own body as a source of insight
Slow down and meet your clients where they are developmentally and neurologically
Embrace an embodied approach to healing that honors both the child’s and the therapist’s nervous systems

✨ Whether you’re a seasoned play therapist, an OT, or simply curious about trauma-informed care, this conversation will expand your lens, deepen your embodiment, and remind you that healing isn’t something we do to a child—it’s something that unfolds when we trust the wisdom of the body.

Take a breath, drop into your own body, and press play. You won’t want to miss this one.

What makes working with parents and caregivers feel smooth—or challenging—in play therapy? In this insightful episode, Lisa Dion explores three distinct types of relationships that shape our interactions with parents and caregivers in the therapeutic process. Understanding these dynamics can transform your approach, helping you create deeper, more conscious relationships that honor both you as a therapist and the parents you support.

🔹 Discover the three types of relationships that influence every interaction in and beyond the playroom 🔹 Learn how these relationship dynamics shape your work with parents and caregivers 🔹 Uncover why certain parent-therapist relationships feel more challenging than others 🔹 Find out how to create a space where parents feel safe to show up authentically 🔹 Explore how these relationships impact your nervous system—and what you can do to stay regulated

By recognizing and navigating these relationship patterns, you’ll develop a new level of connection and attunement in your work with parents and caregivers.

🌟 Tune in to shift your perspective and create stronger, more supportive therapeutic relationships!

Original Air Date: January 3, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

🎙️ She’s back! In her fourth appearance, Lisa welcomes the deeply loved and returning guest Mili Sarmiento Shoemaker—bilingual therapist, teacher, and Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor and Trainer—to introduce a brand-new topic to the podcast: Family Constellation Work.

Rooted in systemic and ancestral wisdom, this conversation explores how children’s symptoms often reflect unresolved family dynamics, not just their own inner world. Together, Mili and Lisa unpack key principles from Family Constellation theory—including the Orders of Love—and how therapists can begin using a systemic lens in the playroom, even without formal training.

In this expansive and soulful episode, you’ll discover:

What Family Constellation Work is and why it matters in therapy
How children may carry or express unresolved intergenerational trauma
The three core Orders of Love (Belonging, Hierarchy, and Balance of Giving & Taking)
How imbalance in these orders can result in symptoms like resentment, overwhelm, or soul entanglements
The difference between taking and receiving—and why this matters in the therapy room
How to begin integrating a systemic lens into your practice, even without formal training

✨ Whether you’re new to this work or looking to deepen your lens, this episode is filled with insight, heart, and transformative “aha” moments.

🎧 Also check out Mili’s past episodes:

When the Aggressor is You: Therapist Activation in the Playroom
Attachment to Self: The Cornerstone of Healing
Why Therapists Attract the Clients That They Do

A beautiful and eye-opening conversation you won’t want to miss 💖

What makes play therapy supervision truly effective? In this first-ever Lessons from the Playroom episode on supervision, Lisa Dion is joined by Polly Douglass, Kim Buller, and Khris Rolfe—three extraordinary play therapists and top supervisors at the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. Together, they explore the power of reflective and relational supervision and how it transforms both supervisees and their clients.

Whether you're currently in supervision or serving as a supervisor, this episode will offer invaluable insights into:

🔹 What it means to be reflective and relational in supervision 🔹 How to build a supervisor-supervisee relationship that fosters growth and trust 🔹 The role of the supervisor as an external regulator for the supervisee 🔹 How to help supervisees become more embodied in their work as play therapists 🔹 Ways to offer supervision that empowers therapists to trust themselves

This conversation weaves together a beautiful tapestry of reflection, relationship, and emotional attunement—helping play therapists feel their clients’ experiences rather than just think about them.

🌟 Tune in and discover how to create a deeply supportive and transformational supervision experience!

Original Air Date: April 25, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

In this heartfelt and most inspiring episode, Lisa sits down with Catherine and Alicia Denham—the visionary clinical duo behind Mama Owls Minis, Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisors with over 40 years of combined experience. Together, they explore the messy, meaningful, and magical journey of creativity in play therapy, inviting listeners to reconnect with their inner artist and trust their instincts.

This episode dives deep into how therapists can embrace creativity—not as a quest to be “good at art,” but as a powerful process of authentic expression, moment-to-moment attunement, and healing. From hand-sculpted sand tray minis to a teenage client’s request for a tornado miniature, the conversation is packed with stories, reflections, and practical wisdom that illuminate how creativity invites us to break free from rigid protocols and create what truly fits what the child needs.

You’ll hear:

How Alicia transformed from doodling to crafting stunning therapeutic figures
Why Catherine treasures her first “wonky” sculpture as a symbol of imperfection embraced
The creative origins of Synergetic Play Therapy and the tension between formal training and intuitive innovation
Insights on parenting as a creative act—like turning a living room into a sensory playground
How neurodivergent experiences shaped their unique approach to therapy and creativity
Powerful stories of trust, flexibility, and letting go of control in therapy sessions and life
An invitation to therapists to give themselves permission to explore and create what is needed despite self-doubt or fear of rejection

Whether you’re dreaming of crafting something new for your clients or simply seeking encouragement to trust your own creative voice, this episode offers inspiration and gentle permission to embrace the imperfect, beautiful process of authentic play and healing.

🎧 Tune in and reconnect with your creative self—your clients and children will thank you.

How does ableism show up in the playroom, and what can we do to create a more inclusive therapeutic space? In this powerful episode, Marshall Lyles (LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S, EMDRIA Approved Consultant) joins Lisa Dion to explore the often unspoken realities of ableism and disablism in play therapy.

Marshall, a leading voice in attachment trauma and sandtray therapy, brings invaluable insights into how therapists can become more aware of the biases and systemic structures that impact neurodivergent and disabled clients.

🔹 Uncover how ableism—both personal and institutional—has shaped the field of play therapy 🔹 Learn how to critically assess your playroom and therapeutic practices to ensure inclusivity 🔹 Explore ways to repair ruptures when unintentional harm occurs 🔹 Discover how to fully celebrate and honor the uniqueness of every client 🔹 Gain tools to reflect on your own biases and create a more welcoming therapeutic space

This is an invitation to deepen your awareness, challenge assumptions, and cultivate a play therapy practice that truly embraces all minds and bodies.

🌟 Tune in to transform your approach and foster a more inclusive, empowering space for your clients!

Original Air Date: July 18, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Lisa is back with the final episode of the Little Lessons Series, wrapping up this heartfelt Q&A journey by answering your powerful questions including how to navigate moments when connection feels disrupted—whether by a child’s shutdown, caregiver dynamics, or those uncomfortable "I don't know what to do" feelings that arise in the therapy process.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Tracy’s question: “What do you do when a child goes into shutdown mode?” Lisa explains how to recognize the signs of a shutdown, why it happens from a nervous system perspective, and how to stay attuned while supporting a child’s regulation and reconnection—without pushing or forcing engagement.

Megan’s question: “How do you handle it when a caregiver says their child is manipulative or controlling?” Lisa dives into the layers behind these labels, offering a reframe that helps caregivers understand what’s actually happening beneath the behavior. She shares strategies to shift the conversation from blame to curiosity and co-regulation.

Tammy’s question: “What do you do when you feel stuck and like you're not doing enough to help the child?” Lisa gets real about therapist self-doubt, exploring how these moments are often mirrors of the therapeutic process itself. She offers guidance on how to stay regulated, connected, and grounded in presence—even when the answers aren’t immediately clear.

Join Lisa for a heartfelt and informative conversation filled with neuroscience, compassion, and real-world wisdom to help you stay present in the messy and beautiful moments of play therapy.

Have you explored the power of mandalas in play therapy? In this episode, Lisa Dion sits down with Tracy Turner-Bumberry (LPC, RPT-S™) to uncover the transformative magic of mandalas—an incredible yet often unexplored tool in clinical practice.

Tracy, a Certified AutPlay Trainer, Animal-Assisted Play Therapist, and DBT Therapist, shares how mandalas can create a safe, expressive, and healing space for children and families.

🔹 Discover what mandalas are and their deep multicultural roots 🔹 Learn how "circle art" and "circle play" can demystify mandalas for therapy 🔹 Explore practical applications, from templates to Tracy’s Wellness Mandala practice 🔹 Find out how to adapt mandalas for neurodivergent clients and create a safe space 🔹 Understand the dos and don’ts of using mandalas in therapy—why a child-led, non-interpretative approach matters 🔹 Learn direct and non-directive ways to integrate mandalas into therapy with individuals and families 🔹 Discover how music, color, and the idea of impermanence enrich the mandala experience

Tracy also dives into the "safe circle", a concept that helps children feel seen, heard, and emotionally supported.

🌟 Tune in to learn how mandalas can bring introspection, self-regulation, and healing into your play therapy sessions!

Original Air Date: December 19, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, answering your insightful questions about navigating the complexities of the playroom. Today’s episode focuses on how to handle those challenging moments in therapy where uncertainty, emotional flooding, and parents’ concerns come into play.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Chrissy’s question: “What do you do when a child can’t decide on what to play with or doesn’t even play after coming for weeks?” Lisa breaks down how to navigate moments of hesitation, offering insights on how to remain present and supportive without rushing to fix the situation. She also discusses how emotional age and developmental stage impact engagement in play.

Sally’s question: “What do you do when the parent tells you they don’t want their child to play with aggressive toys or engage in aggressive play, like war play?” Lisa explores the importance of understanding the parent’s concerns and how to guide the conversation to help them see how aggressive play can be therapeutic and necessary for the child’s emotional expression and processing.

Carolyn’s question: “How do you respond when a child says ‘I love you’ or asks if you’ll move in with them or be their mother?” Lisa offers valuable advice on how to respond authentically to these deeply emotional moments, explaining how to navigate the child’s need for connection while maintaining professional boundaries and emotional safety.

Join Lisa for a candid and thought-provoking conversation, as she offers practical strategies to help you stay grounded and authentic when facing common and challenging scenarios in the playroom.

🎧 Have a question you'd like Lisa to explore in an upcoming episode? Email your question to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or send in an audio clip. Your curiosity fuels this podcast—and the entire play therapy community grows because of it.

How do our perspectives shape who we are and how we connect with others—both in the playroom and in life? In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa Dion sits down with Dr. Rachel Altvater (Psy.D., RPT-S™), an award-winning leader in play therapy, to explore the profound impact of perspective on our personal and professional lives.

🔹 Discover the inspiration behind Rachel’s new book, Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities 🔹 Unpack how we form perspectives about ourselves, others, and the world around us 🔹 Learn why perspective awareness is crucial for therapists and caregivers 🔹 Explore powerful self-reflection questions to expand your understanding of your own perspectives 🔹 Gain insights into how your perspectives may be shaping your interactions with clients

Rachel also shares a heartfelt message on the ripple effects of healing and connection, reminding us that the more aligned we are with ourselves, the greater impact we have on the world.

🌟 Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will shift the way you see yourself, your clients, and the world around you!

Original Air Date: May 9, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Why is attunement the heart of the therapeutic relationship? In this episode, Lisa Dion explores why simply following a script or checklist in play therapy isn’t enough—true transformation happens when we deeply attune to our clients (and ourselves).

🔹 Discover what attunement is—and what it’s not 🔹 Uncover the biggest barriers to attunement in the playroom 🔹 Learn how to create an experience where clients feel emotionally and energetically met 🔹 Gain insights on explaining the felt-sense of attunement to parents and caregivers

Lisa also shares a powerful moment from a play therapy training, illustrating how attunement can reveal critical insights that might otherwise be missed. Whether you're a therapist or a parent, this conversation will deepen your ability to connect, co-regulate, and create meaningful therapeutic exchanges.

🌟 Tune in to transform your sessions and foster deeper, more authentic client connections!

Original Air Date: May 23, 2023

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

In this insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the incredible Robyn Gobbel, MSW, to talk about a topic that has never been covered before on this podcast but is crucial for clinicians working with kids: teaching children about the brain.

Robyn, a true brain enthusiast, has a new book out titled Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work! This powerful resource blends relational neuroscience with practical tools and applications, making it the ultimate guide for parents who want to understand and transform their children's challenging behaviors into safety and connection. After listening to this episode, you’ll want to grab a copy of Robyn’s book—you’ll be hooked!

This episode is packed with fun and engaging insights on how we, as clinicians, can introduce kids to their brains and how this can empower them to understand themselves in a deeper way.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

🧠 Understanding the brain’s impact on behavior—Why it’s essential for us and the kids we work with to understand how the brain drives behaviors.

💫 How Robyn’s own journey with the brain—She shares how learning about the brain changed her life and relationships in profound ways.

🎨 Strategies for teaching the brain to kids—Learn how to introduce kids to their brain using visual aids, and the concept of the Watchdog and Possum pathways to explain brain functions.

🤗 The Owl pathway for safety and connection—How to use this concept to explain the brain’s need for safety, presence, and connection.

🤯 Understanding baffling behaviors—How kids’ challenging behaviors are often rooted in their longing for safety and connection.

👐 Involving caregivers—How to guide caregivers in understanding and recognizing their children’s behaviors from a neurological perspective to improve their relationship and responses. This episode will inspire curiosity in your work, support you in understanding children’s behaviors with compassion, and equip you to help caregivers gain a deeper understanding of their child(ren)'s behavior.

🎧 Listen to this enlightening episode and start teaching kids about their brains today!

Original Air Date: September 26, 2023.

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

"Every part of us, even the ones we've been taught to reject, holds the potential for growth and healing." – Mili Shoemaker

Aggression in the playroom is a familiar topic—but what happens when it’s not coming from the child, but from within us as therapists? This is a conversation we rarely hear in the play therapy world, yet it’s a reality many therapists silently grapple with. In this eye-opening episode, Lisa sits down with Mili Shoemaker, a seasoned play therapist, Synergetic Play Therapy trainer, and clinical supervisor, to explore what it means when therapists feel their own aggression arise in session.

With honesty and compassion, Lisa and Mili unpack the discomfort, shame, and stigma that often accompany these experiences. They dive into the protective patterns that emerge when we try to suppress these feelings, and how true healing begins when we stop rejecting these parts of ourselves.

Together, Lisa and Mili explore:

✨ The taboo of therapist aggression – Why this conversation is missing in the play therapy world and why it needs to be heard. ✨ Recognizing therapist activation – How to notice when your own history, protective mechanisms, and triggers show up in the playroom. ✨ Befriending aggression – How shifting from judgment to curiosity about our own aggressive parts creates deeper therapeutic presence. ✨ Embodied expression vs. catharsis – Why aggression isn’t something to suppress, but also isn’t about explosive release. ✨ The unmet needs beneath aggression – Understanding what these feelings are signaling and how to meet them with self-compassion. ✨ Breaking free from shame – How to reframe aggression as part of our full humanity rather than something to fear or reject. ✨ Integration and authenticity – Why making space for all parts of ourselves strengthens our ability to hold space for our clients.

This episode is an invitation to step into a conversation that has been long overdue—to acknowledge, explore, and ultimately embrace a part of ourselves that holds the potential for healing and growth.

🔗 Tune in and take the next step toward deeper self-acceptance and authenticity in the playroom.

💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Original Air Date: July 4, 2023

In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa is joined by the brilliant Annie Monaco to tackle a topic that’s rarely discussed but essential to our work as play therapists: dissociation. With her extensive experience in EMDR Therapy, attachment, and dissociation in children, Annie brings invaluable insights to help therapists deepen their understanding of this complex phenomenon.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

A practical, usable definition of dissociation and how it shows up in client sessions;
How dissociation reflects a child’s inner struggles and manifests in their behavior;
The connection between dissociation and complex or developmental trauma;
Ways to cultivate compassion for all the parts of a child—an essential component of their healing journey;
Activities and strategies to help children explore and integrate the parts of themselves in therapy.

Annie also shares a powerful question to add to your play therapy toolbox—a game-changer for understanding the inner world of your clients.

🎧 Join this enlightening conversation that goes beyond textbook definitions, offering real-world tools and strategies to support children in their path to healing. Get ready to demystify dissociation and transform your practice!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

“Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs.” – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Tony Vallance from the Building Better Brains Clinic for a conversation about supporting children with ADHD through play therapy. ADHD is often misunderstood, but with the right tools and understanding, play therapists can help children tap into their strengths while navigating the challenges they face.

This conversation also explores ADHD from a dual perspective—not only through the experiences of the children we work with but also by reflecting on how therapists who identify as neurodivergent or have ADHD/ADD engage with their clients. How do we navigate the "mirrors" or parts of ourselves we see reflected in the children we serve?

Together, Lisa and Tony dive into:

What Play Therapists Need to Know About ADHD: Tony explains the core characteristics of ADHD and how play therapy can help children manage the unique challenges of ADHD.
Creating ADHD-Friendly Play Spaces: Practical tips on designing sensory-friendly, ADHD-conscious therapeutic environments that foster emotional regulation and focus.
The ADHD Brain and Its Impact on Behavior: Insights into how ADHD affects cognitive functioning and behavior, and how play therapy helps children build strategies for resilience.
Supporting Caregivers and Challenging Stigma: The importance of empowering parents and caregivers, and how to combat the societal stigma placed on children with ADHD.
Integrating ADHD Strategies into Play Therapy: Practical strategies for play therapists to create more inclusive and effective therapy sessions.

This episode will help therapists reflect on their own experiences, both as professionals and as individuals who may share similar neurodivergent traits with their clients. Tony’s wealth of knowledge and lived-experiences provide valuable guidance for clinicians and caregivers alike.

Tune in to explore the many perspectives on ADHD in play therapy and learn how to adjust your approach to make your practice more inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent children. 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Find Tony at www.buildingbetterbrains.com.au
Learn more about Hannah’s work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: July 19, 2022

In this playful and insightful episode, Lisa is joined by Certified Synergetic Play Therapists Andrea Davidson, Johanna Simmons, and Rachel Freeburg for a lively discussion on the beauty and power of messes in the playroom. From spilled paint to sensory chaos, they dive into the therapeutic opportunities that arise when we embrace the mess.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

How to explain and normalize messy play to parents and caregivers, helping them see its value;
Turning messes into teachable moments for boundaries, containment, and personal growth;
Supporting children in expressing themselves and meeting sensory needs through messy play;
Deciding when (and when not) to have a child clean up based on their treatment goals;
Tools and strategies for therapists to stay within their window of tolerance when messiness gets overwhelming; and
How to understand and approach messes through the lens of nervous system regulation and dysregulation.

🎧 Tune in to transform how you see messes in the playroom and discover practical tips for integrating messy play into your practice with confidence and ease. Let’s get messy! 🎨✨

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs." – Hannah Young

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Hannah Young, an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor, and child-parent relationship practitioner, for a deeply moving conversation about the role of poetry in play therapy. Hannah shares how poetry can serve as a bridge between a child’s inner world and therapeutic processing—offering a powerful way to witness, contain, and reflect their experiences.

With her unique blend of clinical expertise and personal storytelling, Hannah invites us to reimagine the role of language in the playroom—not just as a form of communication, but as a gift of presence, attunement, and deep connection.

Together, Lisa and Hannah explore:

✨ Poetry as a therapeutic tool – How writing and reflecting through poetry can deepen attunement and support self-regulation for both therapists and children. ✨ Capturing the unsaid – Using poetry to put words to children’s experiences, especially in moments of struggle, transition, or emotional overwhelm. ✨ Bringing case notes to life – How therapists can transform their clinical reflections into mindful, compassionate narratives. ✨ Offering poetry back to the child – Ethical considerations, creative approaches, and the profound impact of witnessing a child’s experience through poetry. ✨ The rhythm of healing – Understanding how poetry mirrors the tempo and flow of the therapeutic relationship.

And this episode takes an unexpected turn as Lisa is brought to tears for the first time on the podcast, moved by the depth and beauty of Hannah’s words. In a moment of profound resonance, Lisa experiences firsthand the power of poetry to touch the heart, validate emotions, and create space for healing.

Join Lisa and Hannah for this heartfelt and illuminating episode, and discover how to integrate poetry into your practice in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and transformative. ✨🔗

Podcast Resources:

Learn more about Hannah’s work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: April 18, 2023

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa welcomes Ann Beckley-Forest for a deep dive into working with children and families navigating adoption, foster care, or placement experiences. With her extensive expertise in EMDR Therapy and play therapy, Ann shares insights that will expand your understanding of attachment trauma and offer practical approaches to support this unique population.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

What attachment trauma or attachment wounding is (hint: it’s about “the important good things that didn’t happen”);
How adoptee-led movements are reshaping language, perspectives, and practices around adoption, honoring all parts of the adoption triad;
The impact of a child’s trauma history on the collective nervous system of adoptive/foster families;
Why unprocessed trauma persists in childhood and how therapists can address it effectively in sessions;
Reparative treatment approaches that prioritize attuned experiences over cognitive processes.

Whether you’re new to this work or seeking to deepen your understanding, this conversation will provide valuable insights and actionable ideas for supporting children with complex placement histories.

🎧 Start or continue your learning journey with Ann and Lisa today, and discover how you can make a profound difference in the lives of these children and families.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"We all walk around in our little cultural bubble, and sometimes, without realizing it, that bubble shapes how we show up in the playroom." – Dr. Carmen Cubillo

In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa sits down with Dr. Carmen Cubillo, a clinical psychologist, Registered Play Therapist, and cultural advocate based in Australia, for an essential conversation about culture—our own, our clients’, and how both shape the therapeutic relationship.

Together, Lisa and Carmen dive into:

✨ The therapist’s cultural lens: How our personal cultural background influences the way we show up in the playroom and why it’s crucial to reflect on it. ✨ Layers of cultural curiosity: Beyond heritage, how systemic and societal influences shape our clients' experiences and why we must stay open and adaptable. ✨ Cultural safety in therapy: What it means to be a culturally safe therapist and how unconscious biases can create barriers to connection. ✨ The importance of rupture and repair: Why acknowledging cultural missteps—rather than avoiding them—deepens trust and strengthens relationships. ✨ Connecting to the land: How understanding the cultural history of where you live can ground your practice and help you become more attuned to the experiences of the children and families you work with.

This episode is an invitation to lean into cultural awareness, embrace the discomfort of learning, and grow into more attuned and connected therapists. With Carmen’s wisdom, vulnerability, and deep experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and expand your perspective.

💡 Join Lisa and Carmen for this transformative discussion and take your cultural curiosity to the next level.

🔗 Resources Mentioned: Learn more about Dr. Carmen Kubio and her work in culturally responsive play therapy.

🎧 Tune in, reflect, and lean on in. 💜

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: October 11, 2022

In this exciting episode, Lisa is joined by the extraordinary Terry Kottman, founder of Adlerian Play Therapy, to explore the heart and soul of this impactful therapeutic approach. Known for her fun, engaging style and groundbreaking contributions to play therapy, Terry shares her wisdom, humor, and deep insights into how therapists can elevate their practice.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

How to bring more of yourself into your sessions to create authentic connections;
Tips for custom-designing sessions to meet the unique needs of each client;
Ways to deepen your client’s self-awareness (… and what it means to “spit in the client’s soup”);
Strategies for navigating therapeutic work when the process doesn’t follow clear-cut phases; and
Insights into attuning not only to your client but to their entire treatment process—an advanced “meta-attunement” approach.

🎧 Tune in to be inspired by Terry’s brilliance, practical advice, and her ability to re-energize your passion for play therapy. Prepare to feel jazzed about your work and ready to embrace new possibilities in your sessions! ✨

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

“So much of our healing lies in our ability to come home to ourselves.” – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Mili Shoemaker, a Synergetic Play Therapy supervisor trainer, long-time consultant, and dear friend. Together, they dive into one of the most foundational concepts in Synergetic Play Therapy: attachment to self.

Join Lisa and Mili as they explore:

How attachment to self differs from traditional attachment theories.
Why moments of mindful awareness are key to healing and integration.
The connection between attachment styles, perception, and self-regulation.
Practical ways therapists can foster attachment to self within themselves and their clients.
Personal stories and reflections on the profound impact of this concept in therapy and beyond.

Lisa also shares actionable insights, including a reflective exercise to observe and strengthen your connection to self throughout your week.

Whether you’re a therapist, a parent, or someone curious about deepening your self-awareness, this episode is packed with transformative insights.

Grab a notebook, and tune in to learn why attachment to self is not only the cornerstone of healing but also the foundation for developing secure relationships with others.

Resources mentioned: 👉 The Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Course – https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-signature-programs/

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 14, 2023

In this episode, Lisa is joined by the trailblazing Dr. Risë VanFleet for an inspiring conversation about Filial Therapy—a transformative model where parents and caregivers play a central role in their child’s therapeutic journey.

Dr. VanFleet shares her incredible expertise in this psychoeducational approach, offering insights into how Filial Therapy strengthens the parent-child relationship and enhances therapy outcomes.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

The fascinating history of Filial Therapy and the theoretical foundations that drive its success;
Why Filial Therapy is a psychoeducational model, not a medical one;
The 7 essential components that make Filial Therapy both elegant and effective;
How parents and caregivers become the primary change agents for their child;
Ways to integrate Filial Therapy with other therapeutic approaches for even greater impact.

🎧 Tune in to hear how this empowering model can deepen the therapeutic process and learn practical tools to bring Filial Therapy into your practice. Dr. VanFleet’s inspiring journey into the field of play therapy adds a personal touch to this enriching discussion!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

“Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs.” – Natascha Lawrence

In this episode, Lisa reconnects with Natascha Lawrence, a Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor, EMDR Practitioner, and founder of the FASD Institute, for an essential conversation about supporting children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) through play therapy. This is Part 2 of their dialogue, revisiting a topic that rarely gets the attention it deserves in the field of play therapy.

Together, Lisa and Natascha dive into:

What play therapists need to know about FASD: A holistic understanding of FASD as a whole-body diagnosis and its implications for therapeutic practice.
Creating neurodivergent-friendly play spaces: Practical steps to make playrooms sensory-safe and accessible for children with FASD and other neurodiverse conditions.
The FASD iceberg analogy: Understanding the layers beneath the surface and how they influence behavior, communication, and regulation.
Challenging the stigma: Reframing the narrative for children with FASD and their families, starting with compassion and respect.
Supporting caregivers: Why empowering parents and destigmatizing FASD is vital for meaningful therapeutic outcomes.

With Natascha’s blend of professional expertise and personal insights as a parent of a child with FASD, this conversation provides invaluable tools and perspectives for therapists and caregivers alike.

Join Lisa and Natascha for this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, and discover how to make your play therapy practice more inclusive, effective, and empowering for children with FASD. 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Learn more about Natascha’s work and the FASD Institute: www.fasdinstitute.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: May 11, 2021

Separation anxiety is a common challenge in the therapy room—whether it’s the child hesitant to leave their caregiver or the parent struggling to step away. In this episode, Lisa unpacks the nuances of separation anxiety and provides actionable tools for therapists to navigate this tender dynamic.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

What separation anxiety is, its potential causes, and how to differentiate between normal developmental behavior and when additional support is needed;
Creative and playful rituals that foster co-regulation between the child and parent/caregiver;
Strategies to help children cultivate an internal sense of safety;
Effective interventions for managing separation anxiety in the playroom, including how to support children in expanding their window of tolerance for transitions and separations.

🎧 Tune in for practical insights, playful tools, and a deeper understanding of how to support children and their families through the challenges of separation anxiety in therapy.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"Your fear will always be the ceiling of your innovation." – Lisa Dion

In this special post New Year’s episode, Lisa is joined by Jen Taylor, therapist, educator, and mastermind behind Jen Taylor Productions. Together, they kick off the first month of 2025 with an inspiring conversation about goal-setting, vision, and how therapists can master the business side of their practice to create greater impact.

Lisa and Jen dive into:

The psychology of setting congruent goals that align with your values and what inspires you the most.
Why “fantasy goals” often fail and how to replace them with actionable, meaningful ones.
The critical difference between resolutions and sustainable visions for growth.
How to manage fear and navigate challenges as a therapist and entrepreneur.
A behind-the-scenes look at Lisa’s Business of Therapy course, which blends strategic planning with emotional and psychological insights to help therapists succeed.

This episode will leave you inspired and ready to tackle this coming year with a clear vision and renewed energy. Whether you’re looking to build your private practice, expand your offerings, or simply align your goals with what inspires you, this conversation offers practical tools and heartfelt wisdom.

Resources Mentioned:

The Business of Therapy Course: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/business-of-therapy/

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: June 21, 2022

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa, dives into the tender and often challenging topic of the “shoulds” and “should nots” that we carry as clinicians. These inner judgments—those persistent whispers of self-criticism—show up in the playroom, in our work with parents and caregivers, and even in our personal lives.

Joined by two Certified Synergetic Play Therapists, Helen Ritchie and Kristina Dixon, Lisa leads a deeply personal and empowering conversation to help therapists explore and transform these inner dialogues.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

Why “shoulds” and unmet expectations trigger a threat response in the brain;
Common “shoulds” clinicians face (… and an invitation to reflect on your own);
How to navigate the “shoulds” and “should nots” in therapy sessions, with parents/caregivers, and in your personal life;
Practical insights for newer therapists grappling with self-doubt and the “Am I ok?” question;
Personal stories, including Lisa’s own experiences with these challenges, showing how even seasoned therapists aren’t immune to the “shoulds.”

🎧 Tune in to reconnect with a deeper trust in yourself as a play therapist and celebrate the incredible work you do every day. Big hugs and much love on this journey! 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"So much of play therapy is about clearing away the conditions that limit children from discovering who they are." - Georgie Wissen Vincent

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Georgie Wissen Vincent. She is a play therapist, co-founder of the Play Strong Institute, and co-author of The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, renowned psychotherapist, speaker, and author specializing in parenting and child development (...you likely know her from her co-parenting books with Dr. Dan Siegel). Together, they dive into the magic of play—not only as a therapeutic tool but as a way to strengthen relationships and foster meaningful connections.

Together, Lisa and Georgie explore:

Why play is more than just an activity—it’s a language.
The importance of involving parents in the therapeutic process and how to make it meaningful.
A sneak peek into The Way of Play’s “Play Strong Strategies” that blend neuroscience with practical tools for connection.
How this book fills a gap in resources for parents and therapists alike, offering an approachable way to communicate the magic of play.
Georgie’s reflections on customizing play therapy to meet the unique needs of every child and family.
Tips for therapists to reconnect with their own playfulness.

Grab a notebook, and tune in for a conversation that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to bring new energy into your play therapy practice!

Podcast Resources:

The Way of Play Book: www.playstronginstitute.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/

Original Air Date: June 19, 2017

In this insightful podcast, delve into the transformative power of gratitude with guidance from Lisa Dion. While it's effortless to appreciate the positives in our lives, what about the challenges? Discover how cultivating gratitude can expand your window of tolerance and foster a compassionate heart.

Explore the profound notion that clients enter our playrooms with purpose, serving as valuable teachers on our journey. Join us as we uncover the wisdom and blessings hidden within life's trials, embracing gratitude as a pathway to growth and understanding.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"Working with families isn’t about fixing individuals; it’s about finding the rhythm where everyone can grow together." – Dr. Stacy Jagger

In this episode, Lisa welcomes back the inspiring Dr. Stacy Jagger, affectionately known as “Dr. Sassy,” to dive into a topic that has shockingly never been fully explored in the series: working with the entire family system in play therapy. With her groundbreaking Mountain Method and a reputation for blending bold truth-telling with heartfelt humor, Dr. Stacy shares her unique approach to supporting families as a unit, rather than focusing solely on the child as the client.

Together, Lisa and Dr. Stacy discuss:

Reframing the family as the client: Why working with the entire system transforms outcomes.
A step-by-step roadmap: The Mountain Method’s stages and how to engage every family member in the healing journey.
The role of creativity and intuition: How therapists can embrace their inner artist to navigate family dynamics.
Addressing resistance: Strategies for working with families who are hesitant to engage in the process.
Healing through play: The profound impact of helping parents reconnect with their own inner child to better connect with their children.

With her refreshing honesty and deep compassion, Dr. Stacy inspires therapists to think beyond traditional methods and reimagine what’s possible when the whole family becomes part of the healing process.

Join Lisa and Dr. Stacy for a conversation that’s as insightful as it is empowering, and discover practical tools and encouragement to bring more creativity, authenticity, and connection to your work with families.

Tune in to uncover how you, too, can support families in climbing their own mountains of transformation. 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Dr. Stacy Jagger’s work: www.drsassy.com
The Mountain Method: www.themountainmethod.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: September 27, 2022

Do you know what bibliotherapy is or how to incorporate it into your client sessions? We're resharing this episode in which Lisa Dion is joined by Althea T. Simpson, the founder of Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions and Unicorn Life Training. Althea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator, and host of the podcast Chronicles of a Play Therapist. Her innovative approaches have been a tremendous inspiration in the play therapy field.

Discover the therapeutic potential of books and learn creative ways to use bibliotherapy with your clients, including:

How bibliotherapy helps children navigate psychological, emotional, and social challenges.
Choosing books relevant to a client's personal situation and developmental needs.
Utilizing bibliotherapy in Teletherapy sessions.
Engaging children in reflective activities such as art-based expressions, LEGO, sand tray, journal writing, and group discussions.

Althea also shares some of her favorite books for the playroom, including her top must-have book, and introduces her recently published book, "Hurt to Healing: Child Witnesses of Domestic Violence and Their Invisible Injuries," which intertwines her professional and personal experiences.

Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights the creative and healing power of bibliotherapy in play therapy sessions.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

We’re diving into another special Q&A episode of Lessons from the Playroom! Lisa is answering three thought-provoking questions from our listeners, offering insights into some of the tricky moments that arise in the playroom.

Tune in as Lisa explores messes, transitions, and those unexpected trips to the bathroom, unpacking what they might signify for the therapeutic process and how to respond with intention.

This week’s questions include:

Jasmine asks: "What do you do when a child makes huge messes [in the playroom]?"

Lisa explores the art of setting boundaries while respecting the therapeutic needs behind the mess.

Amy asks: "How do you help a child transition when they don’t want to leave the session?"

Lisa shares insights into the emotional significance of endings and how to make transitions smoother and more meaningful.

Heather asks: "What do I do when a child keeps leaving the session to go to the bathroom?"

You're invited to get curious about what is happening beneath the surface and what this behavior might reveal about the child’s inner process.

This episode is packed with rich insights and practical takeaways to help you navigate some of the trickiest moments in therapy.

We love hearing from you! Have a question or scenario you’d like Lisa to discuss? Send your questions to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or submit an audio clip. Your stories inspire meaningful growth and learning for all of us.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: February 13, 2023

In this special episode, Lisa welcomes Dr. Robert Jason Grant, creator of AutPlay Therapy, to explore his integrative approach to family play therapy designed specifically for neurodivergent children and their families. Dr. Grant, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and dedicated Neurodiversity Advocate, shares his extensive experience in sensory differences, Autism, ADHD, group play therapy, and more.

Join the conversation as Robert offers insights on creating a play therapy environment that respects play preferences, honoring each child’s unique presentation and making therapy a safe space for neurodivergent and neurotypical clients alike.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The inspiration behind AutPlay® Therapy and ways to incorporate it for children with sensory needs;
A deeper understanding of neurodivergence and the connection between neurodivergent and neurotypical clients;
Practical applications of the Neurodiversity Paradigm in therapeutic settings;
Techniques to help children feel seen, valued, and respected at a profound level;
And ways to integrate neurodiversity-affirming practices into your therapeutic approach.

This conversation is rich with insights and compassion, offering valuable tools for therapists seeking to support neurodivergent children and their families on their mental health journey.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: June 12, 2021

In this episode, Lisa dives into the sensitive topic of death and dying as it appears in the playroom, offering guidance and practical insights for therapists. She addresses common questions, such as:

What role does death & dying play have for children in the therapeutic space?
How can we remain grounded and present when a child explores these themes?
How do we embrace vulnerability and stay connected to ourselves, even in discomfort, to support the child’s integration?

Lisa provides strategies to help therapists approach these experiences with compassion, presence, and openness.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa Dion, founder of Synergetic Play Therapy, steps into the spotlight as she's interviewed by long-time colleague and Certified SPT Supervisor, Polly Douglass. Together, they explore Lisa’s deeply personal experience of transitioning into the “empty nester” phase of life when her daughter left for college.

This episode isn’t just for parents—whether you're facing a significant life change, are a therapist supporting others through transitions, or are simply curious about navigating life’s changes, this conversation offers deep insights on how to move through them with intention and grace.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How the principles of Synergetic Play Therapy support navigating major life transitions
Lisa’s personal reflections on the "empty nester" experience and conscious endings
Navigating parallel processes during life transitions with others
The importance of finding new routines during times of change
The emotional waves that come with transitions and how to stay connected to yourself

Join Lisa and Polly for an intimate, thoughtful conversation that will resonate with anyone moving through the unknowns of change—whether you’re an empty nester or simply navigating life’s evolving journey.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: May 2, 2019

"The majority of relationship, any relationship, is rupture. Repair is the remedy." - Lisa Dion

In relationships—whether with clients or ourselves—rupture and repair are essential. Mis-attunement isn’t something we can avoid, nor should we. It’s actually a key ingredient in the recipe for building trust. Each moment of rupture and repair forms the bedrock of connection, opening the doors to genuine healing and growth.

Rupture, repair, repeat—this rhythm isn’t just something we experience; it’s something we practice.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, where she answers your insightful questions about the complexities of working in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa dives deep into the theme of authenticity and how it plays a critical role in the therapist-client dynamic.

Tune in as Lisa responds to 3 thought-provoking listener questions, exploring how to stay genuine and present when navigating imaginative play, emotional congruence, and handling personal questions from clients.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Carolyn’s question: “When doing imagination play and a client assigns you a role, how do you play that role? I'm often asked to be a child and the client is the adult. I find I respond as the "child" in ways that either surprise my client or I'm given the exact lines and actions to portray. My version of the authentic child when I'm improvising without lines isn't always what the client expects, nor is it always the ideal example because I usually play what I would have felt/said/done as a child and wait for guidance from my client. Hmmm?”

Lisa breaks down how to stay in the moment and respond from a place of genuineness and presence while allowing the child to lead.

An anonymous listener asks: Please elaborate on the statement you (Lisa) made: "I have never seen a child damaged because the therapist was real. However, I have seen children who never deeply connected to their therapist and didn't go as deep as they could have gone because their therapist was too scared to share and express their authentic experience congruently."

Lisa discusses how emotional congruence builds trust and safety, and why being authentic helps children connect more deeply in therapy.

Patricia’s question: “How do you handle personal questions from a child in session?”

Lisa explains how to navigate personal inquiries while staying attuned to the therapeutic goals and the child’s unique needs.

Join Lisa for a rich, reflective conversation that offers practical insights for therapists looking to deepen their authenticity and connection in the playroom.

*We love hearing from you! Have a question or scenario for Lisa to discuss? Send your questions to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or submit an audio clip. Your questions inspire meaningful growth and learning for all of us.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: April 24, 2017

Setting boundaries in the playroom can be a complex process! When to set them? How to set them? Why to set them? Is it important to set them? In this archived episode, Lisa Dion dives deep into these crucial questions, offering new insights on setting boundaries with children in ways you might not have considered before.

Join Lisa as she explores:

The fundamental reasons for setting boundaries and how they benefit the therapeutic process.
How to set boundaries with children effectively and in a manner you may not have tried before.
The timing of establishing boundaries in the playroom (hint: it may not be when you think).
Strategies for setting boundaries in ways that do not disrupt play or induce shame.
Practical advice and real-life examples to refine your boundary-setting skills.
How to handle ruptures in the therapeutic relationship when boundaries are set, including strategies for repair and reconnection.

Revisit this crucial topic to gain valuable insights into supporting your clients' therapeutic journeys, navigating boundaries, and fostering a sense of safety in your play therapy sessions.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa welcomes back the remarkable Marie José Dhaese, a trailblazer in the field of play therapy and the original creator of expressive play therapies. Building on their previous conversation about Holistic Expressive Play Therapy, Lisa and Marie José dive even deeper into the profound journey of healing, attachment, and reconnecting to one's true nature. With over 50 years of experience as a registered clinical counselor, art therapist, and play therapy supervisor, Marie José shares her deep wisdom and heartfelt reflections on what it takes to create a therapeutic environment where children can reconnect to themselves and thrive.

In this episode, you will explore:

The metaphor of the "white dot": Discover how this symbol represents our core essence or true nature, and why nurturing this inner light is central to healing.
Attachment and true nature: Understand how early attachment experiences shape a child’s development, and how caregivers and therapists can reflect the child’s true self back to them.
The role of trauma in disconnection: Learn how attachment disruptions and trauma sever a child’s connection to their true self, and how therapy can help repair these ruptures.
The therapist’s own journey: Hear how Marie José emphasizes the importance of therapists being on an ongoing journey of self-discovery and healing, and how this inner work allows them to hold space for others.
Creating an environment for transformation: Explore the significance of designing therapeutic spaces that invite safety, creativity, and how nature and expressive therapies play a vital role in transformation.
The importance of closure in therapy: Discover why creating a clear beginning, middle, and end in therapy sessions is essential for healing, and how a lack of closure can impact therapeutic outcomes.
Navigating the complexities of healing: Gain insight into the delicate balance therapists must maintain between structure and spontaneity, allowing children to explore, express, and reconnect with their true selves at their own pace.
Tending to your own "dot": Lisa and Marie José discuss the ethical imperative for therapists to engage in self-care, self-reflection, and self-compassion to remain present and attuned to their clients’ needs.

Join Lisa and Marie José for a thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation that will inspire therapists to reflect on their own journey, deepen their connection to their clients, and create spaces where true healing can unfold. This episode is filled with wisdom for those seeking to support children on their path to self-discovery and resilience.

As mentioned in the podcast, explore Marie José’s play sanctuary for children here: 💛 https://youtu.be/Lb20F3jF2nA?si=HSKWeTLQcrwlDtQn

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: May 24, 2022

In this special episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa Dion welcomes the amazing Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, a faculty member at Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. Dr. Goldstein has uniquely applied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to children, making her a pioneer in this field.

Hear the delightful story of how Bonnie and Lisa met at the Australian Childhood Foundation's trauma conference in Melbourne in 2019, instantly connecting over dinner and sparking a meaningful professional relationship.

Join Bonnie and Lisa as they discuss how to integrate the body into therapy practice to empower child clients, covering:

Utilizing your own sense of self in client work through embedded relational mindfulness techniques.
Understanding how the body influences the mind and combining mindfulness and body awareness to shift a client's narrative.
Incorporating collaborative curiosity in therapeutic work with children.
Techniques for helping clients reconnect with their bodies after trauma, including the "choo-choo train" activity.
Reading the client's story through the aliveness of the body.
Attuning to your own body to better attune to your client's body, recognizing the therapist's body as the most important "toy" in the room.

You'll also hear numerous client stories illustrating how to incorporate sensorimotor work into your practice and get introduced to Bonnie's unique co-therapist who assists in her sessions.

About Dr. Bonnie Goldstein: Dr. Goldstein is dedicated to fostering and healing relationships through attachment theory, somatic and mindful awareness, and group psychotherapy. She is the founder/director of the Lifespan Psychological Center and a faculty member at the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. With several publications to her name, she is currently co-authoring a book on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Children with Pat Ogden, soon to be published by Norton Publishing.

Tune in for an inspiring episode filled with practical insights and heartwarming stories that highlight the transformative power of sensorimotor psychotherapy in play therapy.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa is back to answer more of your burning questions! And this time, we’re diving deep into the world of teens, one of the most complex and rewarding populations to work with in the playroom.

In this episode, Lisa addresses 3 thought-provoking questions submitted by listeners, shedding light on adolescents' nuanced and sometimes perplexing behaviors.

Karen asks: "What do you do when a teen doesn’t want to engage or say anything?"

Lisa explores multiple angles to approach this challenge and offers insights into how to keep the relational connection alive, even when words are few.

Sorina wonders: "How do you handle it when tweens repeatedly ask when the session can be done or if they can be done with therapy (parent wants them in therapy)?"

Lisa explores how to respond to these moments and how to create a space that aligns with a teen's unique needs and interests, even when those interests clash with their parents’.

Mary asks: "What do you say when a 17-year-old autistic teen is showing you their video game. You don’t understand something and you ask them a question. Their response is, 'That is the dumbest question anyone could ever ask'?"

Lisa shares how to handle these tricky situations and turn them into opportunities for deeper understanding and connection, using key concepts from Synergetic Play Therapy.

Join us for a rich discussion filled with insights, strategies, and reminders on how to connect with and support teens in a meaningful way.

*We appreciate your questions and encourage you to keep them coming! If you have a question or a scenario you’d like Lisa to discuss, email us at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com, or better yet, send an audio clip of your question. Your questions help us all grow and learn together in this beautiful journey of play therapy.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: February 28, 2023

We're resharing this episode in which Lisa revisits a frequently asked question: how to support parents and caregivers in regulating themselves and ultimately co-regulating with their child when the child is dysregulated. Offering co-regulatory moments to parents can repattern their nervous systems, empowering them to become their child’s external regulator.

Join Lisa as she covers:

Recognizing and addressing dysregulation in parents/caregivers during the therapy process.
Utilizing the Synergetic Play Therapy concept of “The Set Up” or “Offering” to gain a deeper understanding of the parent.
Emphasizing the importance of acknowledging our own felt sense and activation before acting as an external regulator for parents.
Teaching parents/caregivers to become external regulators and developing regulatory templates for their relationship with their child.
Identifying key factors when helping parents/caregivers create new regulation templates.
Shifting parents/caregivers' perceptions of their child’s behavior to foster spaciousness and connection.

Consider this important question with Lisa: Are we willing to do what we can to create new templates for parents and caregivers, and based on our therapeutic approach, how might we do that? This episode is essential for therapists seeking to enhance their work with families by fostering co-regulation and deeper connections.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this insightful episode, Lisa welcomes back the incredible Liliana Baylon, a bilingual English and Spanish multicultural therapist and cultural ambassador for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. Building on their previous conversation about the experiences of immigrants and refugees, Lisa and Liliana delve into the evolving language and understanding around newcomers, which includes migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Liliana, who has over a decade of clinical experience primarily treating LatinX community members, shares her expertise on the complexities newcomers face beyond migration trauma, such as post-migration trauma, acculturation stress, and assimilation challenges. They discuss the misconceptions and biases that therapists might hold, the multi-faceted traumas newcomers endure, and the importance of creating a culturally aware and curious therapeutic environment.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The shift from using terms like "migrants" to "newcomers" and the significance behind this change.
The global nature of issues faced by newcomers and common misconceptions.
The extensive range of traumas experienced by newcomers, including generational, cultural, racial, and educational traumas.
The impact of racism and bias on newcomers and how therapists can address these in their practice.
The concept of acculturation stress and its effects on mental health.
How to support newcomers by fostering curiosity and understanding their unique identities and experiences.
Practical tips for intake processes that honor the experiences and identities of newcomers.
The importance of relationship-building and staying curious as a part of the healing process.
Liliana's powerful TedEx talk about her personal experiences with assimilation and cultural identity.

Join Lisa and Liliana for a heartfelt and educational conversation that will deepen your understanding and enhance your therapeutic practice with newcomers. Don’t miss out on Liliana’s wisdom and practical advice for creating a supportive and culturally aware therapeutic environment.

“Beyond simple labels, such as Latina or Immigrant, our individual and collective identities encompass a range of experiences, aptitudes, and viewpoints that add to a complex and nuanced understanding of our shared humanity” - Liliana Baylon

Find Liliana’s powerful TedEx talk about her personal experiences of assimilation and cultural identity on her website at lilianabaylon.com.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: January 24, 2019

Child's play is serious business, and games like Peek-a-Boo and Hide-and-Seek are no exception. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how these seemingly simple games serve as powerful platforms for children to process their emotions. Inspired by her insight, "Games are platforms to help kids process their emotions. Sometimes peek-a-boo and hide-and-go-seek are just about wanting to be seen," we dive deep into the emotional underpinnings of these play activities.

Lisa discusses:

The emotional significance of Peek-a-Boo and Hide-and-Seek in a child's development.
How these games reveal a child's desire to be seen and found.
Practical applications for integrating these games into play therapy to support emotional processing.

Join us as we uncover the deeper meanings behind these common childhood games and learn how to use them effectively in therapeutic settings to help children express and navigate their emotions.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this special episode, Lisa welcomes Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S™, to explore a transformative approach to bibliotherapy. Moving beyond the traditional view of books as cognitive tools, Tammi introduces us to using bibliotherapy as a means for co-regulation, attachment, and creating a sense of safety within the therapeutic space.

Tammi, who was initially trained in client-centered play therapy, shares her journey of discovering the profound impact that books can have when used as co-regulators. Through her experiences and insights, she reveals how stories can extend beyond mere words, becoming powerful tools that facilitate deeper connections between children and their caregivers.

Key Takeaways:

Tammi's Journey with Bibliotherapy: How she discovered the power of books as a co-regulation tool.
A Paradigm Shift: Using bibliotherapy from a “bottom-up” approach to support attachment, safety, and emotional regulation in children.
Integrating Books into Play Therapy: Practical strategies for making books an extension of a child’s play, fostering a more client-centered therapeutic experience.
Engaging Kids Who Aren’t Interested in Reading: Innovative ways to use books beyond just reading the words.
Types of Bibliotherapy: Differentiating between developmental, therapeutic, and play-based bibliotherapy.
Enhancing Parent-Child Relationships: How books can strengthen the bond between parents and children, addressing attachment and repair in relationships.
Attunement and Trusting the Process: The importance of being present and attuned to the child, allowing books and other tools in the therapy space to facilitate healing naturally.

*Check out Tammi’s new book on Amazon, PESI website, or Tammi’s website: The Bibliotherapy Toolbox: 100+ Creative and Playful Story-Based Interventions to Help Kids Create Safety, Overcome Challenges, and Build Resiliency.

*Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S™, is a leading expert in attachment, sandtray play therapy, and sensory integration with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and advanced training from the Family and Play Therapy Center in Philadelphia. Tammi is the author of Casey’s Greatness Wings and The Bibliotherapy Toolkit, and she delivered a TEDx Talk, "Stories in the Sand: Healing Trauma, Anxiety, and Grief," in 2023. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: December 6, 2022

Have you ever wondered what intergenerational trauma looks like in a play therapy session? Or how you can support both the child and the parent in integrating this trauma? In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Arielle Schwartz, renowned author of "The Complex PTSD Workbook" and "The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook," to discuss this profound topic.

Together, they delve into:

Understanding intergenerational trauma and its manifestations in play therapy sessions.
Cultivating trans-generational resilience and generational empathy to model for clients and their parents/caregivers.
Managing your own intergenerational trauma when it arises during sessions.
The importance of self-care in trauma work, including Dr. Schwartz's own daily embodiment practice.

Join this enlightening conversation and expand your perspective beyond the client's immediate experiences to consider generational patterns and unresolved traumas within the family system. Discover how these dynamics shape the parent/caregiver-child relationship and learn effective strategies to support healing across generations.

About Dr. Arielle Schwartz: Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, and Kripalu yoga teacher with a private practice in Boulder, Colorado. As an internationally sought-after teacher and leading voice in healing PTSD and complex trauma, she is the author of six books, including "The Complex PTSD Workbook" and "Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma." Dr. Schwartz offers an integrative, mind-body approach to therapy through her Center for Resilience Informed Therapy. Learn more about her work at www.drarielleschwartz.com.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

We're shaking things up and doing something we haven’t done in a while. In this episode, Lisa is responding directly to your questions! And today, we have three fantastic questions from our listeners that Lisa will be answering.

Jennifer asks: "What do you do if a child wants to bring food or their own toys into the session?"

Lisa gives insights and shares different ways to respond. She delves into the therapeutic function of foods and emphasizes the importance of including the child's toys in sessions, in line with Synergetic Play Therapy’s philosophy.

Sarah asks: "What do you do when a child lies or exaggerates their stories?"

Lisa helps us understand why it’s not about the specific details of the story and highlights what’s more important when working with a child who lies or exaggerates.

Jennifer asks: "How do you handle it if a child wants to show their caregiver something they created in the playroom?"

Lisa discusses the larger question we need to consider first and then offers various ways to respond to different ways that this can play out.

We have three amazing questions that came from YOU! Keep your questions coming and join us for an engaging and insightful episode that deepens your understanding of the little lessons children teach us in the playroom.

If you would like to be part of the conversation (...because yes, we’re going to keep doing these episodes), send your questions to Lisa at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com. Or even better, send us an audio of your question to share. 🙂

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: November 10, 2019

In this episode, we explore the vital role of play therapists in addressing Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in the playroom, inspired by Lisa Dion's words: "It's not that children with SPD don't want to regulate; it's that they can't."

SPD can present various challenges in the play therapy setting, often making it difficult for children to self-regulate. We will discuss how play therapists can recognize the signs of SPD, adapt their techniques to meet the needs of these children and implement effective strategies to help them develop self-regulation skills. Join us as we provide insights and practical advice for therapists dedicated to supporting children with SPD.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this special episode, Lisa reconnects with a long-time colleague, Nilüfer Devecigil, who joins her from Turkey. Nilüfer completed her master’s degree in psychology in the US and worked closely with Byron and Carol Norton, the pioneers of Experiential Play Therapy. She’s also the lead teacher for Experiential Play Therapy in Turkey. With extensive experience in attachment parenting and trauma healing, Nilüfer currently practices as a play therapist for young children and an attachment parenting therapist for pregnant women and new mothers.

Listeners, you might not know that Experiential Play Therapy is one of the foundational models that influenced Synergetic Play Therapy. This conversation feels like we’re going back to our roots a bit.

Episode Highlights:

Lisa and Nilüfer’s Journey: Discover how Lisa and Nilüfer met over 20 years ago, learning Experiential Play Therapy together.
Foundations of Experiential Play Therapy: Understand the philosophy and humanistic approach championed by Byron and Carol Norton.
Parent Involvement: Learn how parents are integrally involved in the therapeutic process, making it very relational.
Unique Aspects of Experiential Play Therapy: Explore what sets this modality apart, including the five stages of the therapeutic process and the use of themes and metaphors in play.
Active Participation in Play: Lisa shares her appreciation for the unique aspect of experiencing play alongside the child, fully engaging in the roles assigned by the child.
Healing Through Play: Hear how parents heal alongside their children through this model of play therapy.
Framework and Personal Focus: Discover how Nilüfer integrates her focus on attachment and relational work within the framework of Experiential Play Therapy.
Double Awareness in Play Therapy: Learn about the concept of dual or “double awareness” and its significance for both child clients and therapists.
Therapist’s Own Work: Hear why it’s so important for us as therapists to do our own therapeutic work.

Experience Experiential Play Therapy through numerous examples and stories of how it works with child clients and their parents. Join us for an enlightening conversation that takes us back to the roots of Synergetic Play Therapy and gives a beautiful overview of this impactful therapeutic approach.

If you would like to connect with Nilüfer Devecigil, follow her on her Instagram page here.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Whether we consciously remember our early years or not, the body holds onto those experiences in profound ways. In this episode, Lisa Dion delves into the intricacies of early memory, exploring how understanding different types of memory can shed light on the experiences of children under the age of two or three.

Join Lisa as she discusses:

The science behind early memory and its various forms.
Why even if the mind doesn't remember, the body does.
How this understanding impacts play therapy and supports healing.
Practical approaches to recognizing and working with early memories in therapeutic settings.

This episode is essential for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of early childhood development and the lasting impact of early experiences. Tune in to learn how the body holds onto memories and how this knowledge can enhance your therapeutic practice.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: August 16, 2022

Join Lisa as she welcomes Cary Hamilton, an extraordinary expert in play therapy and neurodiversity, for an insightful conversation aimed at transforming how you support parents and caregivers of children with neurodiverse or sensory processing challenges.

Cary Hamilton, the Director of Play Therapy at Antioch University in Seattle, owner of Olympia Therapy, and President of the Washington Association for Play Therapy, brings over a decade of experience as an author and international presenter on these topics. Additionally, Cary offers practical guidance through her educational platform, Playful Wisdom, designed to help parents rediscover the joy of parenting.

In this episode, discover how to guide parents and caregivers from feelings of overwhelm and confusion to a state of curiosity and deep connection with their child. Cary and Lisa share their lived experiences while covering:

Supporting parents/caregivers in trusting their intuition about their child's needs and empowering them in the healing process.
Engaging parents/caregivers when they feel shut down, hopeless, or scared, including an amazing question from Cary that fosters complete support and acceptance.
Addressing systemic family challenges such as differences in understanding between partners, sibling perceptions, and marital stress.
Trusting the child's innate ability to regulate their own dysregulation.

Gain a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and sensory processing challenges, and take away invaluable insights from this heartfelt and honest conversation.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: May 10, 2022

In this episode, Lisa welcomes a guest who holds a special place in her heart and professional journey—Felicia Carrol, a leading expert in Gestalt Play Therapy. As a Certified Gestalt Therapist, Lisa draws on one of the foundational theories of Synergetic Play Therapy, making this conversation particularly meaningful.

Felicia Carrol, LMFT, RPT-S, is the founder and director of the West Coast Institute for Gestalt Therapy with Children and Adolescents. An international educator, Felicia has conducted training across numerous countries and has contributed extensively to the play therapy field through her publications. As a direct student and close friend of the late Violet Oaklander, Felicia brings a wealth of knowledge and personal anecdotes.

Join Lisa and Felicia in a grounding and heartfelt discussion where you will:

Discover the history and development of Gestalt Play Therapy, highlighting Violet Oaklander's significant contributions.
Gain insight into the principles of Gestalt Play Therapy, including its paradigm and the 4 Pillars established by Violet Oaklander.
Explore often overlooked yet powerful concepts such as "being for" your client, the "self-nurturing" technique, and the importance of a dialogic relationship.
Learn about common misconceptions in Gestalt Play Therapy and the broader play therapy field, particularly regarding directive versus non-directive modalities.
Hear personal and professional stories about Violet Oaklander, celebrating her legacy and the profound impact she had on play therapy.

This episode is dedicated to Violet Oaklander, who passed away on September 21, 2021, at the age of 94. A pioneering child and adolescent therapist, Violet is renowned for integrating Gestalt Therapy with play therapy, and her groundbreaking book, "Windows to Our Children," revolutionized the field.

Tune in to reconnect with the roots of play therapy and honor the legacy of Violet Oaklander. Thank you, Felicia, for sharing your wisdom and experiences.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this special episode, Lisa is joined by two extraordinary guests, Isabella Cassina and Claudio Mochi, pioneers using play therapy in international crisis intervention. As co-founders of the INA International Academy for Play Therapy Studies and Psychosocial Projects in Switzerland, Isabella and Claudio have dedicated their careers to supporting children and families in some of the most challenging environments around the world.

Isabella, Director of Project Management, and Claudio, Director of the Academy, bring decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the table. They have worked in over 30 cities across 15 countries, addressing the needs of those affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and high-risk situations. Together, they developed the "Coping with the Present while Building for the Future" (CPBF) model, which they have shared globally.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How Isabella and Claudio began their journey in crisis and humanitarian work.
The unique challenges and rewards of using play therapy to support children and their families affected by international crises.
The philosophy behind "Empowering Playtime"—a program designed to restore play opportunities for children during migration and other crises.
Insights into their model, CPBF, and its impact on mental health professionals worldwide.
How to create play sanctuaries and foster a culture of play in international crisis contexts.
The MAP (My Awareness Process) as a guiding reference point, emphasizing a comprehensive awareness process rather than just therapeutic techniques.
The importance of co-constructing with populations in crisis to ensure program sustainability after providers leave, highlighting the need for community collaboration and cultural sensitivity regarding language, customs, and traditions.

Claudio and Isabella also share personal stories from the field, highlighting the emotional impact of their work and the resilience of the children and communities they serve. Learn about their strategies for self-care and the significance of creating safe play environments amidst chaos.

This is an inspiring conversation filled with practical insights and heartfelt stories, showcasing the transformative power of play therapy in crisis situations. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from two of the leading experts in the field.

For more information about their work and the International Academy of Play Therapy, visit Crisis Play Therapy.

Tune in to explore how play therapy can be a beacon of hope in the darkest times and how you can be a part of this vital work.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: December 20, 2022

Prepare for an enlightening conversation as Lisa Dion welcomes a distinguished guest, Dr. Cathy Malchiodi, Founder & Director of the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute. Dr. Malchiodi is a renowned figure in the field of Expressive Arts Therapy, with a wealth of experience and expertise garnered from her extensive presentations and acclaimed books, including the timeless favorite "Understanding Children’s Drawings."

In this episode, delve into the transformative realm of Expressive Arts Therapy and discover the significance of "rhythmic synchronization" and "action-oriented" interventions in supporting clients on their journey of sensory integration and trauma healing. Dr. Malchiodi introduces a groundbreaking approach to conceptualizing the client's "Window of Tolerance," emphasizing the expansion of their capacity for trauma integration and playfulness.

Join us for a grounding conversation that transcends specific techniques, as we explore ways to empower clients in reclaiming and expanding their capacity for authentic self-expression. Dr. Malchiodi eloquently articulates the transformative potential of Expressive Arts Therapy, stating, "Trauma reduces our capacity for expression through movement, sound, enactment, image making, and play. Our job is to help people reclaim that capacity—to manifest a full range of restorative expression and reparative playfulness."

Discover the profound impact of Expressive Arts Therapy in fostering healing and restoring vitality. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from Dr. Cathy Malchiodi's vast knowledge and experience in trauma-informed practices and expressive arts therapy.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode (and most timely for Pride Month), Lisa welcomes Jennifer Shivey, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor with a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ children and their families. Jennifer, who has personal experience as the mother of a transgender child, shares her journey and how it transformed her approach to creating safe and affirming play therapy spaces.

You’ll gain practical insights on inclusive practices, the importance of understanding evolving language around gender diversity, and how to support both children and their families through their journeys of self-discovery. Jennifer emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of therapists to engage in ongoing education and offers advice for those who may feel challenged by these conversations.

This episode is a call to action for therapists to reflect on their practices, understand the profound impact of inclusive therapy, and ensure their playrooms are welcoming spaces for all children. Join us for this vital discussion and learn how you can make a difference in the lives of transgender and gender-diverse children.

*Want to take a full 90-minute course on this very topic? Join Jen and other amazing presenters including Marshall Lyles, Val Bruno, and Jodi Mullen for the upcoming Play It Forward: Elevating Play Therapy through Education and Service. This one-day virtual summit on July 25th, 2024 is designed to empower therapists while support play therapy training scholarships awarded through the Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation (....yes, every dollar of your registration).

Learn about reflections and reflective functioning in Sandtray therapy with Marshall Lyles. Val Bruno will guide you with navigating legal processes as a play therapist. Jodi Mullen will offer insight into play therapy with sexually traumatized children. And Jennifer Shivey will help you to create an affirming play therapy space for transgender and gender-diverse children and their families. Secure your spot today! 🌟

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: January 31, 2023

Prepare for an enriching dialogue as Lisa Dion welcomes esteemed guest Dr. Joyce C. Mills to explore the transformative practice of StoryPlay®. Rooted in Ericksonian principles and resiliency-based approaches, StoryPlay® harnesses the innate inner resources, skills, and strengths of individuals to foster profound healing, growth, and change.

Dr. Joyce Mills is a renowned storyteller, trauma specialist, and the visionary behind StoryPlay®, recognized for her exceptional contributions to the field of Play Therapy Training and Child Psychology. Join Lisa and Joyce as they delve into the heart of StoryPlay®, offering playful and profound insights on facilitating healing, honoring children's authenticity, and creating safe spaces for growth.

In this enlightening conversation, you'll discover:

Strategies for identifying and utilizing clients' inner resources to transcend diagnosis and foster empowerment.
Insightful perspectives on recognizing and supporting the struggles of parents and caregivers.
The foundational principles of resilience inherent in the StoryPlay® model.
The distinction between directive and indirective play therapy approaches.
Essential elements of the StoryPlay® model and its transformative potential.
Practical techniques for employing Therapeutic Metaphors to facilitate profound change.

Listen closely as Dr. Joyce Mills shares her remarkable journey and insights into the healing power of storytelling, revealing how stories serve as medicine for the soul. Join us in celebrating Dr. Mills's invaluable contributions to our field and discover the profound impact of StoryPlay® in promoting healing and growth.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 19, 2020

Join us for an enlightening discussion on the vagus nerve, a pivotal component of our overall health and well-being. In this episode, discover why the vagus nerve holds such significance, not only in regulation but also in immunity and the body's capacity for recovery.

Explore simple yet effective techniques for stimulating the vagus nerve, promoting its optimal function, and enhancing your overall vitality. Delve into practical strategies that can empower you to harness the power of this vital nerve and support your body's natural ability to thrive.

Tune in to uncover the secrets of the vagus nerve and embark on a journey toward enhanced regulation and well-being.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/colleagues to join us.

In this especially important episode, we shine a spotlight on the harrowing issue of child sex trafficking and explore how we can support the young survivors of this modern-day slave trade. Join Lisa for a deeply insightful conversation with Alejandro (Alex) Castro Croy, a bilingual, bicultural Trauma and Addiction Counselor, and the owner/Lead Clinician of Transcending Consulting Group in Denver, Colorado.

Alex brings his extensive experience from training law enforcement professionals and collaborating with the FBI on Crimes Against Children to the discussion. Together, they delve into the complexities of working with children who have endured compounded trauma and exploitation. Alex shares his journey into this challenging field and sheds light on the often-overlooked facets of child sex trafficking, including the surprising demographics it affects and the role of social media.

Together they discuss the indicators of sex trafficking and key red flags to watch for. Alex also provides invaluable insights into the physical and behavioral signs that therapists should be aware of to help identify survivors. Learn why some clients might go AWOL or refuse treatment and how clinicians can approach these situations with sensitivity and care.

Self-care for therapists is paramount, and Alex emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, debriefing, and the PERMS model—Physical, Emotional, Relational, Mental, and Spiritual domains of self-care—while sharing various intervention techniques and stressing the importance of honoring the human side of both therapist and client.

This episode is a must-listen for therapists and anyone in the human services field. We encourage you to breathe and regulate as you listen to this important conversation, and as we navigate the challenging but essential work of supporting child survivors of sex trafficking.

Talking Points:

Understanding the true scope and demographics of child sex trafficking.
The impact of social media and the daytime occurrences of trafficking.
Recognizing indicators and key red flags.
Identifying physical and behavioral signs of child sex trafficking survivors.
The importance of self-care for clinicians and the PERMS model.
Various therapeutic interventions: music, play, art, somatic, and narrative therapies.
The importance of working with the client’s protective strategies.
Developing awareness of our own reactions as therapists to clients' trauma stories.

Join us for this so-very important conversation to better understand and support the healing journey of child sex trafficking survivors.

Additional Resources:

For more information about Online training for introduction to Sex Trafficking: https://connect.missingkids.org/learn/learning-plans/4/introduction-to-child-sex-trafficking
Physical and Behavioral Indicators: https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/pdfs/CST-Identification-Resource.pdf
Reporting Sex trafficking:
Local Social services and Police department
- Call 1-800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678)
- www.Cybertipline.org

Original Air Date: March 29, 2022

Join Lisa Dion for a poignant and timely conversation with Liliana Baylon, a bilingual and bicultural therapist and Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor. In this episode, Liliana shares her profound insights into the experiences and challenges faced by immigrant and refugee families, offering invaluable perspectives that will broaden your cultural awareness and enhance your therapeutic work with clients.

Delve into a conversation where you'll learn:

The unique experiences and hurdles encountered by immigrants and refugees.
Strategies for supporting clients through the grieving process, acknowledging their journey, challenges, and emotional needs.
Understanding the nervous system experiences of immigrants and refugees and its impact on their sense of identity and safety.
Insights into the perceptions of immigrants and refugees through the lens of the 4 threats to the brain.
Techniques for holding space for families dealing with intergenerational disruptions and facilitating repair and reconciliation.
The existential crisis faced by immigrants and refugees regarding their global perspective and sense of self.
Approaches for helping clients explore their identity, values, and cultural integration.

As you listen, embrace moments of reflection and notice any tendencies to advocate, fix, or rescue. Consider how these actions may impact the empowerment journey of your clients, as Liliana emphasizes the importance of holding space with intention and sensitivity.

Expand your cultural lens and deepen your connection with immigrant and refugee clients/families by incorporating Liliana's invaluable insights into your practice. This episode invites you to approach your work with curiosity, awareness, and empathy, fostering a more inclusive and supportive therapeutic environment for all.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: October 26, 2021

In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by three important people in her life - Certified Synergetic Play Therapists/Providers Andrea Davidson (Colorado), Johanna Simmons (Vancouver, British Columbia), and Rachel Freeburg (Oregon). Together, they engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the various challenges that play therapists encounter in their practice.

Pause and reflect as they explore strategies for addressing common scenarios such as:

Children attempting to care for the therapist.
Challenges related to teletherapy sessions, including situations where clients do not turn on their screens.
Difficulties with transitions, such as reluctance to leave a parent's side or the playroom at the end of a session.

Discover surprising insights and practical solutions as these experienced therapists share their wisdom and expertise. Join us for a candid conversation that sheds light on navigating the complexities of play therapy with connection to self and others.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/colleagues to join us.

Lisa is joined by three remarkable professionals, Jacque Maben, Cara Smith, and Amy Pennington, to uncover the boundless potential of play therapy across various contexts and non-traditional mental health settings. This episode expands the definition of play beyond traditional toys to encompass movement, body experiences, and relational dynamics.

Meet our guests: Cara Smith, a Certified Child Life Specialist; Amy Pennington, an Occupational Therapist; and Jacque Maben, an Equine/Animal Assisted Therapist. Learn more about them below. In this episode, each guest infuses the principles of play therapy into their unique practices, resulting in a magical fusion of healing modalities.

Cara enlightens us on integrating play into medical settings, using it as a tool to alleviate stress and anxiety surrounding medical procedures. Amy brings play into the realm of occupational therapy, shedding light on how it aids in sensory processing and skill development. Jacque shares her insights into incorporating animals, particularly horses, into play therapy, emphasizing their authenticity and ability to provide a sense of safety.

Discover how these professionals serve as external regulators, co-regulating with children toward trauma integration across various contexts. Tune in to explore the myriad forms of play and the transformative power it holds in diverse therapeutic practices, witnessing the beautiful unity that emerges when harnessing play therapy principles for healing in any setting.

*Jacque Maben is a Licensed Professional Counselor with certifications in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, and EMDR Training. As the founder of Finding Hiawatha, an Animal Assisted Therapy Ranch, she leads a team of therapists and animal co-therapists in empowering clients to embrace their full potential through the healing connection between humans and animals.

*Cara Smith, MA and Certified Child Life Specialist has over 17 years of experience in child life and academia. She has worked globally, advocating for children's psychosocial needs and fostering resilience. Currently, Cara integrates mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology, and play therapy into her clinical practice, emphasizing the healing power of connection and play in building resilience.

*Amy Pennington is a board certified Occupational Therapist with 15 years of experience in occupational therapy, specializing in pediatric and adult care across educational and medical settings. She integrates sensory-motor intervention principles and Synergetic Play Therapy into her practice. Passionate about child development, Amy supports students with sensory challenges and promotes neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed classrooms in public education.

Original Air Date: November 23, 2021

Join Lisa Dion on a soul-searching expedition as she delves into the profound question: why is it so challenging to relinquish control and accept the reality of "what is" in our lives? In this poignant episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa provides invaluable insights and practical guidance for navigating the complexities of surrender, acknowledging that the journey is often fraught with discomfort and pain.

Discover:

The underlying reasons behind the struggle to surrender to life's circumstances.
Strategies for maintaining a sense of self while navigating the process of letting go.
Techniques for recognizing and addressing unmet expectations and the weight of "shoulds," fostering a sense of safety amidst uncertainty.
Approaches for working through resistance and mindfully embracing surrender.
Powerful methods for fully integrating the experience of surrender, including a transformative technique.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment with Lisa Dion as your guide, as you learn to navigate the transformative terrain of surrender and embrace the inherent wisdom of acceptance.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: December 7, 2021

Join us for an insightful journey with our esteemed guest, Marie José Dhaese, a psychotherapist with 50 years of experience, as she shares her profound insights into reconnecting with our sense of self and innate wisdom. As the founder of Holistic Expressive Therapy and the visionary behind a captivating therapeutic "play home," Marie José's work is nothing short of magical.

In this captivating episode, Marie José delves into the concept of each individual harboring an inherent kernel of wisdom that propels them towards their fullest potential. Discover how she meticulously attends to the sensory nuances of indoor and outdoor environments, tailoring sessions to her clients' unique needs through a blend of expressive therapies.

Explore Marie José's distinctive approach to healing, where she:

Addresses clients' physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs comprehensively.
Transcends rigid protocols to distinguish between therapy and genuine healing.
Facilitates healing holistically, nurturing both the internal and external landscapes.
Guides clients to tap into their inner reservoirs of strength and resilience before delving into deeper therapeutic exploration.

Unlock the transformative power of Marie José's approach and embark on a journey towards holistic healing and self-discovery.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa is joined by special guest Brian Keating, a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Certified Group Psychotherapist. Brian specializes in tele-play therapy and is a contributing author to Advances in Online Therapy: Emergence of a New Paradigm. He's presented on topics including grief, childhood bereavement, and the therapeutic use of the video game Minecraft, which is the focus of this episode.

Join Lisa and Brian as they demystify the use of video games in therapy, with a particular focus on Minecraft, the most popular and successful video game ever to hit the market. Here are just a few of the key takeaways from this episode:

Gain insight into Minecraft's therapeutic potential and ways to integrate it into the therapeutic process.
Explore transitioning from a "doing" to "being" perspective of Minecraft during therapy.
Understand various modes of gameplay and the therapeutic themes they evoke, including how Minecraft is a version of sandtray and art therapy.
Learn to communicate gaming's therapeutic benefits to parents and caregivers.
Examples of directive interventions and non-directive interventions when playing the game.
Understand how video games can support a client with body awareness and how to regulate their nervous system.
Reflect on using Minecraft in one-on-one versus group therapy settings and learn from Brian's experiences (including his mistakes) with video games in therapy.

Tune in and discover the transformative potential of incorporating something as seemingly simple as a video game into your therapy sessions. Uncover the therapeutic magic behind Minecraft and how special it is for kids when we speak their language!

*For those not familiar, Minecraft is a sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds made up of blocks. It offers various modes, including Survival mode where players must gather resources, craft tools, and fend off enemies, and Creative mode where players have unlimited resources to build anything they can imagine.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 28, 2023

Join Lisa for a crucial conversation addressing a topic often overlooked in the therapy community: the profound impact of trauma exposure on therapists and helpers alike.

As therapists, we find ourselves on the front lines, intimately engaging with trauma exposure day after day, session after session. Despite the ideal of remaining objective observers, the reality is that we are deeply affected by the traumas our clients share. This episode sheds light on the inevitability of experiencing secondary impacts such as compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or secondary traumatization.

Discover:

How every therapist inevitably experiences a secondary impact when working with clients in trauma, crisis, or challenge.
The effects of being impacted by the same traumas as our clients.
The occurrence of our own unresolved traumas surfacing in the therapy room.
Strategies for reconnecting with ourselves both inside and outside the therapy session, particularly during moments of activation.

Listen and take a moment to honor your journey as a therapist. Reflect on the sacrifices you make and explore ways to mitigate the impact of trauma exposure. Embrace the wisdom of learning to be with ourselves through these challenges and cultivate a lifestyle that supports our chosen career path.

You are extraordinary! Much love on your journey 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 14, 2022

Join Lisa and Judy Norman, Certified SPT therapist/supervisor and SPT co-teacher, as they unveil the inception of the Synergetic Education Institute (https://synergeticeducation.com/). 🎉🙌 Years in the making, their journey highlights the profound impact of integrating Synergetic Play Therapy principles into school settings to empower educators, school-based mental health professionals, and educational leaders.

Their success story has garnered recognition from renowned developmental trauma expert Heather Forbes, Founder of Beyond Consequences Institute and author of "Help for Billy", who lauds one of their schools as the pinnacle of trauma-informed education. (...wow, thank you Heather 🙏💕)

In this transformative episode, you'll delve into:

Strategies for play therapists to collaborate effectively with schools
Techniques to empower educators by shifting mindsets
The 5 developmental stages of an educator's journey in meeting children's needs
A redefined perspective on trauma-informed education
How to redefine self-care and help teachers develop a deeper relationship within themselves (SPT-style)
Practical resources to enrich your practice today!

Tune in and explore why Heather Forbes hails Judy and the Synergetic Education Institute's work as pioneering "the most advanced trauma-informed school(s)" she's ever encountered - a testament to creating environments where every student feels that "they matter and are important."

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa in this inspiring episode as she sits down with Amit Chintan Ramlall and his father, Dr. Kumar Ramlall, for a heartfelt conversation about navigating life with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite facing challenges with independent speech, Amit shares his remarkable journey and how he has embraced his talents and gifts to defy expectations.

Drawing from their personal experiences, Lisa, Amit, and Kumar delve into the misconceptions surrounding ASD and the importance of assuming competence in all clients. They explore the journey of self-discovery, highlighting the invaluable lessons learned from Amit's unique perspective on human behavior.

Through anecdotes and insights, they challenge conventional thinking in therapy, emphasizing the need to meet clients where they are and foster genuine connection. Amit's hunger for understanding Autism and his own journey led to the creation of the Chintan Project, which transforms challenges into opportunities for businesses, showcasing the power of resilience and determination.

Amit’s story also illustrates the complexity of sensory compensation and its impact on neuroplasticity, especially concerning Autism. While neuroplasticity is a powerful tool, we can sometimes assume clients’ needs solely based on it. Amit's experience challenges such assumptions, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual perspectives.

This episode offers a profound reminder to approach therapy with curiosity and humility, recognizing the depth of potential within every individual. Tune in to discover the transformative power of assuming competence and embracing alternative perspectives in therapy.

[Closing Line: Assume competence - there's always more to uncover for all of your clients!]

*This conversation was inspired many years ago when Lisa met Amit when he was 8 years old at a conference (...he is now 22 years old). They were having lunch together and Amit shared that he would love for people to understand his journey and what it’s like to have Autism Spectrum Disorder and a severe developmental delay.

**Please note: Research supports that the majority of Autistic people prefer identity-first language (Autistic person). Amit preferred person-first language (person with Autism) and thus he uses that and we honored his choice when referencing Autism in this way.

***For a transcript of this episode, please visit our website at synergeticplaytherapy.com.

Learn more about Amit Chintan Ramlall and his father, Dr. Kumar Ramlall:

*Amit Chintan Ramlall, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, possesses a unique gift for helping leaders transform their challenges into sources of strength. He embarked on a journey of self-improvement, studying the works of great thinkers and change-makers, which helped him thrive because of his challenges, not despite them. A polymath with a vast knowledge base from reading over 14,000 non-fiction books since age 3, he integrates this knowledge with his unique insights to fulfill his deepest desire to help people discover and manifest their life's purpose. Co-founding the Chintan Project with his father, Dr. Kumar Ramlall, Amit believes that each person or team has a distinct purpose, enabling them to shine and make a significant impact.

*Dr. Kumar Ramlall, an entrepreneur and medical specialist, co-founded the Chintan Project, InspiroMed Clinics, Inspiram Group, and Chinvest Group. As a respected consultant and physician, he has a distinguished academic background and extensive experience. Together, they aim to help clients leverage their unique purpose and challenges for greater impact and rewards.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: July 29, 2020

Discover the profound language of the body in therapy! In this episode, Lisa delves into the power of attuning to both our own and the child's body language, crucial for fostering co-regulation in therapeutic settings.

Gain valuable techniques for staying within your window of tolerance to guide children through their discomfort.

Join Lisa to explore the unerring wisdom of the body and learn to deepen your ability to listen and respond effectively to your clients.

"The body never lies. The body is always revealing the truth relative to the individual's perception in any given moment." - Lisa Dion

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In today’s episode, we delve into one of the most requested topics of the past year. Dr. Montserrat Casado joins Lisa to shed light on PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), offering invaluable insights for supporting children, parents, and therapists.

Tune in as Montse and Lisa engage in a captivating conversation, debunking misconceptions about PANS/PANDAS, and offering new ways of understanding and supporting clients and caregivers. Discover Montse's personal journey and her decade-long mission to educate therapists on understanding PANS/PANDAS in children.

Key topics covered:

Understanding PANS/PANDAS: Definitions and associated symptoms, including the gut-brain connection.
Impact on immune responses and brain inflammation.
Primary issues such as OCD, rage/aggression, developmental regression, and restrictive eating.
Exploring underlying factors such as infections and toxicity.
Trauma responses and navigating overactive reactions.
The complexities of parenting a child with medical challenges and behavioral issues.
How PANS/PANDAS impact nervous system regulation and dysregulation
Counseling strategies with a focus on the brain and systemic therapy approaches.
Supporting attachment and strengthening the parent-child relationship.
Hope for healing: Insights into therapeutic strategies and fostering resilience in children with PANS/PANDAS.

Wow, wow, wow! 😳🤯 Don't miss this enlightening discussion! Tune in now to gain invaluable insights into supporting children with PANS/PANDAS. 💖

Find the resource Montse recommends here: https://aspire.care/

*Dr. Montse Casado was a professor of counseling for 17 years training school counselors, mental health counselors, play therapists and marriage and family therapists. Montse loves working with children and families whether in therapy, schools or empowerment parenting workshops. As an educator, she has done many workshops over the years helping families and clinicians understand children through a holistic, trauma-focused and strength based approach. Her work integrates Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, Trauma, Attachment, Resiliency, Strength-Based Parenting and Nature based activities. Dr. Montse is currently working as a Child/Family Therapist, Parent Educator and Expressive Arts Coach/Educator in North Carolina. One of her passions is to educate child therapists as to how to Understand PANS/PANDAS in Children.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: February 15, 2022

In this Lessons from the Playroom episode, Lisa discusses the #1 thing that will get you off track as a therapist ... and it's trying to be someone you’re not!

Despite messages that might suggest differently, authenticity and "being yourself" is not easy and has so many implications for therapists. Join Lisa in a conversation to explore:

How you know when you're trying to be someone you're not;
Why it's so important to be yourself in the playroom;
How to show up most like yourself and embody what feels true for you as a therapist; and
How to access a deeper level of attunement that is needed to support your clients.

Tune in and join Lisa on the journey to learn more about this most essential ingredient to your client’s healing journey - and this time it’s about discovering who you are as a therapist.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join us in this enlightening episode as we delve into uncharted territory with guest Dave Hompes, a renowned author, nutritionist, functional medicine practitioner, and mind-body coach. With his extensive expertise in integrative approaches to health, Dave sheds light on the intricate connection between psychology and the dynamics of the mind and body.

In this captivating conversation, discover:

Insights into the profound relationship between nutrition and mental health through compelling case studies, including epilepsy, Autism Spectrum, Tourette syndrome, and more.
The most important question you can ask when faced with a client's challenge or issue.
Recognizing subtle clues indicating a potential mind-body or body-mind correlation.
How individual genetics, nutrient needs, and environmental factors contribute to mind and body symptoms.
How the stories that people tell are sometimes more telling than lab results when understanding health issues.

Prepare to be intrigued and enlightened as we explore the intricate interplay between mind and body in this thought-provoking episode!

*Dave Hompes is an author, nutritionist, functional medicine practitioner, and mind-body coach with extensive expertise in integrative approaches to health. During a career spanning almost 25 years he has worked with clients from all ages and many backgrounds, from toddlers, teens, adults and the elderly to professional athletes and celebrities. He employs a wide range of therapeutic methods to help people overcome digestive, hormonal, immune, detox, neurological, and energy-based imbalances. Dave embraces a multidimensional view of human nature, considering biological, philosophical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects in his work. He has recently founded the Higher Minded Health Academy with the goal of training polymathically-minded health and wellbeing practitioners.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 1st 2022

This next Lessons from the Playroom guest gave Lisa the most amazing surprise when she jumped on - it filled Lisa with so much joy, delight and an urge to connect … And this is totally what they’re talking about today - how to captivate, engage, be with (along with what to do), and create a playful connection with your child clients during the initial play therapy session.

Lisa is joined by the one and only Liana Lowenstein. Liana is a Registered Clinical Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist - Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto, Canada for 32 years. She has 12 books (and is about to release her 13th!!) used by mental health professionals all over the world.

Join Lisa and Liana in a conversation about:

How to engage children (and their parents/caregivers) in the initial session (Liana will give tons of ideas, games and activities);
Knowing when a child is engaging and what to do if they’re feeling anxious or struggling to connect;
How to bring your play techniques, ideas and activities to life in an attuned way for your clients; and
The significance of “being with” your client in order to facilitate “the doing” aspects of a play therapy session

Listen to today's episode and discover some really, really cool play therapy activities, techniques, strategies and ideas to use with your clients.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa as she hosts Tara McDonald and Karen O'Neill from PIP Solutions UK in an engaging discussion on the versatile practice of play therapy across the lifespan, with an added focus on the concept of symbolic repair. Prepare to be captivated by this episode, as it is filled with insightful content that you'll want to jot down or take notes!

Key Insights:

Discover the various forms that play therapy can take, spanning from infancy through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood.
Embrace the notion of allowing oneself to be playful, whether interacting with a parent-child dyad or engaging with a client in their senior years.
Understand the importance of tailoring play therapy to suit the developmental stage of the client, even if it diverges from conventional perceptions of “play therapy.”
Learn strategies for creating a neuroception of safety for adults around play, including ways to invite parents and caregivers to be playful in their interactions with their children.
Explore the concept of "Symbolic Repair" in psychotherapy and its application across different stages of life.
Discover the timeless game that transcends any age! Learn about its captivating nature and how it manifests at every stage of life. 🥰

Join Tara, Karen, and Lisa for an enlightening conversation that delves into the myriad ways play can be integrated into people's lives at any age, offering opportunities for profound healing through symbolic repair. Prepare to be intrigued and delighted!

*Learn more about Tara & Karen and their training institute PIP Solutions UK here. What is also so exciting is that Tara and Karen will be hosting Lisa for a 3-day in-person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program in October 2024 in Cheshire, UK. Get all the details here and join us in 2024!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: September 28, 2021 Embark on a transformative journey with Lisa Dion in this compelling episode as she navigates the fundamental question at the core of play therapy practice: "How do I empower parents/caregivers to become a co-regulator or external regulator for their child?"

Guided by the mantra of treating parents/caregivers the way we wish them to treat their children, Lisa delves into the intricacies of supporting parents who may lack a regulation template, struggle with the art of regulation, or find their own internal disorganization echoing in their child's disarray.

In this insightful episode, you'll discover:

Strategies to support parents/caregivers without a regulation template or facing internal disorganization, fostering a ripple effect.
The profound realization that all behaviors, both by the child and the parent/caregiver, are rooted in the pursuit of regulation.
Four actionable steps to empower and prepare parents/caregivers to seamlessly step into the role of external regulator for their child.
Guidance for situations where a parent/caregiver might not yet be ready to develop the essential skills of being the external regulator.

Join Lisa in unraveling the secrets to nurturing resilient families and creating a roadmap for parents/caregivers to confidently embrace their role as co-regulators or external regulators. This episode is a must-listen for therapists, parents, and anyone wanting to support transformative parent-child dynamics.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, we’re turning the tables back toward Lisa’s direction to discuss what it takes to make hard decisions (both personal and professional), the courage it takes to make the hard decisions, and the reasons we don’t make hard decisions. And joining Lisa for this discussion is the perfect person to have the conversation - Robert Abel, Jr., Operations Director for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute.

Join us for a deep dive into the world of decision-making, touching on:

Understanding the neurobiology and relational aspects that make decision-making challenging.
Cultivating the courage to authentically express ourselves and face difficult choices head-on.
Unveiling some of the tough decisions therapists encounter in their clinical practice.
Exploring what happens when we don’t make the hard decisions (... hint: it has something to do with the mind and body).
Navigating the decision-making process as therapists concerning the well-being of children, such as mandatory reporting.
Supporting a child in making hard decisions including discovering who they actually are versus who they think they should be (... perhaps our most important work).

You’ll also hear some of the hard decisions Lisa has had to make in her life (personally and professionally), how these decisions have been instrumental on her life journey, and why her favorite quote is “I’d rather have the whole world against me than me against my own soul” (source: Dr. John Demartini).

Tune in to this captivating episode and unravel the significance of embracing hard decisions. Gain insights into the profound impact they can have, allowing us to authentically express ourselves and allow ourselves to be fully loved for who we are.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: January 16, 2023

Lisa is joined by an incredibly important person in her life - Duey Freeman, a former professor at Naropa University (Lisa’s alma mater) and founder of the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies and the Gestalt Equine Institute. Duey, a true “elder” (as he is described by many) and mentor in the field of attachment and human development, was Lisa’s former graduate school professor and has been one the most instrumental professors in her career. (see below for Duey's full bio*)

Get ready to learn about a new way to conceptualize the attachment process and human development- a theory that just may be a foundational piece of missing information in your work as a therapist, as well as how Duey uses equine therapy to re-heal attachment disruptions. This podcast isn’t just for those that work for horses - this information is a must hear for everyone!

Here's what you'll hear in this episode …

An attachment and human development theory that is usable clinically when working with people - the Freeman Attachment Cycle (Lisa integrates this model into her Synergetic Play Therapy courses);
The reason why we're always supporting clients in working through the first stages of development ("Is the world ok?" and "Am I ok?") whether we’re working with a child that is 3 years old or 50 years old;
What happens for a child when their attachment and developmental needs are not met;
How to bring instinct and intuition back into all our relationships and into all our therapeutic relationships; and
How Duey's work with horses and equine therapy can give us greater understanding about our work in the playroom (plus you'll hear something amazing about what happens when a person is put on a horse and having them be moved by a horse...it's absolutely amazing!)

This one will not only give you an amazing new lens from which to see your client work and how to become a therapist WITH your clients, but connect you to your own attachment and life experiences at a really deep level (...It might even bring tears to your eyes).

Duey Freeman is a sought after teacher, trainer, licensed therapist, and equine professional around the world. He has traveled to teach professionally in over 8 countries, has developed a practical attachment theory and human development theory that is taught to thousands of university students, has over 80,000 direct client hours, and co-founded both the Gestalt Equine Institute and the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies*. He provides supervision to therapists and graduate students, does business and land consultations for new equine therapy sites, and models being a life-long student to your passions.

Podcast Resources:

Freeman Attachment Cycle
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: July 6, 2021

Goodbyes can stir up complex emotions for our clients, their families, and even us as therapists. In this week's episode, join Lisa Dion as she delves into the art of saying goodbye in the therapeutic context.

Discover valuable insights on recognizing the right moment for a child to transition and gain practical strategies to offer essential support to both the child and their parents or caregivers, especially in those challenging moments when saying goodbye feels particularly tough. Lisa shares her wisdom on this essential aspect of therapeutic work, ensuring that goodbyes become moments of growth and resilience for all involved.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Tammy Schamuhn, the Co-Founder and Director of the Institute of Child Psychology and host of the Child Psych podcast. Together, they delve into the essential topic of identifying the roadblocks that sometimes get in a parent/caregiver’s way of fully supporting their child’s therapy and healing process.

Tammy, an unwavering advocate for parents, shares insights from her experience, discussing the challenges parents face and the importance of involving them in the therapeutic journey. With a co-authored parenting handbook set to release in the upcoming year, Tammy speaks to the complexities of parenting and the need to engage and support parents/caregivers in the child’s therapy process.

Discover more about:

The reasons therapists may hesitate to directly engage with parents/caregivers when the child is the focal point of treatment.
The struggles parents/caregivers face, especially in dealing with shame.
Strategies to align with parents/caregivers, fostering holistic support for the child's healing journey.
Roadblocks for parents/caregivers in fully supporting their child’s therapy process, ranging from internal beliefs and unresolved childhood wounds to societal expectations and environmental influences.
The key to empowering parents/caregivers to be co-regulators for their child (... Hint: It involves developing sometimes new templates).
Helping parents/caregivers in uncoupling their projections to gain a holistic perspective of their child's challenges.
The pivotal role parents/caregivers play in a child's therapy process and how empowering them enhances the child's healing journey.

Don't miss this enlightening episode, serving as a poignant reminder to prioritize parents/caregivers in the therapeutic equation. Explore the roadblocks parents/caregivers face and discover how to support them in becoming agents of healing for their children.

🎉 And we’re so excited to announce a new partnership between The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and the Institute of Child Psychology. SPTI courses will now be available at ICP through a unique subscription model, providing therapists with an additional valuable resource. Check it out here. 💜

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: April 12, 2022

Lisa Dion met her next guest at her very first APT conference. She was doing a presentation on supervision. As Lisa sat in her course, she remembers thinking, “Who is this woman?! Wow!” She was so captivated by her and her teaching.

And today, Lisa is delighted to be joined by Paris Goodyear-Brown, the creator of the TraumaPlay™ model, the founder and Clinical Director of Nurture House, and the Executive Director of the TraumaPlay™ Institute. She is an internationally renowned speaker, a prolific author, and a master clinician.

Join them as they talk about how holding hard stories can be complicated, challenging, and at times confusing especially when your own stuff as a therapist comes up … Because in a sense, we’re all dedicated (... probably not consciously) to a lifelong inner-process and journey of self reflection and discovery as a way of being in service to others …

Learn more about how knowing many play therapy modalities helps you to be able to say "yes, yes, and yes" to all the clients that walk in your doors;
How to hold both your client's stories and your own stories in connected, fun and compassionate ways;
Learn more about TraumaPlay and this beautiful idea of the "cascade of care" and the "Play Therapist Pallett" technique as ways to mitigate hearing hard stories;
Ways to practice self-care as a therapist and "detox" the trauma energy after a session;
How to help parents/caregivers hold their own and their child's hard stories, especially when grief and gratitude doesn't go hand-in-hand.

Listen to today's episode and discover not only how to show up for yourself and your clients in ways that are connected and compassionate, but a way of walking alongside your clients as they “tell” their hard stories.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

We have a really fun topic today! Lisa is joined by the fantabulous Maria Laquerre Diego to unravel the intriguing world of villains in play therapy! (...Learn more about Maria and some of the amazing trainings she offers to play therapists below.) In this episode, Maria shares her experiences incorporating villain characters into therapy, providing clients with a unique opportunity to explore their identities and feel seen.

Get ready to talk about all things villainous! Join Maria and Lisa and discover:

The significance of viewing villains as complex characters with their own motivations and narratives, offering a fresh perspective on clients' struggles and the realization that villains are not diagnosable.
Insight into the indispensable role of villains in our lives, exploring why heroes cannot exist without their counterparts.
An exploration of the perspective-dependent nature of labeling heroes and villains, challenging binary thinking.
The connection between a child's perception of themselves or their world and their attraction to both hero and villain characters.
Practical applications, including the use of sand tray figures and dress-up items, to delve into the duality within oneself.
The encouragement to follow the client's lead, allowing them to be the expert in their process, whether identifying with heroes or villains.

This episode will challenge the binary thinking of good and bad and help to embrace the nuanced nature of traits based on individual perspectives. Join the conversation as Maria and Lisa invite you to explore your own perceived "hero" and "villainous" qualities with curiosity and without judgment. It's time to own and celebrate all the parts within us!

*A self-described geek, Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT, RPT-S is a therapist turned CEO. In addition to supporting mental health providers, Maria takes an active role in addressing the continued stigma of mental health services through the use of pop culture – everything from movies and television shows to superheroes and Disney characters. Maria has spoken about mental health at several local events, has served as an officer on professional boards, and has provided training to clinicians all over the country. Check out her upcoming play therapy conference, Play Therapy: To Infinity & Beyond!, scheduled March 5-10, 2024 at the fantabulous Disneyland Resort!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: November 8, 2022

In this episode the tables are turned and the lovely Jackie Flynn, host of the Play Therapy Community Podcast/Facebook group and the Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summits, interviews Lisa about how play therapy and being a play therapist has become a spiritual practice for her over the years.

Join Lisa and Jackie as they talk about:

What spiritual practice means and how doing our own “work” as a therapist can become a spiritual practice;
How the playroom is a giant "meditation cushion" for therapists to grow within themselves as human beings;
How to hold a larger perspective as a therapist and engage in a deeply self-reflective practice as a way of supporting the client in their own reflective awareness and healing journey;
How the moment itself has everything we need in order to navigate whatever is arising in the client’s therapeutic work - Nothing is missing.
The Synergetic Play Therapy concept of “One Foot In/One Foot Out” and how this is a contemplative practice in action in the playroom; and
How being authentically with ourselves as therapists can support us in truly helping our clients in the most profound ways possible.

In this episode, you’ll also hear how Lisa's very first play therapy session revealed to her, not only how to help children in their healing journey, but how to experience the playroom as a place of curiosity for what needs to be developed and worked within herself so that she could continue to develop herself as a therapist.

A message from Lisa to all of her listeners - Give yourself permission to find safe places and connections that allow you to look inward; get curious about what parts of you are showing up in the playroom that are asking you to be in relationship with them; and a deeper invitation to be with the parts of yourself that are emerging - because as you know, you are the most important toy in the playroom.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa Dion and Tracy Turner-Bumberry in this episode to explore the fascinating world of mandalas and their application in our work with children (... a super cool and likely unexplored tool in your clinical practice). In today's conversation, Tracy will unravel the mystery behind mandalas and share her insights into their powerful use in therapy.

Tracy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor. She brings a wealth of expertise to our discussion as a Certified AutPlay Trainer and Therapist, a Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist, and a Certified DBT Therapist. Tracy is also a national speaker on a variety of play therapy topics and a published author with her notable book, "2,4,6,8 This is How We Regulate."

Join Lisa and Tracy for a deep dive into the transformative magic of mandalas and learn about:

What a Mandala is, its multicultural roots, and the therapeutic power they hold for children and their families;
How Tracy uses terms such as “circle art” and “circle play” to demystify mandalas in the therapy process;
How to embrace curiosity and playfulness in exploring circle play, focusing on the process and meaning;
Practical applications including templates and Tracy’s Wellness Mandala practice;
Adaptation of circle play for neurodivergent clients with emphasis on creation of a safe space;
Dos and don'ts of using Mandalas in therapy, emphasizing a child-led, non-interpretative approach;
Different ways to use Mandalas directively and non-directively, and with individual clients and with their families;
Ways to enrich the therapeutic process using music during circle play and the significance of creating a quiet, introspective space;
Tracy's insights into recurring themes in mandala creation, such as centering, use of color, ideas of completion or incompletion, and impermanence; and
The essence of the "safe circle" and its role in providing a sacred and protected space for authentic expression.

Tune in and uncover the magic of mandalas and their powerful application in the therapy process for our clients and their families. 💫

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: April 15, 2018

Lisa Dion is joined by Jessica Schaffer, Registered Play Therapist, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Certified Sleep Consultant to help us understand sleep issues for children.

From the refusal to go to sleep to an inability to stay asleep, a child’s tossing and turning speak volumes. But why do some children want to ban the bed? And how does this look inside the playroom? A play therapist who also happens to be a sleep specialist helps us uncover the answers.

"Sleep is the largest separation we go through everyday." - Jessica Schaffer, RPT, Infant Sleep Specialist

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 15, 2021

Sometimes we can get stuck in either/or thinking when it comes to whether we use non-directive or directive play therapy modalities.

But what if we could understand the significance and potential for both? What if we could go beyond to see that one is not better than the other? And what if we could honor that there are many paths to healing and that all theories serve a purpose?

Join Lisa as she discusses how it's possible to combine different theories and approaches, why we might do this, and how to make a decision not based on external pressures, but instead based on the client goals, what the therapist needs, the timeframe, and the context in which the therapist may need to do play therapy.

Because ultimately, both paths will get us to the end result.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

We’re so excited for this next topic. It’s a topic that’s never been addressed on this podcast series and a topic that is rarely explored in the field of play therapy. So settle in, grab something to take notes because Lisa is joined by Ludmila (Mila) Golovine to talk about using interpreters in play therapy.

Mila is the CEO and President of MasterWord Services, Inc. As a professional interpreter, Mila is familiar with the toll interpreting for survivors may have on the interpreters themselves. For the past 15 years, she has applied her training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy and Trauma Informed Care, as well as skills as a Master Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner and a Certified Demartini Method Facilitator to tirelessly help promote health and wellness for language professionals and raise awareness about the experiences of human trafficking survivors and their language access needs. See below to know a bit more about Mila and her organization MasterWord Services.

We know that interpreters are sometimes used in play therapy, but there’s not a lot of training for play therapists to understand what the interpreter experience is or how to attune and work collaboratively with the interpreter in the shared goal of helping the child heal.

This is a brilliant and powerful conversation! And has so much helpful information for us as therapists. In this episode you’ll learn about ….

The role of the interpreter and how to become aware of the language that is most comfortable for our clients;
How to recognize the different cues in our play therapy sessions for our clients when we are speaking to the person in their primary language or in the language in which their trauma occurred;
How the play therapist can be both the external regulator for both the child and the interpreter who is also becoming activated as they are channeling the trauma information through them (...as Mila shares, sometimes the interpreter becomes even more deeply affected than the therapist in the room);
How to set boundaries in a session that support interpreters who are asked to come into the session and relieve a trauma in a way to help us understand what the child is going through (...that’s a huge ask! Let’s appreciate this and make sure we are supporting interpreters in being in their window of tolerance.);
The need for awareness and attuned collaboration between a play therapist and interpreter when facilitating healing for a client;
Why we do not want to use family members as interpreters;
The challenge interpreters have in the interpretation process itself (e.g., cultural cues, body language and non-verbal cues being different, etc.);
The possible ruptures and challenges that can occur within the client-interpreter-therapist relationship with differences in culture and language and how to support interpreters in more mindfully aware ways;
The attribution bias and how this can show up in the therapy session in the relationship between client and therapist; and
The important takeaways and calls to action that Mila has for all of us as therapists when working with children and their families when there are language/cultural differences.

Plus, check out the amazing trauma-informed resources that Mila has on her website MasterWord.com for interpreters that you can share with the interpreters you work with.

*Ludmila is also an advocate for social justice and is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) Trainer of the Year Award, Houston Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Award; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Gulf Coast Area regional winner, and Congressional Recognition G7 “Excellence in International Service” award. She’s a rockstar!!!! Thank you Mila for your vision and your heart 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: September 13, 2022

If you’ve ever studied with Lisa Dion, you know she loves talking about the nervous system. And in this episode, she’s going to talk about the collective nervous systems within families and how to help support the regulation of the family system.

If you’re just as excited about this topic as Lisa, you’ll definitely want to take notes for this one …

Here’s what you’ll hear …

How nervous system expressions occur within the context of families;
How all behavior (even what we term as dysfunctional) is actually functional and has a purpose;
How the family system is always in balance and how it is always attempting to equilibrate itself;
How to become the external regulator to help regulate the family nervous system; and
How to use this information clinically to inform your therapeutic work.

Plus, learn a powerful tip that will help you shift the collective nervous system of the family unit in a most transformative way.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: October 25, 2022

The one-and-only Bonnie Badenoch* joins Lisa for this beautiful conversation about non-judgmental presence and how this is so critical in our role as therapists.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How, as a profession, we've become concretized into the left hemisphere (e.g., in a movement toward protocols, interventions, and evidence-based therapies) and how this has pulled us more into the role of experts trying to "fix" people;
What holding a “non-judgement” presence means;
What the “inner community” is, how to be aware and work with our inner community in order to be present with our clients;
How to return to a non-judgmental presence in moments when we experience judgment (and how to even recognize when we’re in a place of judgment);
The 2 pillars of non-judgmental presence and the importance of this in our work; and
How to engage in our own reflective processes and having supportive others who can truly hold a nonjudgmental space for you.

Listen to this beautiful conversation that gets us back into the right hemisphere in our work as therapists and back to trusting the wisdom of the client in their own healing process. Discover how to bring more non-judgmental presence in your clinical work and how to offer this same space for yourself.

Bonnie is moving toward retirement, and we’re so grateful that she could join. Thank you Bonnie and much love on the journey 🙏💕

*Bonnie Badenoch, LMFT, has been a therapist, mentor, teacher, and author, spending the last 17 years integrating the discoveries of relational neuroscience into the art of therapy. In 2008, she co-founded the nonprofit agency Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind to offer this work to the community of therapists, healthcare providers, and others interested in becoming therapeutic presences in the world. For 30 she has supported trauma survivors and those with significant attachment wounds to reshape their neural landscapes for a life of meaning, resilience, and warm relationships.

Her conviction that wisdom about the relational brain can support healing experiences for people at every age led to the publication of Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology in 2008 and The Brain-Savvy Therapist’s Workbook in 2011. Bonnie’s latest writing is The Heart of Trauma: Healing the Embodied Brain in the Context of Relationships (2017). These books seek to build a bridge between science and practice with clarity, compassion, and heart.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa Dion for a discussion on a topic that has been requested more than once since the beginning of this podcast, and it’s something we all experience (Yes … therapists, parents, children … all human beings on this planet!) …. We’re diving into the intriguing topic of negative self-talk and why we actually can’t get rid of it (... no matter how many positive self-affirmations we say to ourselves).

Through a compelling exploration of the multifaceted dimensions of negative self-talk, discover the brilliant purpose of negative self-talk. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

How negative self-talk emerges (hint: It involves thoughts like "I should," "I shouldn't," "I need to," "I have to," and "I'm not good enough").
The limitations of the positive thinking movement and why we actually can’t get rid of negative self-talk.
The function of negative self-talk (...it’s likely not what you think).
The neuroscience behind negative self-talk and how it’s a homeostatic mechanism in the mind that is actually trying to support you (... what?!).
A shift in our understanding of depression and when we or someone else is experiencing high levels of negative self-talk.
What actually helps us quiet negative self-talk (...again, probably not what you’re thinking).
How to come to a place of honoring yourself, your choices, and your unique way of moving through the world, while recognizing the valuable role of negative self-talk

Tune in to this perspective-shifting episode and gain valuable insights into understanding and utilizing negative self-talk as a tool for growth and congruence. You'll also come to recognize that, in the journey toward authenticity, negative self-talk can be your ally rather than your adversary, helping you navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and deep self-appreciation 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 1, 2021

Countertransference is not something we can avoid, get out of, check at the door, or even separate from ourselves ... In this episode, Lisa discusses how transference and countertransference is really the therapeutic landscape from which to support our clients in a process of deep integration and healing.

Using a lens of Synergetic Play Therapy®, Lisa offers an understanding of how countertransference is not something to be afraid of, but something that offers incredible wisdom and a window into the inner experiences of our clients. It gives us an opportunity to become curious about our beliefs, both that keep us from being fully present and authentic, and that support us in being more deeply present, more deeply resonant, and ultimately, more deeply attuned.

As beautifully stated by Sebern F. Fisher in her book, Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Calming the Fear-Driven Brain, "Countertransference and transference are always co-arising & co-constructing at the place where the therapist's experience meets that of the patient."

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this engaging episode, Lisa Dion brings together three guests that are near-and-dear to her heart: Michelle Wayman, Mili Shoemaker, and Lisa Walton. All three are either Certified Synergetic Play Therapists or Certified Synergetic Play Providers and are joining her from diverse corners of the world - Argentina, Australia and the United States. Together, they embark on a profound exploration of the intricate connections between the therapist and their clients, with a particular emphasis on the intriguing question of why therapists seem to attract the clients they do.

Have you ever found yourself wondering why certain clients gravitate towards you? Have you ever noticed patterns where clients with similar struggles appear in waves on your caseload? Or, that you have clients struggling with the same type of challenges? If so, perhaps this isn’t just a coincidence!

In this episode, Lisa and these amazing therapists explore the multifaceted reasons behind the client-therapist connection. They discuss how therapists often manifest clients who reflect aspects of their own experiences and challenges, shedding light on the idea that the clients we attract serve as mirrors, guiding us toward self-discovery and growth.

Join us as we delve into:

Why the clients who enter our therapeutic spaces are not random and what they reveal to us about our own journeys.
How our clients are actually our teachers, mirroring back reflections of our own experiences that we might be avoiding or haven’t yet integrated.
Why countertransference is not something to fear, but actually something we can embrace to be better therapists for our clients.
How having an understanding of why we attract the clients we do can transform our work, infusing it with curiosity and self-awareness and offering our clients deeper experiences of co-regulation and healing.

It's a phenomenon that indeed warrants introspection. In this enlightening discussion, you'll discover that clients are not just recipients of therapy—they are our teachers. The moment we gain awareness about why we attract certain clients, we embark on a journey of self-discovery that enriches both our professional practice and personal growth.

This podcast episode is dedicated to every one of our little mirrors who have walked into our therapy spaces and showed up in our lives … helping reveal to us our unfinished business so we can know where to shine the spotlight, where to do our own work, and where to keep healing within ourselves … and offering us the gift of healing within ourselves in order for us to keep showing up for our others in more expansive and meaningful ways 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: April 13, 2021

How do we know when we are grumpy, tired, overheated, or overwhelmed? ... Lisa talks about this 8th sense called Interoception or the "How do we know" sense, which is absolutely critical to enhancing a child's regulatory capacity ...

Why? Because what we see in the playroom is actually not behavioral issues, but really the child's inability to stay connected and regulate through the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). But what does this have to do with Interoception? ...

Regulation and attunement starts with our interoceptive capacity. We can teach children tons of regulation strategies, but if they cannot register the clues that let them know they need to regulate in the first place, what we've done is just handed them tools that they have no clue how or when to use.

And as therapists we need to have this capacity enhanced in us!

Lisa shares ideas for starting to develop the interoceptive capacity in ourselves as therapists and our child clients, in this really important discussion that tells us that our body might actually be the most important toy in the playroom.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the fantabulous and oh-so-knowledgeable Heather Fairlee Denbrough, a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Together, they tackle one of the most requested and also one of the most scariest topics for therapists … providing support to children dealing with suicidal ideation and attempts.

This episode is a valuable resource for any caregiver or professional working with children. Join Lisa and Heather as they shed light on this important and often misunderstood topic, providing insights, strategies, and hope for supporting children who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. Don't miss out on this crucial conversation!

Key Takeaways:

Recognizing subtle signs of suicidal ideation in children
Creating a safe space for children to express their feelings
Holding space for children through play to explore and shift their stories and perceptions
Developing structured safety plans with children and caregivers, identifying red flags and triggers
Facilitating open dialogue on suicidal ideation with both children and caregivers
Prioritizing self-care for therapists and managing the emotional impact (... Heather shares valuable and powerful techniques and tools that help her maintain her own felt safety during sessions)
Preparing for challenging scenarios and accessing support networks during tough times (...there’s lots of support and resources so don’t feel you have to tackle this alone!)

Listen and join this conversation that sheds light on childhood suicidality, providing guidance on navigating it with empathy, connection, and compassion. ❤️ (Please note: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and does not substitute professional advice.)

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: July 5, 2022

We're resharing this fabulous conversation between Lisa and Carmen Jimenez-Pride to talk about Internal Family Systems (IFS) and how to incorporate it in the playroom!

In this episode, Carmen, a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and an Internal Family Systems therapist herself, shares how the Internal Family Systems framework offers a really cool way to hold the client’s experience in the playroom, as well as our experience as therapists. Whether you are or aren’t familiar with IFS, you will definitely want to have a listen!

Here’s a few things you’ll hear discussed in this conversation:

What IFS looks like in the playroom and for our child clients;
How to help your clients build a relationship with all parts of themselves (e.g., exiles, protectors, and firefighters);
How to support the client in fully embracing all aspects of themselves and the experiences that made them who they are;
How to share the IFS work with parents/caregivers and how to help parents understand their own parts and protective systems;
How to recognize our parts as therapists and how they can show up in the playroom as well; and
One of the biggest lies that play therapists may tell themselves and how this can be so challenging to our own emotional wellbeing.

Plus, you’ll hear a funny story about Carmen … how she did not want to be a therapist - What?! And how she did end up starting her clinical and play therapist journey. On behalf of the field, thanks Carmen for going this direction and all you've been doing for communities, families and kids! You’re such an inspiration to so many!

*Don’t know Carmen yet? …. She’s the founder and Executive Director of Outspoken Counseling and Consulting and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Certified EMDR Therapist, Internal Family Systems Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Registered Children Yoga Teacher, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, and LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator. She’s an international speaker, award-winning best-selling author, and business consultant, as well as a visionary in the play therapy community. You may also recognize her for creating the Diversity in Play Therapy Summit, which has brought together so many brilliant minds working to effect change within the practice of play therapy by increasing cultural awareness and cultural competence for healers working with diverse populations.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa and Robyn Gobbel talk about a topic never discussed before on this podcast and super important for us as clinicians working with kids ... They're talking about the brain (...Robyn loves to talk about the brain), and more specifically how to teach kids about the brain.

But first, we're so excited to announce Robyn's new book coming out this month, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work!! Weaving together relational neuroscience with practical ideas and application, Robyn has created the ultimate guide for parents who would love to understand and ultimately transform their children's challenging behaviors into safety and connection (... guaranteed, after listening to this episode, you're going to want to go get your copy today!). Robyn also gets the reward for favorite bio that Lisa has ever read ... see below for Robyn's bio (... it really gives you a sense of her awesomeness) and a link to her website to learn about her new book and so many helpful resources for you as a clinician and when supporting caregivers - she’s truly creating something very unique, very special, and very extraordinary.

Enjoy this fun and engaging podcast about teaching kids about the brain (... because sometimes, as clinicians we think, oh yeah, that's a good idea, but we don't always know how to actually go about doing it), as well as how to empower kids and grown-ups to understand their brain and themselves more fully.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

A discussion about the importance of understanding the brain and its impact on behavior.
How Robyn’s own experience with learning about the brain transformed her life and relationships.
Strategies for introducing the topic of the brain to children, including visual aids and creating a safe space for curiosity (... including introduction to the concept of the Watchdog and Possum brain pathways as a way to explain brain functions to kids, as well as the importance of the Owl pathway for safety, connection, and presence).
How children’s baffling behaviors stem from a longing for safety and connection.
How to involve caregivers in the therapeutic process and help them to understand and recognize their child(ren)’s behaviors from a neurological perspective.

Listen to this super insightful episode that will encourage curiosity in yourself, support you in your work with caregivers and help them to understand their child(ren)’s behaviors with the same curiosity and understanding, and a deeper appreciation for how ALL children’s behaviors make so much sense.

*Robyn Gobbel, MSW, loves coffee, P!NK, and everything about the brain. Once (recently!) her teenager went ballistic on her for getting ANOTHER (glitter!) coffee mug in the mail. Robyn loves cultivating deep, resonant connections with anyone who is up for it, and is especially fond of all the grown-ups in the world who love and care for kids impacted by trauma- helpers, healers, educators, and parents. Her favorite thing ever (besides glittery coffee mugs) is teaching anyone who will listen to harness the power of neuroscience so they can cultivate deep, resonant connections. What would change in the world if we could all do that? To see, be with, feel, and deeply know each other…and ourselves. Robyn thinks everything could change. You can get your hands on all sorts of free resources at www.RobynGobbel.com, including her podcast, The Baffling Behavior Show. Robyn is the author of Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work (September 2023). Get Robyn's book, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors here: https://robyngobbel.com/book.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: February 1, 2022

OMG! - the synergy between Lisa and this guest is … well, let’s just say, it’s like getting an opportunity to eavesdrop on a beautiful conversation between two brilliant minds! (... and we just couldn't help share this podcast episode again :)

Kim Barthel is an award winning Occupational Therapist, teacher, and best-selling author who has successfully merged play, Polyvagal Theory and Sensory Processing. Tune in and discover:

*Ways to more deeply understand the body, nervous system activation, and what it looks like in your client;

How to truly understand a child client’s behavior at a deeper level (hint: it has to do with perception and body movement*);

*How to visibly identify confirmation that something has integrated in the child (e.g., their moments of empowerment or deep connection to themselves);

*The biggest misunderstanding about the autonomic nervous system; and

*What regulation truly means, how it’s connected to the body, and ideas for how to regulate more through your own body.

Listen to today's episode and “geek out” with Lisa and Kim on a topic that they both love dearly - Learn how to safely help a child be in their “vessel” and to access a more flexible, adaptable, socially connected, engaged, and playful response through the body.

*Kim Barthel's mission is to support the conscious evolution of the human spirit. Kim is an award-winning occupational therapist, multi-disciplinary teacher and best-selling author who is active in supporting people in many contexts globally. She is passionate about understanding complex behavior, neurobiology, trauma-sensitive practice, attachment and mental health. Kim has 37+ years of practice in helping people to be their best selves. Join her for her online series - Trauma-Sensitive Practice.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Often, when we think about boundaries, we imagine a list of rules and restrictions like: you can’t do this, you can do this, and if you don’t do this, this is going to happen. But this isn’t actually the essence of a boundary and it’s not what the boundary is designed for.

Setting boundaries is actually a courageous act that requires self-awareness and self-love. It's about prioritizing your own well-being and honoring your own needs. And by understanding the importance of boundaries, we can navigate relationships and maintain our connection to ourselves.

Join Lisa in this episode where you’re invited to embrace a more flexible approach to boundaries … but we get it - even the words "flexible" and "boundary" may seem contradictory to you right now.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why boundaries are flexible and can change from moment to moment;
How setting boundaries is about taking responsibility for ourselves, not controlling others;
How to recognize the clues (in our bodies) that tell us when it’s time to set a boundary;
Why nervous system work is essential for boundary work;
Different ways to set boundaries, such as redirecting, being honest, or removing oneself from the situation;
Why rejection often makes setting boundaries challenging (... and when we don’t set a boundary, how it’s a form of self-rejection);
Why sometimes perceived deal breakers aren’t actually deal breakers; and
How to translate this more relational-boundary setting into our work as clinicians.

Tune in to this episode and discover how honoring your boundaries not only allows for connection and maintains relationships, but is a deep act of self-love and acknowledgement of your own worthiness. ✨

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: August 26, 2022

In this Lessons from the Playroom podcast from August 2022, Lisa clarifies one of the biggest misconceptions out there right now for parents and therapists - that regulation means being CALM.

...You’ve likely heard the idea that a child needs a calm adult in order to regulate - that in order to regulate, the adult needs to be and stay calm - or that an adult's "calm" presence is the answer to regulating a child when they are dysregulated.

But if you’ve ever tried to truly stay calm when a child is activated, screaming, throwing a tantrum, doing something scary, or even shutting down and withdrawing, you know that it's actually really hard to be or stay calm (... nearly impossible) because inside you’re likely feeling your own activation and states of dysregulation.

So what do we do instead? ....

Join Lisa is this discussion and learn:

What regulation is and what it isn't (defining regulation in relation to the autonomic nervous system);
How to access our ventral state in the midst of a child's dysregulation;
What regulation (and co-regulation) really looks like in the moment (... hint: it's not to calm them down or try to look calm as the adult to calm them down);
Why regulation is not better than dysregulation (calm is not better than mad or anxious for example) - it's all information and both are necessary for integration and learning how to regulate;
How the impulse to get a child to "calm down" has very little to do with the child and everything to do with us and our inability in the moment to access our ventral state;
The key to not setting ourselves up for shame and helplessness as parents/caregivers and therapists when our children or child clients are dysregulated, flooded, and overwhelmed;
A new definition of emotional intelligence and a new way to cultivate emotional intelligence for children by helping them connect to themselves and access their ventral in the midst of all that activation.

Let's put the word "calm" in the drawer for a little while ... Not forever because calm is an important state of the nervous system and just as important as all the other ones ... But just for a little while because we've become overly attached to the word...

… And consider replacing "calm" with the word "connect." - To connect to ourselves in our own moments of dysregulation and when we're with a child that is starting to get activated and dysregulated.

And next time we read or hear something that says a child needs a calm adult when they're having a hard time or are dysregulated, pause for a second and understand that what a child really needs is an adult that can connect to ventral, to themselves, be honest about their internal experience, not need to runaway from it, but knows how to be in it without losing themselves - not for the adult to pretend they are calm when inside they're having a really challenging time.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

To say that we’re excited for this conversation is an understatement because today’s topic is in the top three of the most requested topics since this podcast’s inception. We’ve been waiting for the perfect person to educate us on this topic, and there is no one better than Dr. Jodi Mullen to help us explore, understand, and make sense of a child’s sexualized play.

Dr. Jodi Ann Mullen, PhD LMHC NCC RPT-S CCPT-Master, is a professor at SUNY Oswego in the Counseling & Psychological Services Department and the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate Program in Play Therapy. She is the Director of Integrative Counseling Services, with several offices in Central New York. Jodi is an international speaker, author, credentialed play therapist and play therapy supervisor. She has 30 years in the field of counseling (... impressive!) and has authored books on play therapy, counseling children and adolescents, grief counseling and parenting.

Listen to this incredibly helpful and connecting conversation that will help you feel more prepared when you have a child show up on your caseload who has been sexually abused or demonstrates sexualized play:

How to trust your felt sense as the clinician when sexualized play shows up in the session;
Some of the red flags and themes that may indicate sexualized play (... and how understanding transference and countertransference give clues to what is happening for the client);
How to discern medical trauma vs. sexualized trauma;
How aggression shows up for children with sexualized trauma and what the behavior really means for these children;
How to talk to parents or caregivers when you expect trauma or abuse; and
The single most important thing we can do for our client that promotes deep healing, especially when justice is not possible.

This is a wonderfully helpful podcast that will leave you thinking wow, wow, wow! Jodi not only gives so many examples to help us understand sexualized trauma play, but gives us all the contextual and complex pieces of this type of therapeutic work with children.

And if you want to learn more about the mindset of a sexual perpetrator (... so important when we’re doing this work as play therapists), check out Jodi’s self-study course here!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: August 23, 2019

The brain is a high maintenance organ, one that wants a challenge! In order to stay passionate in our careers as play therapists, we must give the brain the growth it craves. But we must give ourselves permission too – the permission to be ourselves and pursue what inspires us.

"We all have deep within us the desire to pursue something that inspires us. We have a natural desire to evolve and grow" - Lisa Dion

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa is joined by another very very special guest, Gabriel (Gabe) Lomas, to cover a topic that has never been addressed on this podcast (...and very rarely at a play therapy conference) … Understanding and working with deaf children in the playroom.

Gabe is a professor and Program Director of Counseling Programs at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. He’s been an RPT-S for many years and is the immediate past president of the New York branch of the Association for Play Therapy. Gabriel has performed assessment and treatment in over 2000 child welfare cases, including hundreds involving deaf children or deaf parents. He is the co-editor of the book “Deaf People in the Criminal Justice System: Selected Topics on Advocacy, Incarceration and Social Justice.” As well as many journal articles and book chapters in the field of counseling and psychology. He is a popular expert witness in courts across the nation where he consults on issues related to assessment and deaf people.

Amazing! Here’s what you can expect in this podcast episode:

What we need to understand about children who are deaf and how these children can be easily misunderstood;
Some of the challenges that arise for children as a result of being deaf including impact in the parent-child relationship and on emotional development;
How deaf children deserve to be spoke to in a language that makes sense to them;
How play therapy can build a bridge for greater understanding of children who are deaf including understanding perceptions of themselves and their world;
How to join the world of a deaf child in a play therapy session and offer the child a felt sense of being understood and seen; and
What we can be aware of in terms of advocating for children who are deaf to be heard and get the support and services that they need.

Listen to this beautiful episode that will give a sense of what the world is like for a child who is deaf and how we can more fully support and advocate in our role as therapists, parents, educators, etc.; hear several case examples from Gabriel’s own life experiences working as a play therapist and in child welfare; and stay tuned to the end to find out what Gabriel thinks are the superpowers of children who are deaf. 💖

For a video recording with subtitles, please visit our website: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/152-gabriel-lomas-working-with-deaf-children-in-the-playroom/

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: October 1, 2017

Boredom in the playroom is something most therapists experience - from an unyielding yawn to counting the ticks of a slow-moving clock, we've all found ourselves less than enthused in one session or another. But boredom isn't always a negative thing. Sometimes, it's a gentle reminder that it's time to grow.

"Boredom in the playroom may be a messenger. This turns it from something negative into your greatest friend." -Lisa Dion

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa Dion has with her an extraordinary guest, Dr. Dee Ray to talk about an incredibly important topic for us as play therapists, Multiculturalism in Play Therapy (... if you don’t already have Dee’s book, Multicultural Play Therapy, we hope you’ll go buy it by the end of this podcast. It’s a must-have for every therapist that works with kids!)

Dee Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S is Regents Professor and Elaine Millikan Mathes Professor in Early Childhood Education in the Counseling Program and Co-Director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas. She has published over 150 articles, chapters, and books in the field of play therapy. Dr. Ray is a founding board member and past president of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, as well as current board chair of the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Ray also co-created and oversees the international certification program for Child-Centered Play Therapy and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy, as well as currently operates the counseling practice, EmpathyWell, in Highland Village, TX where she facilitates play therapy, training, and supervision.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What multicultural play therapy is and what it means to be culturally-inclusive play therapist;
What cultural humility is and how it is the cornerstone for cultural opportunity;
Some of the barriers and fears that prevent us from connecting fully with ourselves and our child clients;
What to do when a rupture occurs in our relationship with our client (...guaranteed to happen) and how to bring in cultural humility and cultural comfort to create cultural opportunity;
How to develop a more multicultural orientation when working in the context of the family system or working with parents/caregivers; and
What research says about a multicultural playroom and how to extend multiculturalism to your play therapy room.

Enjoy this incredibly important discussion that we hope you’ll then share with whomever you feel like could also benefit from learning more about multiculturalism in play therapy. Let’s all bring multiculturalism more into our playrooms!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: Jun 07, 2022

Lisa has a really special guest joining her for this episode and they’re doing something different today … It’s time to talk about business! - One of the most important topics we don’t talk much about as therapists. And to help Lisa out with this conversation, she has Jen Taylor who’s going to be interviewing her on her business journey.

If you’ve ever wondered about Lisa and her entrepreneurial journey, what it took for her to build the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute or create this podcast, get ready for an insightful and inspiring conversation where you’ll get to know Lisa a little more and get some business insights along the way.

Tune in and hear the answers to some very fun questions such as:

What was Lisa like as a child and how did this influence her becoming a business owner and entrepreneur?
How did Lisa hone her craft as a teacher (...and some tricks she uses to manage the anxiety she has before she teaches or gets on stage- yes she still gets anxious!)?
How did Lisa give herself permission to go after her dreams? (and ways you can too!)
How did Lisa learn to tackle and work with her fears?
How did Lisa reconcile the challenge and conflicting feelings of wanting to be of service and make money at the same time?
How did Lisa come to learn about the ins-and-outs of business as a therapist? (...because it’s not something we learn in graduate school)
Why does she spend money on learning about business (the same way we do as therapists for training and certifications) and why did she take the same business course 4 times?
What was the most valuable lesson Lisa learned as she reflected on some of the biggest unsuccessful business decisions she’s ever made on her entrepreneurial journey?

Plus, hear answers to some more personal questions like:

What is one of her favorite business books;
Her biggest pet peeve on the business journey;
The worst business advice she’s ever received; and
The best advice she would give her younger self now.

Listen to this episode and learn insight’s from Lisa’s journey on how to manage some of the learning curves, detours, and clunkiness of having a business, while continuing to stay focused on your dreams as the deepest expression of yourself.

If you want more, join Lisa for The Business of Therapy, a 2.5 day live (and virtual hybrid) course on Nov 9-11, 2023. Lisa is so excited to get therapists in a room to teach them, not only the nuts and bolts of the business of therapy, but the psychology of being an entrepreneur - come learn how to write the book, launch the podcast, start your private practice or take your existing business to the next level! And something we do well as therapists is be in community - rallying around each other, playing, and bringing the conversation of business to life.

*Some of you might be very familiar with Jen Taylor. She's done amazing things in this world and to support play therapists worldwide. She’s a therapist, teacher and writer. She originally launched the Play Therapy Summit a few years ago and she's been a previous guest talking about cooperative games. Find her here.

The beautiful Marshall Lyles is again joining Lisa Dion for another Lessons from the Playroom episode, but this time to talk about understanding Ableism and Disablism in the Playroom.

Marshall Lyles, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, has 20 years of practice in family play therapy. Drawing on lessons learned from working with attachment trauma in a variety of settings, Marshall regularly teaches on sandtray therapy and family work around the globe. In our opinion, Marshall is one of the leading voices in helping us understand ableism and disablism. You can connect with him at www.marshalllyles.com.

In this episode, Marshall and Lisa tackle this commonly occurring, yet secretly held subject of ableism and disablism in our field. Here’s what you’ll hear:

How ableism and institutionalized ableism has entered our profession, and how we might be perpetuating ableist norms for our clients or even for each other as therapists;
How to step into the mind of another in order to really have the sufficient mentalization to think critically about our own play spaces and our play therapy practices;
How to initiate repair when rupture happens due to unawareness or assuming all minds and bodies work in the same way; and
How to more fully celebrate the uniqueness of individuals and help individuals love and appreciate themselves exactly as they are.

You're invited to listen to this episode and take Marshalls’ wisdom to heart to discover ways to more fully welcome your clients’ mind and body into the therapeutic space. As well, to stay true to you as a clinician and do what you need to care for your heart, your mind, and your body.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: August 13, 2020

When our clients come to session it is easy to get caught up in thinking that they are their age, when in fact, they are not their age. At least not their chronological age. This episode is dedicated to helping you begin to understand the difference between emotional age and chronological age, a few clues to help you spot emotional age and regression, and how to work with these younger states in both your clients and yourself when they arise in the play room.

"When a child comes into play therapy, we are not working with their chronological age, but their emotional age." - Lisa Dion

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, we’re talking about a topic that we’ve never discussed, but is such an important topic to our work as play therapists. And that is dissociation. To have this discussion, Lisa has with her the fabulous Annie Monaco. Annie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, and faculty member of the Child Trauma Institute. With over 20 years of experience, Annie is a global trainer and has a specialty in EMDR Therapy with children and teens, and advanced training in attachment and dissociation in children especially with aggressive and hostile parts of self - she’s the perfect person to learn more about this topic!

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

A usable definition of dissociation beyond the textbook to really get a sense for how it shows up in our client sessions;
How dissociation reflects the child’s inside personal struggles and what it looks like;
Understanding dissociation connected to complex or developmental trauma;
How to help a child, parent, and even us as the therapist have compassion for all of the parts of the child (...a critical part of a child’s treatment process);
Activities and strategies to support children in exploring all of their parts of themselves and facilitate a path to healing.

Also, Annie shares a great question that you can ask children to really begin to understand the parts of themselves. You’ll definitely want to have this question in your play therapy toolbox!

Enjoy this conversation that will take you beyond textbook understanding of dissociation and demystify what dissociation looks like for our clients (.... and even for ourselves)!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: Jan 20, 2021

As a play therapist have you ever experienced this or felt stressed thinking ...

*"OMG, I don't have enough toys in the playroom" ...

*" I don't have the right kind of toys"...

*"I need a certain kind of toy because I work with children who have these issues"...

*"I live in a part of the world that doesn't have access to toys"...

*Or, "I'm a play therapist, I'm supposed to have toys"

In this episode, Lisa asks the question - Are toys really necessary in play therapy? ....

Join Lisa for this important conversation and dig a little deeper to explore:

What really is at the root of play therapy
What is the purpose of the toy
How to facilitate a child's process even if toys in the traditional sense are not available, and
What really is the most essential toy in the playroom

This episode is dedicated to therapists around the world who may have limited access to toys 💜

"With the understanding that a toy can be anything at all, we transcend cultural barriers and socioeconomic status to focus on the relationship and use whatever is in the environment. We also honor that the greatest toy in the playroom is really you, the therapist!" -Lisa Dion

We’re so excited for today’s topic (...it’s definitely a hot topic) and the amazing guest that is joining Lisa. Stacy Jagger is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), as well as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. A native of Nashville, Stacy is the founder and clinical director of Music City Family Therapy. She is the author of 30 Day Blackout, as well as the children's book, A Letter from Emma. She’s also a regular guest on the local NBC affiliate show “Today in Nashville” and has frequently been featured as a child expert for the local morning and evening news.

In this episode, Stacy will talk about how, for many families, the way screens (computers, phones, tvs, etc.) are used, can become a distraction from connection or dealing with deeper issues in families, as well as a cause for much of the dysregulation that we see in kids’ nervous systems. She’ll also share ways that we can help families start to manage their screen time use and return to a new “normal” where connection and relationship is the focus.

Join Lisa and Stacy for this powerful conversation to support your child clients and their families. Here’s what you’ll learn:

The potential impact of screen time for children;
How to assess a child and family’s screen time usage and connect to the child/family’s treatment goals;
Ways to support families in disconnecting from screens and shifting the focus on connection back to self and family;
What it looks like to re-calibrate a child and family’s collective nervous system through a 30-day digital detox (blackout/greyout); and
How to artfully come back to a new normal after a blackout period.

If you’re curious and want to see if you (or your family) might benefit from a 30-Day Blackout, Take the quiz here. It’s also a great resource for your clients!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

This episode aired on Oct 5, 2020.

To her thousands of listeners around the world, Lisa expresses in gratitude, "Thank you for providing me with a sense of home."

It's time to turn the tables! For several years, Lisa has shared play therapy knowledge and insights, interviewed special guests and helped create discussion and new learning for clinicians all over the world. But who is this person behind the microphone?

In this episode, Lisa is the one in the hot seat as she is interviewed by Katherine Eastlake, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor. Katherine takes Lisa all the way back to her very first play therapy session, the play therapy influences in her life, why she created the Lessons from the Playroom podcast, how the podcast helps her connect to a global feeling of home, and so much more.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Synergetic Play Therapy is celebrating 15 years 🎉 (... and Lisa is also celebrating her birthday this week 🥳) … And it’s a perfect time to reflect on this amazing field of play therapy that we’re all a part of including where we started as a field and where we’re headed (.... yes, there will be a bit of predicting the future happening 🚀✨).

Join Lisa as she talks about the journey of the mental health field at large and how that has influenced the play therapy field … how we started with a focus on changing behaviors… then moving more deeply into an appreciation for the body and its importance in the healing process … the influence of neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, and the Polyvagal Theory … a greater understanding of the role of the therapist and the therapist’s contribution to the healing process (... you are the most important toy in the playroom after all 💕) … and where Lisa thinks we’re headed as a field (hint: it has to do with the role of mind and perception and science).

This is one episode you’re not going to want to miss!

*Celebrate with us! Enjoy $15 off any of our 1-3 hour courses through the month of June! That’s 50% off all of our 1-hour courses. Use coupon code “Celebrate15” at checkout. Sale ends July 9th.

And thank you to all of our listeners! We’re nearing one million downloads and, whether you started out with us in 2017 when we launched this podcast or only just recently found your way here, we couldn’t be more thrilled to have you as part of our weekly conversations and journey. Sending love and gratitude to you all! 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: Aug 30, 2022

Lisa is joined by an incredibly important person in her life - an individual that she is excited to introduce you to (...someone outside the field of play therapy that you may not have heard of) - Jayson Gaddis is an author, podcaster, speaker, “personal trainer for relationships”, and is a global leader on interpersonal conflict and connection.

In this episode, Lisa & Jayson explore conflict and how it shows up in all our relationships - the relationships we have with our clients, their parents/caregivers, and in our personal relationships. Plus you'll learn ...

2 reasons why conflict is so hard to talk about;
A new view/understanding of conflict that you've likely not considered before;
Why being overly-careful in relationships is a disservice, even in your therapeutic relationships;
How to lean into the uncomfortable experience of conflict and embrace conflict in all relationships);
How to recognize and start to work with your own activation (transference/countertransference) within your relationships; and
Tips to navigate hard conversations in both personal and professional relationships (including what L.U.F.U stands for and the 3 most impactful words you can say to transform any relationship).

You’ll also hear Jayson and Lisa role play and model what these hard conversations can look and feel like - super fun!

Podcast Resources:

Jayson Gaddis: https://www.jaysongaddis.com
Jayson Gaddis' Relationship School®: https://relationshipschool.com
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa to talk about attunement and how it is such an important part of the therapeutic relationship. But why is it that important you might ask … In our play therapy sessions, we can follow the script, say the right words, go down the therapeutic checklist, but if we are not attuned to our clients (or ourselves), our clients will walk away likely feeling not seen, not felt, and not met by us. So attunement is really the heart of the therapeutic exchange between us and our clients! (...by the way, the same is true in the parent-child dynamic)

Join Lisa in a conversation and …

Expand your understanding of what attunement is and what it is not;
Find out what gets in the way of us being attuned to our clients;
Learn how to develop attunement at a deeper level for your clients (...to create an experience for your client where they feel energetically and emotionally met by us); and
How to “explain” the felt-sense experience of attunement with a parent or caregiver

Lisa shares a really beautiful experience she had at a play therapist training where she was role playing with another therapist and how she might have missed a really critical piece of the play therapist’s experience if it wasn’t for the power of attunement.

A final message - Thank you for being on the receiving end of the conversation today; for feeling with Lisa today; and allowing yourself to learn ways to bring in attunement more into your play therapy sessions so your clients can feel deeply seen, deeply met, and deeply heard by you.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: Aug 2, 2022

Join Lisa in exploring a topic that is relevant to every single person on the planet and particularly inspired by a conversation Lisa had with her daughter who is now almost 17 years old.

In this episode, you're invited to think about self-esteem in a new or different way so you can support your clients at a deeper level when self-esteem is the thing they are struggling with.

Learn ….

A new reframe on understanding self-worth and how it translates to our work with clients;
Why everyone has both low and high self-esteem (and the purpose of it);
The correlation between self-worth and nervous system activation;
How to support clients who feel they are struggling with low self-esteem/self-worth; and
How to support parents/caregivers when they are the ones struggling with feeling not good enough and like an inadequate parent/caregiver.

Plus, you’ll hear a 17-year-old's amazing definition of what "high self-esteem" can look like and feel like and what "low self-esteem" can look like and feel like- it just might be the best nugget of the entire podcast!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this next Lessons from the Playroom episode, we’re going in a totally different direction. Lisa Dion has a very special guest to talk about perspective - a topic we often don’t talk about enough (... or in some cases, at all!) and the significance of it in our work as therapists and as beings walking through the world.

Lisa’s special guest is the lovely Dr. Rachel Altvater (Psy.D., RPT-S™). Rachel is an award-winning, pioneering expert, leader, researcher, international trainer, author, and supervisor in the field of play therapy. Her book, “Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities" was just recently published (...and is the main topic of discussion for this episode). She has also published her research in the International Journal of Play Therapy on technology use in play therapy, and is a contributing author in numerous scholarly texts on implementing digital technologies in play therapy practice.

Join Rachel and Lisa in this highly thought provoking and human normalizing conversation that will start to create an alignment with who you are and the perspectives that you hold about yourself.

You’ll learn about:

The birth of Rachel’s new book, Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities, and how her “brain vomit” practice helped it come into “perspective”;
How you come to see yourself, others, and the world (...really how you become who you are!);
Why understanding perspective is so important for you to know as a therapist (or as any human being);
How to explore the perspectives that you’re holding about yourself (...Rachel gives several questions you can start asking yourself today); and
Questions that will expand your awareness about what perspectives you might be holding about others (including your clients).

Enjoy this oh so lovely conversation that ends with a beautiful transition message from Rachel to you - You will never know how far your ripples of healing and connection expand into this world, but the more aligned you are with yourself, the further these ripples will expand in the direction they need to go.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: August 31, 2021

What does it really mean to be culturally competent?...

To help us kick off the next 100 episodes, Lisa is joined by a truly amazing individual who is a leader in our play therapy field - Dr. Eliana Gil. Likely you have heard of her 😉 ... Dr. Eliana Gil is the founding partner of the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery & Education. As one of the pioneers for working with trauma in the play therapy field, she's written several books read by countless therapists worldwide. She's also the former president of the Association for Play Therapy and received APT's Lifetime Achievement award in 2011.

Join Lisa and Eliana in a conversation about:

What it means to become culturally competent as a therapist
Steps to building an anti-racist and culturally-informed practice
Ways to respond when children are exploring racism and cultural issues in the playroom
How to dive deep within yourself to move from not just reflection, but ACTION!

You’re invited to think through how cultural issues can show up in your work as a play therapist. And to get curious about when these conversations need to happen, how to do it authentically, and based on your own training.

Eliana ends with a beautiful message about growing and deepening into your experience as a play therapist.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa Dion for a really important and special conversation about a topic that has never been discussed in this entire podcast series … It's about supervision. And not just any type of supervision, but reflective-relational kinds of supervision.

Some of you may likely be engaged in your own supervision and some of you may be supervisors ... you're encouraged to listen to this conversation in whatever way you feel is most meaningful for you.

To have this conversation, Lisa has three very important people in her life - Polly Douglass, Kim Buller, and Khris Rolfe are three extraordinary play therapists and supervisors and some of the top supervisors at the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. They've been trained not only in Synergetic Play Therapy, but in multiple other modalities, and have a beautiful perspective about how to do this thing we call supervision in a way that is incredibly reflective and relational.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What it means to be reflective and relational in supervision;
How to cultivate a reflective and relational supervisor-supervisee relationship;
What it means to be the external regulator for a supervisee;
How to support a supervisee in becoming more embodied in their work as a play therapist; and
How to offer an empowering supervision experience for a supervisee that ultimately develops their trust within themselves as a therapist.

Listen to this conversation that weaves together a beautiful tapestry of reflection and relationship within the supervisor-supervisee experience, and one that allows for the play therapist to “feel” about their client instead of just “think” about their client.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa Dion’s next guest has made quite the name for herself in the world of EMDR Therapy (although this is not a conversation about EMDR Therapy, if you work with the population that we’re talking about today, you might want to consider some EMDR training 😉). Join Ann Beckley-Forest and Lisa in an inspiring conversation … one that is also quite near and dear to Ann’s heart … that will help you conceptualize how to work with children and families when adoption, foster care, or some kind of placement experience is part of the child’s life story.

Ann is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), Certified in EMDR Therapy and an approved provider for EMDRIA, faculty member of the Child Trauma Institute, and co-founder of Playful EMDR LLC Training and Consulting. Ann, with Annie Monaco, also wrote a fabulous book called “EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room: An Integrated Approach” - it’s truly a foundational book if you use EMDR Therapy and work with children.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

What attachment trauma or attachment wounding is (... as Shirley Jean Schmidt says, the idea of “the important good things that didn’t happen”);
How a movement powered by adoptees has helped us take a look at language, stance and attitudes around adoption, as well as how to honor all the parts of the “adoption triad”;
The impact to the collective adoptive family nervous system and how adoptive/foster parents inherently vicariously acquire the child’s trauma history;
One of the major reasons for unprocessed trauma in childhood and how we can address it in sessions; and
Different reparative treatment approaches when working with children with attachment trauma or attachment wounding (hint: it’s not about cognitive processes, but ultimately attuned experiences).

We hope that you’ll find a lot of value in this conversation and that you’ll continue to learn and study about this topic … because the odds of you, as a play therapist, having a child walk through your door that has an adoption or foster care or some kind of placement experience in their history is, well, let’s just say, quite high. You’re invited to start/continue your learning journey on this topic with Ann and Lisa today!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: July 17, 2019

Medical trauma can be prevalent for many children who have undergone medical procedures or experienced chronic and acute conditions. And it can show up in the playroom in a variety of ways, including in ways that can lead the therapist to jump to conclusions.

Listen in to explore how to not only help children who have experienced this type of trauma but how to minimize future trauma as well.

"One of the best ways to reduce medical trauma is by making the unknown known. Children need information and lots of it." - Lisa Dion

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: December 21, 2021

This has been one of the most requested topics – Working With Childhood Sexual Abuse

Lisa Dion is joined by Sueann Kenney-Noziska whose work with sexually abused children and adolescents is absolutely remarkable. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice, she is internationally recognized as an esteemed author, guest lecturer, and professional speaker (… a phenomenal speaker!). Sueann has been educating therapists, courts, and community partners for years regarding the impact of trauma, dynamics of sexual abuse, delayed disclosure, and other matters pertaining to childhood abuse and trauma.

This episode is packed with so much information, you might want a paper and pen to take notes. And join them in a conversation to explore:

Challenges (and rewards) of working with this population
Common dynamics that occur during sexual abuse
The disclosure process and why it’s so hard for children/teenagers to disclose
Ways to support parents in building relationships with their children for future open dialogue/disclosure
How the trauma narrative can look differently for these children and in a play therapy process
Ways to navigate this work while taking care of yourself to prevent vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue

Listen to this episode and let Sueann’s wisdom give you insight and clarity on working with this very special population through the play therapy process.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

This next episode is so unbelievably important (maybe even critical) for you as a therapist to hear … Join Lisa for a conversation about this not so widely discussed topic - the impact of trauma exposure on therapists (or really for anyone in a helping role).

As a therapist (or helper of any kind), we've chosen a profession that puts us directly on the frontline. We are required to be right there in the midst of trauma exposure, day-in and day-out, session after session. We’re asked to listen, witness, play through the trauma, and experience the trauma alongside our clients. The old adage that the therapist stays an objective observer when facilitating someone else is, well, impossible.

Ultimately, we can’t avoid being impacted by exposure to another’s trauma/crisis/challenge and, as a result, we’re susceptible to compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or secondary traumatization.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How we always experience a secondary impact when working with clients who have/are experiencing trauma, crisis or challenge;
What happens when we are impacted by the same trauma, crisis or challenge that our clients are experiencing;
What happens when our own unresolved trauma comes into the playroom (guaranteed it happens more frequently than we give ourselves permission to be aware of); and
How to reconnect back to ourselves both outside the playroom and during those moments of activation in the therapy session.

Listen and take a moment to connect/reconnect with yourself. Find some time to reflect on this extraordinary profession that you’re part of and the sacrifices you’re making; hear ways to help mitigate the impact (hint: it starts with learning how to be with ourselves through the impact); and then start to create a lifestyle that supports this career we’ve chosen.

You are extraordinary! Much love on the journey 💕

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity

Original Air Date: August 2, 2021

Join Lisa Dion as she demystifies working with pre-teens and teens and shares how to apply your play therapy skill set to this population (hint: you actually don't need to change much of what you're already doing 😉).

She'll also tell you the reason that you might feel awkward, not good enough, unsure, and confused as therapists when working with this age group, as well as give strategies and techniques to support the pre-teen and teen to discover their authentic self.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Another pioneer in the field of play therapy joins Lisa for this next episode. Lisa is super excited to be joined by Dr. Risë VanFleet (learn about her amazing background below*) for a conversation about Filial Therapy and how parents and caregivers can become a change agent for their child.

Join Risë and Lisa in this insightful discussion that will enhance your child client’s therapy experience through their relationship with their parent/caregiver and deepen your commitment to the model.

You’ll also hear how Risë entered the field of play therapy and learn …

The history of Filial Therapy and the theoretical elements that make the model successful;
How Filial Therapy is a psychoeducational model (vs. a medical model)
The 7 key aspects that make up Filial Therapy and create the elegance of the model;
How parents/caregivers become the primary change agent for their child; and
How to combine Filial Therapy with other therapeutic interventions.

*Dr. Risë VanFleet is a Licensed Psychologist (PA), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and specializes in Animal Assisted Play Therapy™, Filial Therapy, play therapy, chronic medical illness in families, disaster mental health, complex trauma and attachment issues, as well as animal welfare and behavior. She’s also the President of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc., in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, an organization specializing in the training and supervision of child, family, and play therapy professionals. She is the founder and president of the International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy®.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 30, 2021

Sometimes we think we're feeling when we're not ... Sometimes we think we're creating space for our clients to feel when we're not ... And sometimes we are encouraging avoidance when it's hard to stay in our window of tolerance.

Join Lisa in this podcast that's all about reflecting on our own inner experience and understanding this lifelong journey we're all on of learning how to feel at deeper levels so we can help our clients do the same - It's an invitation to look at our relationship with our emotions and how that impacts our clients.

As well as getting curious about the parents/caregivers' experience with their own emotional landscape and how to help them to really understand the importance of being with the child's emotions instead of trying to fix/change/make it better.

Other podcastepisodes that might be helpful on your journey of becoming aware of the feelings that you try to numb, avoid, move away from or that tend to flood and make it difficult to stay in your window of tolerance are:

Ep. 88 - Countertransference in Play Therapy
Ep. 76 - Attuning to Body Language in Play Therapy
Ep. 44 - Emotional Flooding: When You Find Yourself Outside Your Window of Tolerance
Ep. 25 - Emotional Flooding in the Playroom

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa revisits the topic of parents and caregivers and discusses one of the most commonly asked questions that she is asked - how to support and offer parents and caregivers templates so they can regulate themselves and ultimately regulate with their child when their child is dysregulated.

Imagine being able to offer parents in the therapeutic journey co-regulatory moments to help repattern their nervous system and that supports them in being their child’s external regulator - It’s really so powerful!!

Here’s what you will learn in this episode:

How the parent/caregiver can show up in the therapy process in some form of dysregulation and what they need;
How to use the Synergetic Play Therapy concept of “The Set Up” or “Offering” to understand the parent at a deeper level;
Why it’s important to not dismiss the felt sense of what’s arising inside ourselves and how to connect with our own activation first before becoming the external regulator for the parent;
What it looks like to teach parents/caregivers to become external regulators including how to develop within them regulatory templates they can use when in relationship with their child;
Key things to recognize when working with parents/caregivers to create new templates and templates they may not have for regulation; and
Being able to support the parents/caregivers in shifting their perception of their child’s behavior in a way that allows for spaciousness and connection.

Join Lisa and consider this important question - Are we willing to do what we can to create new templates for parents and caregivers, and based on our therapeutic approach, how might we do that?

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: January 18, 2022

Lisa Dion’s next special guest is a Certified SPT therapist, coach, mom and yoga instructor. Lisa has known her for years – all the way back to when Lauren worked in Cape Town, South Africa.

Listen as Lauren Porter and Lisa talk about how to make Yoga a practice that can support you as a therapist and redefine and unpack yoga in a way that maybe you haven’t considered…

…And how getting to know yourself more and experiencing a widening of your window of tolerance for your emotional states can help your practice as a therapist tenfold.

Whether you’re experienced in yoga or not, deepen your understanding of the possibility of how yoga can support you in being with your clients in more embodied ways.

You’ll discover:

What yoga is really about (hint: it’s not to help you feel better)
How yoga gives understanding to both the conceptual world and the embodied YOU
How to overcome the mental, emotional and physical blocks that prevent you (and all of us) from having a lived experience
How to use yoga as a practice for knowing yourself more and why it’s so important to consider if you’re a therapist
How yoga can “hold you” in times of flooding or overwhelm
The connection between yoga and [one of Lisa’s favorite concepts) Interoception
All the ways that a yoga practice can look (…the answer might surprise you)

Listen to today’s episode and expand your capacity for accessing the ventral vagal response so that you’re able to stay connected to yourself with whatever is happening in you and around you (…playroom included).

And before she goes, Lauren guides you through an exercise to unlock the diaphragm (…it’s perfect for when someone says, “take a deep breath” and you can’t – because this absolutely happens sometimes … or more times than we want to count).

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Dr. Robert Jason Grant, creator of AutPlay Therapy joins Lisa to discuss AutPlay Therapy as an integrative family play therapy approach designed to address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children and their families.

Robert Jason Grant is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Consultant, Trainer, and Neurodiversity Advocate. Robert has a deep understanding of sensory differences, Autism, ADHD, implementing play therapy with groups and play therapy theories. His development of AutPlay Therapy provides therapists with a play therapy approach that addresses the mental health needs of neurodivergent children and their families.

Listen as Robert shares his practical experiences and insight to help therapists understand the importance of “play preferences” to respect a child’s presentation and how therapists can make play therapy a safe space for neurodivergent and neurotypical clients.

Plus you’ll learn …

How and why Robert developed AutPlay® Therapy and how you can incorporate it into your practice working with kids with sensory issues;
A definition of neurodivergence and the connection between neurodivergent and neurotypical;
What the Neurodiversity Paradigm is and how to put it into practice;
How to help a child feel seen, and treated with love and respect at a deeper level; and
How to incorporate more neurodiversity affirming practices and principles into your therapeutic practice.

This special episode touches on many amazing topics that you’ll find valuable and will help you grow as a therapist to support this misunderstood population to address their mental health needs. And you’ll feel Robert’s love, compassion and empathy for his clients that are neurodivergent and neurotypical - just beautiful!

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: January 4, 2022

Lisa is jumping into another most requested topic – Translating the Play to Parents/Caregivers. In this episode you’ll find out why this can be such a challenge for play therapists, but oh-so important!

Learn 4 tips for how to translate the child’s play to parents/ caregivers including how to:

Set the stage early on in the process for parents about what they can expect and to honor/protect the confidentiality of what’s going on in the room with the child client.
Develop or enhance parent buy-in within the therapeutic process.
Translate what the child is doing in the room to the parents (being able to shift from a right-brain experience to a left-brain process)
Maintain congruence and authenticity when explaining to parents what’s happening in the child’s process

Note: If it’s helpful, you might want to return to podcast episode #13 to discover how to set great goals in the playroom.

We know it’s tough work being a play therapist – a gentle reminder to give yourself grace and time in the process, as well as know that you’re doing an amazing job already and it’s good enough – You are the most important toy in the playroom.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa has another amazing guest speaker joining her - Dr. Joyce Mills to talk about StoryPlay®, an Ericksonian, resiliency-based, indirective process of Play Therapy that draws upon the natural inner resources, skills, and strengths of each child, adolescent, adult or family member to effect transformational healing, growth, and change.

Dr. Joyce C. Mills is a nationally and internationally recognized storyteller, keynote presenter, workshop leader, consultant, trauma specialist, and program developer for health-care, psychological, educational, and community organizations. Founder of StoryPlay, Dr. Mills is the recipient of the 1997 Play Therapy International Award for outstanding career contributions to the field of Play Therapy Training and Child Psychology. She is also the author and co-author of seven books including the award-winning Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within, Sammy the Elephant and Mr. Camel, Gentle Willow, and Little Tree.

Join Lisa and Joyce in this conversation that will offer playful and serious insights on how to help children grow and heal; how to honor who the child is and create safe spaces for healing; and how, through Joyce’s own personal story of raising a son with cerebral palsy, she found a path to help parents and caregivers who were struggling.

Plus you’ll learn …

How to identify, access, and utilize the inner resources, skills, and gifts within our clients as invaluable gems to move beyond diagnosis;
How to recognize a parent or caregiver’s struggle;
The importance of resilience which is what StoryPlay is all about;
The difference between directive and indirective play therapy models;
The essential elements of the StoryPlay model;
How to use the Therapeutic Metaphors process to effect transformational change.

Listen and discover Joyce’s natural ability to tell stories and how stories are the medicine of the soul! She’s a true gift to our field

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: November 9, 2021

This guest, from a young age, wanted to be both a philosopher and a pilot … while life took her down a different path, she has since translated the “mysteries” of EMDR Therapy when working with children for thousands of therapists worldwide … and taken many of her clients on a journey to places within themselves, giving them wings to soar!

Ana Gomez is the founder of the AGATE Institute and has focused her career on working with complex and developmental trauma, healing generational wounds, and understanding dissociative patterns.

Join Ana and Lisa in a discussion about EMDR Therapy with kids where Ana gives understanding to:

What is EMDR Therapy and how it can be applied to your child clients;
How to support your child clients in developing a relationship with their inner world;
How attunement is key in the healing process; and
The importance of doing your own “work” as a therapist so that you can accompany your clients on their journeys through their traumas from a more embodied perspective.

Listen to today’s episode and receive your “wings” from an extraordinary “pilot” who so beautifully reminds us why we do what we do, the power of this work, and why we continue to show up for our child clients day in and day out.

*Ana M Gómez, MC, LPC is the founder and director of the AGATE Institute in Phoenix, AZ. She is a psychotherapist, author, and an international speaker on the use of EMDR therapy with children and adolescents with complex and developmental trauma as well as generational wounds and dissociation. Ana is the author of EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children: Complex Trauma, Attachment and Dissociation and several book chapters and articles on the use of EMDR therapy with children and adolescents. In addition, she is the author of multiple children’s books and therapeutic tools.

Podcast Resources:

Global Child EMDR Alliance (resource formed by Ana and other amazing EMDR Therapists)
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa is joined by an incredibly important person in her life - Duey Freeman, a former professor at Naropa University (Lisa’s alma mater) and founder of the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies and the Gestalt Equine Institute. Duey, a true “elder” (as he is described by many) and mentor in the field of attachment and human development, was Lisa’s former graduate school professor and has been one the most instrumental professors in her career. (see below for Duey's full bio*)

Get ready to learn about a new way to conceptualize the attachment process and human development- a theory that just may be a foundational piece of missing information in your work as a therapist, as well as how Duey uses equine therapy to re-heal attachment disruptions. This podcast isn’t just for those that work for horses - this information is a must hear for everyone!

Here's what you'll hear in this episode …

An attachment and human development theory that is usable clinically when working with people - the Freeman Attachment Cycle (Lisa integrates this model into her Synergetic Play Therapy courses);
The reason why we're always supporting clients in working through the first stages of development ("Is the world ok?" and "Am I ok?") whether we’re working with a child that is 3 years old or 50 years old;
What happens for a child when their attachment and developmental needs are not met;
How to bring instinct and intuition back into all our relationships and into all our therapeutic relationships; and
How Duey's work with horses and equine therapy can give us greater understanding about our work in the playroom (plus you'll hear something amazing about what happens when a person is put on a horse and having them be moved by a horse...it's absolutely amazing!)

This one will not only give you an amazing new lens from which to see your client work and how to become a therapist WITH your clients, but connect you to your own attachment and life experiences at a really deep level (...It might even bring tears to your eyes).

Duey Freeman is a sought after teacher, trainer, licensed therapist, and equine professional around the world. He has traveled to teach professionally in over 8 countries, has developed a practical attachment theory and human development theory that is taught to thousands of university students, has over 80,000 direct client hours, and co-founded both the Gestalt Equine Institute and the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies*. He provides supervision to therapists and graduate students, does business and land consultations for new equine therapy sites, and models being a life-long student to your passions.

Podcast Resources:

Freeman Attachment Cycle
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: February 7, 2020

In this episode, Lisa is joined by special guest Jen Taylor to talk about how to use cooperative games in play therapy and how in the playroom, they are used effectively with siblings and families, reminding each player that it's not about winning; it's about the experience.

"The object of the same is not to win; the object of the same is to experience playing for the sake of playing." - Jen Taylor, LCSW, RPT-S

*Some of you might be very familiar with Jen Taylor. She's done amazing things in this world and to support play therapists worldwide. She’s a therapist, teacher and writer. She originally launched the Play Therapy Summit a few years ago and she's been a previous guest talking about cooperative games. Find her here.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa for a discussion to explore three different types of relationships that come into play when working with parents/caregivers … What you’re about to hear will transform your work with parents/caregivers to create a more conscious relationship that honors both you as the therapist and the parents you work with.

In this episode, you’ll learn ….

The three different types of relationships (... they can actually extend beyond the playroom to any and all relationships);
How these different types of relationships play out in the dynamic with parents/caregivers;
Why we sometimes experience challenging relationships when working with parents/caregivers; and
How to develop and create a space that allows parents/caregivers to show up as themselves and explore who they are with us.

Listen and also find out how these different types of relationships potentially impact your nervous system and what you can do to stay connected to yourself so that you can honor both yours and the parent's/caregiver's unique rhythms and needs.

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: January 15, 2021

Join Lisa Dion and guest Sonya Joyce as they discuss perhaps one of the most important topics in the play therapy process - touch!

"Whether we like it or not, touch is a part of the play therapy experience." ... With this in mind, they explore ways to become more mindful and thoughtful about how to bring healing touch to children in the playroom, how to create a neuroception of safety around touch, how to model healthy boundaries and creative ways to bring touch into the child's experience, and the ramifications if healing touch does not happen for our child clients.

Guest Sonya Joyce is a Child/Adolescent Psychotherapist in Ireland, trained in Play and Art Therapy. She offers, "I noticed that children were always leading me into play in my Art therapy sessions and this led me to study play further, firstly dipping my feet in the water with a short course in Therapeutic Play Skills, and then embarking on a 4 year Masters Course in Creative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy with the Children’s Therapy Centre, County Westmeath, Ireland. During this time I began work with an organisation working with children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse."

To read the Sonya's full dissertation - "What Did I Do?" - An Exploration of the Inner Experiences of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists When Touch Arises in the Playroom: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/what-did-i-do-when-touch-arises-in-the-playroom/

Podcast Resources:

Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/
Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Lisa has another really special guest joining her … Dr. Cathy Malchiodi is the Founder & Director of the Trauma Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute. She has done countless presentations around the world and written some amazing books, one that she wrote several years ago is still one of Lisa’s all time favorite books - Understanding Children’s Drawings.

Cathy is one of the pioneers in Expressive Arts Therapy. In this episode, you’ll learn what Expressive Arts Therapy is and the importance of “rhythmic synchronization” and “action-oriented” interventions to support clients in sensory integration and trauma healing. You’ll also be introduced to a new way to conceptualize the client’s “Window of Tolerance” that is more about expanding the client’s capacity for trauma integration and playfulness.

Join a grounding conversation that will take you beyond the use of specific techniques to support your clients in reclaiming and expanding their capacity for full expression of their authentic self.

"Trauma reduces our capacity for expression through movement, sound, enactment, image making, and play. Our job is to help people reclaim that capacity -- to manifest a full range of restorative expression and reparative playfulness." - Cathy Malchiodi, PhD from Handbook of Expressive Arts Therapy

Cathy Malchiodi is the Executive Director of the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute. She works as a consultant to the Department of Defense and an investigator on a five-year grant with the US Department of Education, integrating trauma-informed expressive arts into classrooms. A popular presenter and workshop leader, she has given over 700 keynotes and workshops (...pretty much you name the country and Cathy has probably been there to present in some capacity*). She has authored 20 books including her most recent, "Handbook of Expressive Arts Therapy." You’ll find a sample chapter by clicking the book title for free!

Original Air Date: May 25, 2021

How do we let parents know, that we know, how important they are in their child’s life? How can we stay grounded and connected to ourselves as play therapists when we find ourselves triggered or activated when working with overwhelmed parents? And how can we offer an “I see you” relational experience for parents that are experiencing complex trauma in their family system?

Robyn Gobbel joins Lisa in this episode to answer these very questions. Not only do they discuss the value of working with these parents/caregivers and what to do when we feel stuck, but more importantly how to embrace working with parents in the play therapy process, honor the role they play in their child’s lives, and move from “ I should work with parents” to loving and adoring working with parents/families where complex trauma is part of their lives.

*Robyn Gobbel is a writer, trainer, speaker, and educator dedicated to understanding why humans behave the way they behave. She teaches parents of children who have experienced trauma how the brain works, why behaviors are simply an externalization of what's happening in the brain, body, and nervous system, and how to respond to children's behaviors in a way that creates healing, not just behavior change. Robyn hosts the Parenting After Trauma podcast. Find her on her website here: https://robyngobbel.com/

Have you ever wondered what intergenerational trauma can look like when it shows up in a play therapy session? If so, you have also likely wondered what you can do to support both the child and the parent to integrate the trauma.

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a licensed clinical psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, and Kripalu yoga teacher* with a private practice in Boulder, Colorado to discuss this very topic.

You will learn:

What intergenerational trauma is and what it can look like in play therapy sessions
How to cultivate your own trans-generational resilience and develop generational empathy (that you can then model to your clients and their parents/caregivers);
What to do when your own intergenerational trauma shows up in a session with your clients; and
How practicing self-care supports you in being a better steward of trauma for this kind of work (...learn Arielle’s own embodiment practice that she starts each day with and before meeting with clients).

Join this lovely conversation and widen your lens beyond the client’s present day (or recent history) experience to what might be happening across generations in the parent/caregiver-child relationship, what’s happening in the family system, and even to the generational patterns and unresolved traumas generationally that are part of your client’s story.

*Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, and Kripalu yoga teacher with a private practice in Boulder, Colorado. As an internationally sought-out teacher and leading voice in the healing of PTSD and complex trauma, she is the author of six books, including The Complex PTSD Workbook, Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma, and The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook. She is dedicated to offering informational mental health and wellness updates through her writing, public speaking, social media presence, and blog. As the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, she offers integrative, mind-body approach to therapy including relational therapy, parts-work therapy, somatic psychology, EMDR Therapy, and therapeutic yoga for trauma. She believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Learn more about Arielle at www.drarielleschwartz.com.

Original Air Date: October 12, 2021

In this episode, Lisa is joined by special therapist - a gem 💖 in the play therapy field (and he’s also a poet 😉) … Marshall Lyles joins Lisa in a discussion that brings new thought, new life, and new excitement to processes and things you may have heard about for years.

Join Lisa and Marshall in conversation about …

The use of Sandtray therapy in healing attachment and trauma;
How attachment styles present for clients (and yourself) in the sandtray;
How to go deeply within yourself through the “sandtray mirror;”
Ways to navigate your own inner landscape and cultivate a “reflective practice;” and
How to further develop yourself as a play therapist through the modalities that you practice.

As a bonus, Marshall also shares his poem, Digging Deeper that he recently shared in the book, Advanced Sandtray Therapy. 💕

Marshall Lyles, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S, lives in the Austin, Texas, area and has 20 years of practice in family and play therapy. Drawing on lessons learned from working with attachment trauma in a variety of mental health settings, Marshall regularly teaches on trauma, expressive therapies, and attachment-informed family work around the globe. He’s published in professional journals and magazines in addition to contributing to several books including recently co-authoring the book Advanced Sandtray Therapy (released in September 2021).

This time Lisa has again invited two very important people in her life to join her. Two Certified Synergetic Play Therapists both residing in Canada – Helen Ritchie and Kristina Dixon.

Join them in this conversation about working through the challenges and dilemmas that we sometimes have as therapists when working with the parents/caregivers.

Find out:

Why working with parents and caregivers can be more challenging than working just with our child clients.
How to overcome some of the biggest challenges therapists have when working with parents/caregivers.
How to bring a parent/caregiver into a team approach in the therapeutic process.
How to support the parent/caregiver with implementing strategies in the home that might help the child client (including what to do when the parent/caregiver says, “I tried that, and it didn’t work” or “that won’t work for my child”).

This podcast episode honors parents/caregivers and will open your heart around being in a therapy process together when helping your child clients heal.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: November 13, 2017

A child’s refusal to speak inside the playroom can leave even the most seasoned therapist flustered. But connecting with clients involves much more than words. Silence can be golden when you know what it means and how to harness it. Join Lisa and find out how supporting a child in their healing process doesn't have to require words.

"It's the child really feeling that you're with them that heals them most. Sometimes, that just doesn't require words." - Lisa Dion

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this episode the tables are turned and the lovely Jackie Flynn, host of the Play Therapy Community Podcast/Facebook group and the Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summits, interviews Lisa about how play therapy and being a play therapist has become a spiritual practice for her over the years.

Join Lisa and Jackie as they talk about:

What spiritual practice means and how doing our own “work” as a therapist can become a spiritual practice;
How the playroom is a giant "meditation cushion" for therapists to grow within themselves as human beings;
How to hold a larger perspective as a therapist and engage in a deeply self-reflective practice as a way of supporting the client in their own reflective awareness and healing journey;
How the moment itself has everything we need in order to navigate whatever is arising in the client’s therapeutic work - Nothing is missing.
The Synergetic Play Therapy concept of “One Foot In/One Foot Out” and how this is a contemplative practice in action in the playroom; and
How being authentically with ourselves as therapists can support us in truly helping our clients in the most profound ways possible.

In this episode, you’ll also hear how Lisa's very first play therapy session revealed to her, not only how to help children in their healing journey, but how to experience the playroom as a place of curiosity for what needs to be developed and worked within herself so that she could continue to develop herself as a therapist.

A message from Lisa to all of her listeners - Give yourself permission to find safe places and connections that allow you to look inward; get curious about what parts of you are showing up in the playroom that are asking you to be in relationship with them; and a deeper invitation to be with the parts of yourself that are emerging - because as you know, you are the most important toy in the playroom.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: March 27, 2017

Therapists are so good at identifying and working with the problem, but are we as trained to also recognize empowerment? In this podcast, Lisa addresses why it can be challenging to recognize when a child is moving into empowerment, and she shares multiple strategies to help you identify when your child clients are overcoming their challenges.

"Part of play therapy is widening the child's perspective but also widening our own" - Lisa Dion

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜 Join our Newsletter 💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

*Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

The one-and-only Bonnie Badenoch* joins Lisa for this beautiful conversation about non-judgmental presence and how this is so critical in our role as therapists.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How, as a profession, we've become concretized into the left hemisphere (e.g., in a movement toward protocols, interventions, and evidence-based therapies) and how this has pulled us more into the role of experts trying to "fix" people;
What holding a “non-judgement” presence means;
What the “inner community” is, how to be aware and work with our inner community in order to be present with our clients;
How to return to a non-judgmental presence in moments when we experience judgment (and how to even recognize when we’re in a place of judgment);
The 2 pillars of non-judgmental presence and the importance of this in our work; and
How to engage in our own reflective processes and having supportive others who can truly hold a nonjudgmental space for you.

Listen to this beautiful conversation that gets us back into the right hemisphere in our work as therapists and back to trusting the wisdom of the client in their own healing process. Discover how to bring more non-judgmental presence in your clinical work and how to offer this same space for yourself.

Bonnie is moving toward retirement, and we’re so grateful that she could join. Thank you Bonnie and much love on the journey 🙏💕

Bonnie Badenoch, LMFT, has been a therapist, mentor, teacher, and author, spending the last 17 years integrating the discoveries of relational neuroscience into the art of therapy. In 2008, she co-founded the nonprofit agency Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind* to offer this work to the community of therapists, healthcare providers, and others interested in becoming therapeutic presences in the world. For 30 she has supported trauma survivors and those with significant attachment wounds to reshape their neural landscapes for a life of meaning, resilience, and warm relationships.

Her conviction that wisdom about the relational brain can support healing experiences for people at every age led to the publication of Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology in 2008 and The Brain-Savvy Therapist’s Workbook in 2011. Bonnie’s latest writing is The Heart of Trauma: Healing the Embodied Brain in the Context of Relationships (2017). These books seek to build a bridge between science and practice with clarity, compassion, and heart.

Original Air Date: July 20, 2021

Lisa is joined by guest Lynn Louise Wonders. Lynn is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Professional Mentor and Supervisor, Career, Parenting and Relationship Coach at Wonders Counseling Services, LLC. She’s an expert in navigating high conflict divorce and custody cases.

Listen as Lisa and Lynn Louise discuss how to not get caught in the crossfire of high conflict divorce, what your role is as the child’s therapist, and how to be present for the child so ultimately the child can know their own self and truth in what can be a highly stressful and chaotic situation.

Plus, you’ll find out how to …

✅ Be proactive and prepared so you don't find yourself stuck in these often challenging and painful situations such as getting quality training, reading articles and books, and having consultation experts and seasoned supervisors on speed dial.

✅ Keep attuned to the ever-changing status of your own "band-width" when working with high conflict casts. Learn how to put your own self-care first. Practice grounding and shifting into neutral gear.

✅ Not let parents at war hook you into the chaotic energy of their high conflict (whether they throw that hook at you intentionally or unintentionally).

✅ How to maintain the child's therapy as their “oasis” when parents are at war and be the “oasis keeper” for the child. 💗 Know your role and stay in your role, and practice this over and over again during the client case.

*Lynn Louise Wonders (www.wonderscounseling.com) is a licensed and certified professional counselor supervisor in Georgia and a registered play therapist supervisor. She is an author, trainer and professional consultant to child and family therapists around the world. She has helped thousands of therapists learn how to bridge and blend non-directive and directive play therapy approaches prescriptively through her in person and online training events since 2010. She has additional background as a yoga and meditation teacher since 1995.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. *

💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy

Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.
Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa’s next guest has so many amazing contributions to the field of play therapy. Terry Kottman is the founder of Adlerian Play Therapy and the League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists. She is an unbelievably fun and engaging presenter and author who teaches around the world and writes about so many different aspects of play therapy. In 2014, she was granted a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Play Therapy; in 2017, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Association for Play Therapy; and in 2020, she received a third Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Society for Adlerian Psychology (…she seems to be collecting them).

In this episode, Terry will take you into the world of Adlerian Therapy and share how she developed Adlerian Play Therapy.

You’ll also learn:

How to bring more of YOU into your client’s sessions;
How to custom-design your sessions to meet your client’s unique needs;
How to enhance your client’s insight into themselves and what it means to “spit in the client’s soup;”
How to navigate the client’s process when phases of the therapeutic work are not discrete; and
How to attune not just to your client, but to their entire treatment process (a meta-attunement of sorts).

Listen to the brilliant words of Terry Kottman and feel inspired and jazzed about play therapy and the work you’re doing with your clients.

Original Air Date: October 30, 2017

Play therapy is an evolving field with new ideas around every corner. And each theory - new and old - has something to offer. Seeking knowledge improves your practice and benefits your clients (and yourself). As play therapists, it is important to embrace the idea that growth really never ends. The moment we believe we have figured it out is precisely the moment that we stop growing.

"The moment we believe we have figured it out is precisely the moment we stop growing" - Lisa Dion

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜 Join our Newsletter 💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

*Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Wondering what bibliotherapy is or how to incorporate it in your client sessions? Lisa has invited another special guest to talk about using bibliotherapy with kids. Althea T. Simpson is the founder of Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions and Unicorn Life Training. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator, and host of the podcast Chronicles of a Play Therapist. She's all about innovative solutions for mental health and her creativity has been such a blessing and inspiration to the play therapy field (thank you Althea!).

In this episode, discover how all books can be therapeutic and the many ways to be creative in using bibliotherapy with your clients including:

How bibliotherapy helps children find their way through psychological, emotional, and social problems;
How to choose books relevant to a client's personal situation and developmental needs;
How to use bibliotherapy through a Teletherapy platform; and
How to engage children in activities that help them reflect on what they read, including art-based expressions, LEGO, sand tray, journal writing, and group discussion.

Althea also shares some of the books that she loves to have in her playroom including the book she would have if she could only have one book. Plus, learn about her own recently published book - "Hurt to Healing: Child Witnesses of Domestic Violence and Their Invisible Injuries" and how it blended her professional and personal life experiences.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: May 31, 2018

As play therapists, we're often taught to check ourselves at the door. But, when the child's challenges reflect our own, this is difficult for even the most seasoned clinician. What happens when we embrace the mirror and tap into our humanness? You just might experience some of the most powerful sessions when you see yourself in your client's struggle.

"The fear of going towards something in the playroom is a reflection of a wound in us that hasn't healed." - Lisa Dion

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

If you’ve ever studied with Lisa, you know she loves talking about the nervous system. And in this episode, she’s going to talk about the collective nervous systems within families and how to help support the regulation of the family system.

If you’re just as excited about this topic as Lisa, you’ll definitely want to take notes for this one …

Here’s what you’ll hear …

How nervous system expressions occur within the context of families;
How all behavior (even what we term as dysfunctional) is actually functional and has a purpose;
How the family system is always in balance and how it is always attempting to equilibrate itself;
How to become the external regulator to help regulate the family nervous system; and
How to use this information clinically to inform your therapeutic work.

Plus, learn a powerful tip that will help you shift the collective nervous system of the family unit in a most transformative way.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: June 3, 2020

"To overcome systems of oppression that want institutional racism to be invisible, we need to name it! ... And make it explicit!" - Nora Alwah

What is social justice? What is oppression? What is intersectionality? Join Lisa Dion and as she invites Nora Alwah, social justice educator and therapist, to explore these questions and offer guidance to therapists on how they can support children and families in ways that create connection, attunement and empowerment.

Nora Alwah is a queer cis-woman of color, and an immigrant from Denmark and Comoros. Nora is passionate about fiercely challenging systemic oppression and empowering people to reclaim their unapologetic truth and innate power. She is a somatic psychotherapist, a social justice educator and adjunct faculty at Naropa University. In her private practice, Nora specializes in working with marginalized populations, including people of color, bilingual individuals, immigrants, queer people, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Visit her website: www.noraalwah.com

*💜Join Our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa is joined by an incredibly important person in her life - an individual that she is excited to introduce you to (...someone outside the field of play therapy that you may not have heard of) - Jayson Gaddis is an author, podcaster, speaker, “personal trainer for relationships”, and is a global leader on interpersonal conflict and connection.

In this podcast episode, they explore conflict and how it shows up in all our relationships - the relationships we have with our clients, their parents/caregivers, and in our personal relationships. Here's what you'll learn ...

The two reasons why conflict is so hard to talk about;
A new view/understanding of conflict that you've likely not considered before;
Why being overly-careful in relationships is a disservice, even in your therapeutic relationships;
How to lean into the uncomfortable experience of conflict and embrace conflict in all relationships);
How to recognize and start to work with your own activation (transference/countertransference) within your relationships; and
Tips to navigate hard conversations in both personal and professional relationships (including what L.U.F.U stands for and the 3 most impactful words you can say to transform any relationship).

You’ll also hear Jayson and Lisa role play and model what these hard conversations can look and feel like - super fun!

Plus hear/read one of the coolest and funniest bios of this entire podcast series Jayson Gaddis got tired of complaining that street-level relationship skills are not taught in school, so he founded The Relationship School®, an impact-based company dedicated to helping individuals, couples and teams work out their differences in order to have indestructible relationships. He is the creator of Interpersonal Intelligence® and Present Centered Relationship Coaching® and the Getting To Zero Method™. His new book Getting to Zero: How to work Through Conflict In Your High Stakes Relationships was voted Editors Choice, Best non-fiction, and Best Leadership and Business book in 2021 on Amazon. He’s been married to his amazing wife since 2007 and has two beautiful kids. They live in Boulder, Colorado. When he doesn’t live and breathe this relationship stuff with his family, he pretty much gets his ass handed to him.

Jayson Gaddis: https://www.jaysongaddis.com

The Relationship School -https://relationshipschool.com

Getting to Zero: https://www.gettingtozerobook.com

Relationship Mastery (RM):https://relationshipschool.com/relationshipmastery

Certified Relationship Coach Training (RCT): https://relationshipschool.com/level1-rct/

Original Air Date: February 19, 2020

"Whatever the lie a child tells, it's all part of a protective pattern. And protective patterns are never right or wrong." - Lisa Dion

While lying often gets a bad rap, everybody lies (yep, even you!). In fact, it has less to do with manipulation and more to do with protection of self. In other words, lying has a purpose. As therapists, it's up to us to recognize the feelings underneath the fib.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa is joined by Cary Hamilton, another amazing guest, for a conversation that will transform your work with parents/caregivers who have children with neurodiverse or sensory processing challenges.

Cary is the Director of Play Therapy at Antioch University in Seattle, Owner of a group practice clinic - Olympia Therapy and current President of the Washington Association for Play Therapy. She is an author and international presenter on Neurodiversity and Sensory Sensitivities and Play Therapy for the last 10 years. Also check out her educational platform called Playful Wisdom that offers real-world guidance to help parents develop their inner know-how and bring back the joy of being a parent.

Hear how to take parents and caregivers from a place of overwhelm, confusion and disempowerment to a place of curiosity and deep connection to their child. Plus, hear some of Cary (and Lisa’s) lived experiences, while learning:

How to support parents/caregivers in trusting their intuition about what their child needs and empower them in their child's healing process;
How to engage parents/caregivers when they are feeling shutdown, hopeless, or scared to engage (...Cary gives us an amazing question to ask parents/caregivers that helps them feel complete support and acceptance in spite of their struggles);
How to address systemic challenges in the family (e.g., differences in understanding/opinion between partners, sibling perceptions, marital stress, etc.); and
How to trust the child's lead in knowing what their body needs to regulate their own dysregulation.

Understand neurodiversity and sensory processing challenges at a much deeper level and grab some beautiful nuggets/insights in this most heartfelt and honest conversation.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜 Join our Newsletter 💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

*Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: September 23, 2020

"It's about the therapist's ability to attune in order to facilitate a process of attunement and playful touch between caregiver and infant." - Janet Courtney

Traditional play therapy targets children ages 3 and older, but what about the children who aren't yet three? How do we help these children?

Join Lisa as she talks about infant mental health with special guest, Dr. Janet Courtney- founder of FirstPlay Therapy. Together they explore the biggest myth related to infants, the significance of implicit memory and most importantly, how clinicians can support healing and re-patterning for these very special little people.

Janet Courtney, PhD, LCSW, Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, is Founder of FirstPlay® Therapy which is offered for two different developmental levels including “FirstPlay® Developmental Infant Play Therapy” for ages birth to 2 years, and FirstPlay Kinesthetic Storytelling®” for children ages 3 years and older. Dr. Courtney is author and Editor of the groundbreaking books, “Infant Play Therapy: Foundations, Models, Programs, and Practice,” “Touch in Child Counseling and Play Therapy: An Ethical and Clinical Guide,” and “Healing Child and Family Trauma through Expressive and Play Therapies: Art, Nature, Storytelling, Body, and Mindfulness.” Dr. Courtney specializes in the areas of attachment and infant mental health and infant play therapy and offers a certification training to practitioners in FirstPlay® Therapy.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Join Lisa in exploring a topic that is relevant to every single person on the planet and particularly inspired by a conversation Lisa had with her daughter who is now almost 17 years old.

In this Lessons from the Playroom episode, you are invited to think about self-esteem in a new or different way so you can support your clients at a deeper level when self-esteem is the thing they are struggling with. Learn more about ….

A new reframe on understanding self-worth and how it translates to our work with clients;
Why everyone has both low and high self-esteem (and the purpose of it);
The correlation between self-worth and nervous system activation;
How to support clients who feel they are struggling with low self-esteem/self-worth; and
How to support parents/caregivers when they are the ones struggling with feeling not good enough and like an inadequate parent/caregiver.

Plus, you’ll hear a 17-year-old's amazing definition of what "high self-esteem" can look like and feel like and what "low self-esteem" can look like and feel like- it just might be the best nugget of the entire podcast!

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: July 25, 2018

All of us have moments when we doubt ourselves. Moments when we shake our heads in frustration. Moments when we have no idea what we're doing. But challenges in the playroom are a necessity - they allow us to master new techniques and broaden our skills. Find out why getting it wrong, might just be right

"Challenges and discomforts are necessities of growth." - Lisa Dion

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this Lessons from the Playroom episode, Lisa again is joined by Andrea Davidson, Johanna Simmons, and Rachel Freeburg - three Certified Synergetic Play Therapists … but this time for a discussion on messes in the playroom and messy play - ooh, so much fun!

Tune in as they explore:

How to explain and normalize to parents/caregivers that messes are ok;
How to turn messes in the playroom into opportunities for boundaries, containment, and growth;
Ways to support children when they need the expression or sensory experience of messy play;
When to have a child clean up or not when messes happen (hint: it’s about the child's treatment goals);
Strategies for you as the therapist to stay in your window of tolerance with messes or messy play; and
Understanding messes from the experience of Nervous System regulation/dysregulation.

*Special guests: Certified Synergetic Play Therapists, Andrea Davidson (Colorado), Johanna Simmons (Vancouver, British Columbia), and Rachel Freeburg (Oregon).

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: September 14, 2021

Lisa Dion is joined by special guest Dr. David Crenshaw for a touching and heartfelt conversation about Finding the Hidden Gifts Within Children, especially those who have been deeply mistreated and hurt.

In this episode, David reminds you that children who have been wounded so often present with many protective patterns that often hide their inner treasures, talents, strengths, and deeper qualities about themselves.

And at times, these patterns are so strong in the child, that you might get easily swayed, become confused, or forget that they are protective strategies … Forgetting that under all that shutdown, back talk, aggressive behavior, or resistance, is the child’s true self - their virtues, their essence, their wholeness.

Listen as David shares his wisdom and some of the lessons learned from his 53 years in the field - and a key message to always look for the treasures buried within.

*David A. Crenshaw, Ph.D. is Clinical Director of the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie He is Past-President of the New York Association for Play Therapy, a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist; a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychology, and a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor. He has received several Lifetime Achievement Awards including most recently in 2021 by the Association for Play Therapy. He is the author/editor/co-editor of numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles on child aggression, play therapy and child trauma.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Join Lisa and Carmen Jimenez-Pride in a conversation about a topic that has never been talked about so far in this entire podcast series - Internal Family Systems (IFS) and how to incorporate it in the playroom.

In this episode, Carmen, a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and an Internal Family Systems therapist herself, shares how the Internal Family Systems framework offers a really cool way to hold the client’s experience in the playroom, as well as our experience as therapists. Whether you are or aren’t familiar with IFS, you will definitely want to have a listen!

Here’s a few things you’ll hear discussed in this conversation:

What IFS looks like in the playroom and for our child clients;
How to help your clients build a relationship with all parts of themselves (e.g., exiles, protectors, and firefighters);
How to support the client in fully embracing all aspects of themselves and the experiences that made them who they are;
How to share the IFS work with parents/caregivers and how to help parents understand their own parts and protective systems;
How to recognize our parts as therapists and how they can show up in the playroom as well; and
One of the biggest lies that play therapists may tell themselves and how this can be so challenging to our own emotional wellbeing.

Plus, you’ll hear a funny story about Carmen … how she did not want to be a therapist - What?! And how she did end up starting her clinical and play therapist journey. On behalf of the field, thanks Carmen for going this direction and all you've been doing for communities, families and kids! You’re such an inspiration to so many!

Don’t know Carmen yet? …. She’s the founder and Executive Director of Outspoken Counseling and Consulting and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Certified EMDR Therapist, Internal Family Systems Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Registered Children Yoga Teacher, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, and LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator. She’s an international speaker, award-winning best-selling author, and business consultant, as well as a visionary in the play therapy community. You may also recognize her for creating the Diversity in Play Therapy Summit*, which has brought together so many brilliant minds working to effect change within the practice of play therapy by increasing cultural awareness and cultural competence for healers working with diverse populations.

.

.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: February 14, 2017

Go back to the beginning in this very first Lessons from the Playroom podcast episode 💜✨

....Because without learning about ourselves as the most important toy, we miss part of the magic in the playroom and we miss understanding how play therapy actually works.

In this podcast, Lisa Dion will explore why not recognizing our own internal states cuts off access to a deeper level of intuitive knowledge available to us during the play and leaves us missing out on the ability to fully connect with the child.

Additional Resources:

Authenticity in the Playroom blog
Online Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy 6-month course
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this episode, Lisa talks about a most tender subject- the “shoulds” and “should nots” that we all have as clinicians – you probably know what we’re talking about … they show up in the playroom, when working with parents and caregivers, and in our personal lives. It’s our own judgments of ourselves, and the sometimes constant brain noise that we have.

Once again, Lisa has invited two very important people to join her – Helen Ritchie and Kristina Dixon, two Certified Synergetic Play Therapists.

Join in this deeply personal conversation about exploring our shoulds and should nots (you know - “I should stay calm when a child is dysregulated,” “I should not emotionally flood,” “I shouldn’t feel lost or confused in the play,” or “I should be able to manage the collective nervous system of the world”).

Here's what you’ll hear in this episode:

Why shoulds and unmet expectations register as a threat to the brain;
The different “shoulds” that relate to the experience of being a clinician (…you’ll hear several, but what are your own that come up in your practice and life?);
What to do when we experience a “should” or “should not” (in our therapy sessions, with parents/caregivers, etc.) and how to take care of ourselves in those moments;
Explore the “shoulds”/”should nots” for newer therapists and how to overcome the “Am I ok?” challenges of starting out in the field; and
Find out how the “shoulds”/”should nots” even show up for seasoned therapists (… Lisa even shares some of her own)

Listen and come back to a more deeply rooted trust in yourself as a play therapist and the amazing work that you do each and every day. Big hugs and much love on the journey!

Additional Resources:

Breaking Out of the Shoulds Short Video (1:58)
4 Threats to the Brain: Shoulds & Unmet Expectations (4:44)
Blog: When You "Should" Yourself, It's a Betrayal to Your Authentic Self

Original Air Date: October 16, 2017

Dustin Baker joins Lisa to talk about sexual identity and sexual orientation in the playroom - a topic not discussed often enough in the field of play therapy. Learn how embracing these topics benefits our clients. After all, children are colorful (and so are we).

Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

1:45 Lisa introduces Dustin Copenhefer

2:49 The need for more play therapy resources on gender orientation and identity

3:15 Sexual identity versus sexual orientation

4:15 The importance of multi-cultural counseling

6:10 The importance of staying curious

7:45 How play appreciates the uniqueness of people

8:36 Different is normal

9:56 What does this look like in the playroom? Where can play therapists start?

10:50 How can you let children know that they're in a safe place?

11:40 "All of you is welcome"

12:30 The importance of dress-up items

13:30 What you make available in the playroom is a message to kids on where you're willing to go

15:40 "Knowing" and "investigating" on your part aren't important - allow the process to unfold on its own

17:00 Addressing these issues in adolescence

17:15 The gender abacus

20:15 How can you help create the resources that are needed?

20:30 Working with parents

21:30 How can you avoid assumptions and diversify your thoughts?

23:15 What happens when the parent or parents struggle?

24:10 Why is timing between you and your client so important?

26:00 Acknowledging where the parents are in the process

27:00 Serving as a model for the parent

28:05 Kids are colorful - embrace that color in them and in yourself

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa has a really special guest joining her for this episode and they’re doing something different today … It’s time to talk about business! - One of the most important topics we don’t talk much about as therapists. And to help Lisa out with this conversation, she has Jen Taylor who’s going to be interviewing her on her business journey.

If you’ve ever wondered about Lisa and her entrepreneurial journey, what it took for her to build the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute or create this podcast, get ready for an insightful and inspiring conversation where you’ll get to know Lisa a little more and get some business insights along the way.

Tune in and hear the answers to some very fun questions such as:

What was Lisa like as a child and how did this influence her becoming a business owner and entrepreneur?
How did Lisa hone her craft as a teacher (...and some tricks she uses to manage the anxiety she has before she teaches or gets on stage- yes she still gets anxious!)?
How did Lisa give herself permission to go after her dreams? (and ways you can too!)
How did Lisa learn to tackle and work with her fears?
How did Lisa reconcile the challenge and conflicting feelings of wanting to be of service and make money at the same time?
How did Lisa come to learn about the ins-and-outs of business as a therapist? (...because it’s not something we learn in graduate school)
Why does she spend money on learning about business (the same way we do as therapists for training and certifications) and why did she take the same business course 4 times?
What was the most valuable lesson Lisa learned as she reflected on some of the biggest unsuccessful business decisions she’s ever made on her entrepreneurial journey?

Plus, hear answers to some more personal questions like:

What is one of her favorite business books;
Her biggest pet peeve on the business journey;
The worst business advice she’s ever received; and
The best advice she would give her younger self now.

Listen to this episode and learn insight’s from Lisa’s journey on how to manage some of the learning curves, detours, and clunkiness of having a business, while continuing to stay focused on your dreams as the deepest expression of yourself.

And if you want more, join Lisa for The Business of Therapy, a 2.5 day live (and virtual hybrid) course on Nov 11-13, 2022. Lisa is so excited to get therapists in a room to teach them, not only the nuts and bolts of the business of therapy, but the psychology of being an entrepreneur - come learn how to write the book, launch the podcast, start your private practice or take your existing business to the next level! And something we do well as therapists is be in community - rallying around each other, playing, and bringing the conversation of business to life.

Some of you might be very familiar with Jen Taylor. She's done amazing things in this world and to support play therapists worldwide. She’s a therapist, teacher and writer. She originally launched the Play Therapy Summit a few years ago and she's been a previous guest talking about cooperative games. Find her here.*

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Original Air Date: May 16, 2018

"We can't promise to keep kids safe from tragedy, but we can promise to have a plan." - Lisa Dion

Tragedy is an inevitability of life, no matter how much we wish it wasn't. No one is immune, including kids. But heartbreak can bring about a myriad of emotions, inside and outside of the playroom. We can't always keep kids safe, but we can reduce their fear of the unknown.

Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

1:40 How do we help children who have lost their sense of safety or the sense of safety in the community?

2:25 How do we help parents allay their own fears?

3:24 The importance of not rescuing

3:50 What are some dangers of rescuing the child?

5:42 We can’t always keep kids safe no matter how much we wish we could

6:45 How can we help a child find safety internally?

7:49 The goal of healing is to empower and help the child regain their neuroception of safety

8:50 Why should we avoid making assumptions that people feel a certain way about tragic events?

10:30 Tragedy comes with a full range of emotions, both expected and unexpected

12:18 Encouraging parents to discuss the full range of emotions

12:42 Emotions are fleeting and can change day by day or many times a day

13:20 Parents and therapists must honor whatever feelings emerge

14:20 How do we discover what part of the tragedy is most traumatic for the child?

16:24 Helping a child integrate means avoiding blame

18:00 How do we allow children to access their deeper level of emotions?

18:39 Giving yourself permission to be open to different reactions

21:19 Why is having a plan so vital?

21:45 How can we help parents form this plan?

22:50 How do we maximize the sense of safety?

Episode resource:

Tragedy: Why No One-Emotion-Fits-All Blog
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Mailing List💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Another amazing guest is joining Lisa Dion for this Lessons from the Playroom episode - Dr. Bonnie Goldstein. As a faculty member at Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, she’s taken Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and applied it to children*

…. Fun story - Bonnie and Lisa had a random (but not random 😉) meeting in Melbourne, Australia in 2019 at the Australian Childhood Foundation's world-renowned trauma conference. They both found themselves at the same dinner one night, and by the end, the two were cuddled up, holding hands and laughing - it was an immediate “Hi! I like you”- connection ✨

Join Bonnie and Lisa as they talk about how to bring the body more into your therapy practice to empower your child clients. You’ll hear:

How to utilize your own sense of self in your work with clients through embedded relational mindfulness techniques;
How the body influences the mind and how mindfulness and mind-body awareness come together to shift a client's narrative;
How to bring in collaborative curiosity into your therapeutic work with children;
Different techniques to help clients get into their bodies after experiencing trauma including the "choo-choo train" activity;
How to read the client's story through the aliveness of the body; and
How to more accurately attune to your body to then be able to attune to your client's body as the most important "toy" in the room.

Throughout, you’ll hear so many client stories that will really help give you a sense for how you can bring sensorimotor work into your therapeutic practice. And you’ll also get to meet Bonnie's co-therapist who helps her out in some of her client sessions. 💕

The focus of Dr. Bonnie Goldstein’s work is to foster and heal relationships through the lens of attachment theory, somatic and mindful awareness, and the dynamic interaction of group psychotherapy. Dr. Goldstein is the founder/director of the Lifespan Psychological Center* and a faculty member at the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. She’s authored and co-authored several publications over the years and, what’s really cool is that she has a manuscript right now at Norton Publishing where she and Pat Ogden wrote a book on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Children.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

This next Lessons from the Playroom topic is near and dear to Lisa's heart as she is a Certified Gestalt Therapist and Gestalt is one of the root theories of Synergetic Play Therapy. And not only is the topic important to Lisa, but so is her guest. She is one of the Gestalt Play Therapy experts on the planet. Yes, we’re talking about Felicia Carrol.

Felicia Carrol is a LMFT, RPT-S, and founder/director of the West Coast Institute for Gestalt Therapy with Children and Adolescents - she is an international educator and the list of countries where she has done training would take the entire podcast to share. She's published several chapters and articles to support the play therapy field. Felicia was also a direct student and dear friend of Violet Oaklander who passed away in 2021.

Join Lisa and Felicia in a most grounding and heartfelt conversation where you’ll:

Hear the background story of Gestalt Play Therapy including Violet Oaklander's amazing contributions to the field of play therapy;
Become familiar with the wisdom of Gestalt Play Therapy, it's paradigm, and the 4 Pillars that Violet Oaklander created to form its structure;
Discover (or rediscover) some often overlooked and powerful concepts that you might not be including in your therapy practice such as "being for” your client, the "self-nurturing" technique, and the benefit of establishing a dialogic relationship with your client;
Learn one of the biggest misconceptions for Gestalt Play Therapy, as well as in the field of play therapy that continues to prevail today (hint: it’s about directive vs. non-directive modalities);
Hear some personal and professional stories about Violet Oaklander - Get to know this lovely human being that made such an impactful difference in the play therapy field!

This podcast is dedicated to Violet Oaklander who took her final breath on September 21, 2021 at the age of 94. She was a child and adolescent therapist known for her method of integrating Gestalt Therapy theory and practice with play therapy. She wrote the groundbreaking book, "Windows to Our Children," which put the play therapy world on its side.

Listen to today's episode and come back to your roots as a play therapist. Thank you, thank you, thank you Felicia!

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this Lessons from the Playroom podcast, Lisa clarifies one of the biggest misconceptions out there right now for parents and therapists - that regulation means being CALM.

...You’ve likely heard the idea that a child needs a calm adult in order to regulate - that in order to regulate, the adult needs to be and stay calm - or that an adult's "calm" presence is the answer to regulating a child when they are dysregulated.

But if you’ve ever tried to truly stay calm when a child is activated, screaming, throwing a tantrum, doing something scary, or even shutting down and withdrawing, you know that it's actually really hard to be or stay calm (... nearly impossible) because inside you’re likely feeling your own activation and states of dysregulation.

So what do we do instead? ....

Join Lisa is this discussion and learn:

What regulation is and what it isn't (defining regulation in relation to the autonomic nervous system);
How to access our ventral state in the midst of a child's dysregulation;
What regulation (and co-regulation) really looks like in the moment (... hint: it's not to calm them down or try to look calm as the adult to calm them down);
Why regulation is not better than dysregulation (calm is not better than mad or anxious for example) - it's all information and both are necessary for integration and learning how to regulate;
How the impulse to get a child to "calm down" has very little to do with the child and everything to do with us and our inability in the moment to access our ventral state;
The key to not setting ourselves up for shame and helplessness as parents/caregivers and therapists when our children or child clients are dysregulated, flooded, and overwhelmed;
A new definition of emotional intelligence and a new way to cultivate emotional intelligence for children by helping them connect to themselves and access their ventral in the midst of all that activation.

Let's put the word "calm" in the drawer for a little while ... Not forever because calm is an important state of the nervous system and just as important as all the other ones ... But just for a little while because we've become overly attached to the word...

… And consider replacing "calm" with the word "connect." - To connect to ourselves in our own moments of dysregulation and when we're with a child that is starting to get activated and dysregulated.

And next time we read or hear something that says a child needs a calm adult when they're having a hard time or are dysregulated, pause for a second and understand that what a child really needs is an adult that can connect to ventral, to themselves, be honest about their internal experience, not need to runaway from it, but knows how to be in it without losing themselves - not for the adult to pretend they are calm when inside they're having a really challenging time.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa Dion met her next guest at her very first APT conference. She was doing a presentation on supervision. As Lisa sat in her course, she remembers thinking, “Who is this woman?! Wow!” She was so captivated by her and her teaching.

And today, Lisa is delighted to be joined by Paris Goodyear-Brown, the creator of the TraumaPlay™ model, the founder and Clinical Director of Nurture House, and the Executive Director of the TraumaPlay™ Institute. She is an internationally renowned speaker, a prolific author, and a master clinician.

Join them as they talk about how holding hard stories can be complicated, challenging, and at times confusing especially when your own stuff as a therapist comes up … Because in a sense, we’re all dedicated (... probably not consciously) to a lifelong inner-process and journey of self reflection and discovery as a way of being in service to others …

Learn more about how knowing many play therapy modalities helps you to be able to say "yes, yes, and yes" to all the clients that walk in your doors;
How to hold both your client's stories and your own stories in connected, fun and compassionate ways;
Learn more about TraumaPlay and this beautiful idea of the "cascade of care" and the "Play Therapist Pallett" technique as ways to mitigate hearing hard stories;
Ways to practice self-care as a therapist and "detox" the trauma energy after a session;
How to help parents/caregivers hold their own and their child's hard stories, especially when grief and gratitude doesn't go hand-in-hand.

Listen to today's episode and discover not only how to show up for yourself and your clients in ways that are connected and compassionate, but a way of walking alongside your clients as they “tell” their hard stories.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Join Lisa Dion for a most beautiful and eye-opening (and, unfortunately, so relevant to what’s happening in the world right now) conversation with someone very dear to her about understanding the experience of immigrants and refugees.

Liliana Baylon is a bilingual (English-Spanish), bicultural therapist and Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor. And today she talks with Lisa about understanding the experience of immigrant and refugee families, and some really important things to be aware of that will widen your cultural lens and shape how you work with your clients.

Liliana will share insights from her own journey, as well as how this has led to her interest and niche in treating couples and children who have experienced trauma/abuse and multicultural issues from an attachment lens. Here’s what you’ll hear in Lisa’s conversation with Liliana…

Understand the experience and challenges of immigrants and refugees;
How to support immigrant and refugee clients with a process of grieving - becoming aware of their journey, perceived challenges, and giving language to organize what they are going through (e.g., their emotions, needs and hopes);
Understand the nervous system experience of immigrants/refugees and what it means for their identity and their internal/external sense of safety;
Learn the perceptions of immigrants and refugees from the SPT concept of the 4 threats to the brain - physical safety, perceptions of the unknown, incongruence in the environment, and shoulds/unmet expectations;
How to hold the family when there has been intergenerational disruptions and support them in repairing the ruptures and coming back together;
Understand the crisis that an immigrant or refugee is faced with regarding their "global perspective" - their view of self, view of others, and view of the world; and
How to hold space for clients with the intention of helping them answer the questions: “Who am I?”, “What do I want?”, “What is important to me?”, “What are my values?”, and “How can I be myself in my many worlds/cultures?”

As you listen, you’re invited to pause and notice what comes up for you ... Noticing moments where you might feel a need to advocate, fix, or rescue ... And if you do, consider, as Liliana shares, what possibly might we be taking away from our clients including how this may impact their journey to empowerment - wow, just so powerful!

Listen to today's episode and expand your cultural lens when working with immigrant and refugee clients/families - Take what Liliana shares and become a bit more sensitive, aware, and curious, as well as feel more resourced with your clients when normalizing and speaking to what the experience might have been for them.

Liliana Baylon holds a Master's Degree of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy in addition to being an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Register Play Therapist - Supervisor, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, ICEEFT Certified EFT Therapist, EMDR Certified,* Certified Synergetic Play Therapist - Consultant, Completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, AF-CBT trained, and an Independent Facilitator of the Becoming a Love and Logic Parent Way.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Drumroll please ….. Lisa Dion and her next guest have a super exciting announcement to make (hint: if you’re a teacher, educator, school counselor or work in any way with schools, you’re going to love this 😍)

Join Lisa and Judy Norman, Certified SPT therapist/supervisor and SPT co-teacher as they share the launch of the Synergetic Education™ Institute (https://synergeticeducation.com/). 🎉🙌

...It's been years in the making as they've both seen the profound impact of bringing Synergetic Play Therapy® tenets into schools to support educators, school-based mental health professionals, and educational leaders.

In fact, it's been such a success, Heather Forbes, Founder of Beyond Consequences Institute, "Help for Billy" Author, Speaker, and Developmental Trauma Expert (...many of you may know of her) referred to one of their schools as the most advanced trauma-informed schools she's ever visited! (...wow, thank you Heather 🙏💕).

Not only will you learn more about this new Institute and it’s trainings - a real paradigm shift, but you’ll also hear:

*Ways to collaborate with schools if you’re a play therapist;
How to shift your mindset to help empower educators;
The 5 developmental stages of where an educator is at in the process of meeting children where they are at;
A reframe on what trauma-informed really means at an education level;
How to redefine self-care and help teachers develop a deeper relationship within themselves (SPT-style);
New resources that you can bring into your practice today.

Listen to today's episode and discover why Heather Forbes believes that what Judy and the Synergetic Education™ Institute is doing in the schools is creating “the most [that she has ever visited. - And she has visited a lot!] advanced trauma-informed school(s)” where every student knows “they matter and are important.”

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

This next Lessons from the Playroom guest gave Lisa the most amazing surprise when she jumped on - it filled Lisa with so much joy, delight and an urge to connect … And this is totally what they’re talking about today - how to captivate, engage, be with (along with what to do), and create a playful connection with your child clients during the initial play therapy session.

Lisa is joined by the one and only Liana Lowenstein. Liana is a Registered Clinical Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist - Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto, Canada for 32 years. She has 12 books (and is about to release her 13th!!) used by mental health professionals all over the world.

Join Lisa and Liana in a conversation about:

How to engage children (and their parents/caregivers) in the initial session (Liana will give tons of ideas, games and activities);
Knowing when a child is engaging and what to do if they’re feeling anxious or struggling to connect;
How to bring your play techniques, ideas and activities to life in an attuned way for your clients; and
The significance of “being with” your client in order to facilitate “the doing” aspects of a play therapy session

Listen to today's episode and discover some really, really cool play therapy activities, techniques, strategies and ideas to use with your clients.

**And check out Liana’s newest book, Assessment & Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents & Families (vol. 4) that was just released today - there’s one creative and playful idea after another from so many therapists from around the world - it will fill your mind with so many different possibilities and strategies.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this Lessons from the Playroom episode, Lisa discusses the #1 thing that will get you off track as a therapist ... and it's trying to be someone you’re not!

Despite messages that might suggest differently, authenticity and "being yourself" is not easy and has so many implications for therapists. Join Lisa in a conversation to explore:

How you know when you're trying to be someone you're not;
Why it's so important to be yourself in the playroom;
How to show up most like yourself and embody what feels true for you as a therapist; and
How to access a deeper level of attunement that is needed to support your clients.

Tune in and join Lisa on the journey to learn more about this most essential ingredient to your client’s healing journey - and this time it’s about discovering who you are as a therapist.

*If you'd like to learn how to develop a more embodied practice to support your clients on their healing journey, check out this episode on Interoception & Play Therapy (episode # 91).

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

OMG! - the synergy between Lisa and her next guest is … well, let’s just say, it’s like getting an opportunity to eavesdrop on a beautiful conversation between two brilliant minds!

Kim Barthel is an award winning Occupational Therapist, teacher, and best-selling author who has successfully merged play, Polyvagal Theory and Sensory Processing. Tune in and discover:

*Ways to more deeply understand the body, nervous system activation, and what it looks like in your client;

How to truly understand a child client’s behavior at a deeper level (hint: it has to do with perception and body movement*);

*How to visibly identify confirmation that something has integrated in the child (e.g., their moments of empowerment or deep connection to themselves);

*The biggest misunderstanding about the autonomic nervous system; and

*What regulation truly means, how it’s connected to the body, and ideas for how to regulate more through your own body.

Listen to today's episode and “geek out” with Lisa and Kim on a topic that they both love dearly - Learn how to safely help a child be in their “vessel” and to access a more flexible, adaptable, socially connected, engaged, and playful response through the body.

Kim Barthel*'s mission is to support the conscious evolution of the human spirit. Kim is an award-winning occupational therapist, multi-disciplinary teacher and best-selling author who is active in supporting people in many contexts globally. She is passionate about understanding complex behavior, neurobiology, trauma-sensitive practice, attachment and mental health. Kim has 37+ years of practice in helping people to be their best selves. Join her for her online series - Trauma-Sensitive Practice**.

If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa Dion’s next special guest is a Certified SPT therapist, coach, mom and Yoga instructor. She’s known her for years - all the way back to when Lauren worked in Cape Town, South Africa.

Listen as Lauren Porter and Lisa talk about how to make Yoga a practice that can support you as a therapist and redefine and unpack yoga in a way that maybe you haven’t considered…

...And how getting to know yourself more and experiencing a widening of your window of tolerance for your emotional states can help your practice as a therapist tenfold.

Whether you’re experienced in yoga or not, deepen your understanding of the possibility of how yoga can support you in being with your clients in more embodied ways.

You’ll discover:

What yoga is really about (hint: it’s not to help you feel better)
How yoga gives understanding to both the conceptual world and the embodied YOU
How to overcome the mental, emotional and physical blocks that prevent you (and all of us) from having a lived experience
How to use yoga as a practice for knowing yourself more and why it’s so important to consider if you’re a therapist
How yoga can “hold you” in times of flooding or overwhelm
The connection between yoga and [one of Lisa’s favorite concepts) Interoception
All the ways that a yoga practice can look (...the answer might surprise you)

And before she goes, Lauren guides you through an exercise to unlock the diaphragm (...it’s perfect for when someone says, “take a deep breath” and you can’t - because this absolutely happens sometimes … or more times than we want to count).

Listen to today's episode and expand your capacity for accessing the ventral vagal response so that you’re able to stay connected to yourself with whatever is happening in you and around you (...playroom included).

💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.

Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/*

Happy New Year! To kick off January 2022's first podcast, Lisa Dion is jumping into another most requested topic - Translating the Play to Parents/Caregivers. In this episode you’ll find out why this can be such a challenge for play therapists, but oh-so important!

Learn 4 tips for how to translate the child’s play to parents/ caregivers including how to:

Set the stage early on in the process for parents about what they can expect and to honor/protect the confidentiality of what’s going on in the room with the child client.
Develop or enhance parent buy-in within the therapeutic process.
Translate what the child is doing in the room to the parents (being able to shift from a right-brain experience to a left-brain process)
Maintain congruence and authenticity when explaining to parents what’s happening in the child’s process

Note: If it’s helpful, you might want to return to podcast episode #13 to discover how to set great goals in the playroom.

We know it’s tough work being a play therapist - a gentle reminder to give yourself grace and time in the process, as well as know that you’re doing an amazing job already and it’s good enough - You are the most important toy in the playroom. 💜

.

💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible.
Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

We’re ending the year with our most requested topic - Working With Childhood Sexual Abuse

In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Sueann Kenney-Noziska whose work with sexually abused children and adolescents is absolutely remarkable. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice, she is internationally recognized as an esteemed author, guest lecturer, and professional speaker (... a phenomenal speaker!). Sueann has been educating therapists, courts, and community partners for years regarding the impact of trauma, dynamics of sexual abuse, delayed disclosure, and other matters pertaining to childhood abuse and trauma.

This episode is packed with so much information, you might want a paper and pen to take notes. And join them in a conversation to explore:

Challenges (and rewards) of working with this population
Common dynamics that occur during sexual abuse
The disclosure process and why it’s so hard for children/teenagers to disclose
Ways to support parents in building relationships with their children for future open dialogue/disclosure
How the trauma narrative can look differently for these children and in a play therapy process
Ways to navigate this work while taking care of yourself to prevent vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue

Listen to today's episode and let Sueann’s wisdom give you insight and clarity on working with this very special population through the play therapy process.

💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Have you ever thought about where and how you most connect with your sense of self and innate wisdom?... This next Lessons from the Playroom guest has made it her life’s focus to help her clients do just this (...48 years as a psychotherapist!)

Marie José Dhaese is the founder of Holistic Expressive Therapy and creator of an absolutely amazing and beautiful therapeutic “play home” (See it for yourself. It’s so magical!).

In this episode, Marie José talks about how all of us hold within ourselves an innate kernel of wisdom that drives us to grow into our potential … This view has shaped how she then attends to the nurturing sensory qualities of all environments (indoors and outdoors) and tailors each session to her client’s needs using a variety of expressive therapies.

Learn this unique and special way that Marie José approaches a client’s healing process and discover how to:

Address the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual needs of the client;
Go beyond a specific protocol or intervention and understand the difference between “therapy” and healing;
Facilitate healing not only from the “inside/out” but from the “outside/in;” and
Help clients connect to their inner strengths and resources (before engaging in a deeper exploration of the issues that bring them to therapy.)
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Why is it so hard to let go and surrender to the reality of WHAT IS, in your life?... Join Lisa Dion as she takes you on a reflective journey to answer this very important question (... because we know it’s not easy and, let’s just be honest, can be downright painful!).

In this Lessons from the Playroom episode, learn:

Why it’s so hard to let go and surrender to what is happening in your life
How to not lose yourself when you’re letting go or surrendering
How to become aware and work through the shoulds/unmet expectations and being in the unknown of what it is to create safety
How to work with the resistance and mindfully move into a place of surrendering and letting go
How to fully integrate the experience of letting go/surrendering (including a powerful technique to do so)
💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity
If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
Interested in APT Approved CE credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our play therapy training, available on our learning website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

This next guest, from a young age, wanted to be both a philosopher and a pilot … while life took her down a different path, she has since translated the “mysteries” of EMDR Therapy when working with children for thousands of therapists worldwide ... and taken many of her clients on a journey to places within themselves, giving them wings to soar! 💖

Ana Gomez is the founder of the AGATE Institute and has focused her career on working with complex and developmental trauma, healing generational wounds, and understanding dissociative patterns.

Join Ana Gomez and Lisa Dion in a discussion about EMDR Therapy with kids where Ana gives understanding to:

What is EMDR Therapy and how it can be applied to your child clients;
How to support your child clients in developing a relationship with their inner world;
How attunement is key in the healing process; and
The importance of doing your own “work” as a therapist so that you can accompany your clients on their journeys through their traumas from a more embodied perspective.

Listen to today's episode and receive your “wings” from an extraordinary “pilot” who so beautifully reminds us why we do what we do, the power of this work, and why we continue to show up for our child clients day in and day out.

Ana M Gómez, MC, LPC is the founder and director of the AGATE Institute in Phoenix, AZ. She is a psychotherapist, author, and an international speaker on the use of EMDR therapy with children and adolescents with complex and developmental trauma as well as generational wounds and dissociation. Ana is the author of EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children: Complex Trauma, Attachment and Dissociation* and several book chapters and articles on the use of EMDR therapy with children and adolescents. In addition, she is the author of multiple children’s books and therapeutic tools.

Check out this incredible resource formed by Ana and other amazing EMDR Therapists who are bringing EMDR Therapy into their work with children – the Global Child EMDR Alliance.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

We’re doing something different in this episode! … This time, Lisa is joined by three important people in her life - three Certified Synergetic Play Therapists, for a discussion of some of the challenges we might face as a play therapist.

Take time to pause, reflect and find out what to do when a child/client:

tries to take care of the therapist;
does not turn on their screen during a teletherapy session (and what is really necessary for attunement to occur - the answer might surprise you);
struggles with transitions, including not wanting to leave a parent’s side or not wanting to leave the playroom when it’s time to go.

*Special guests: Certified Synergetic Play Therapists, Andrea Davidson (Colorado), Johanna Simmons (Vancouver, British Columbia), and Rachel Freeburg (Oregon).

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this episode, Lisa is joined by another special therapist - a gem 💖 in the play therapy field (and he’s also a poet 😉) … Marshall Lyles joins Lisa in a discussion that brings new thought, new life, and new excitement to processes and things you may have heard about for years.

Join Lisa and Marshall in conversation about …

The use of Sandtray therapy in healing attachment and trauma;
How attachment styles present for clients (and yourself) in the sandtray;
How to go deeply within yourself through the “sandtray mirror;”
Ways to navigate your own inner landscape and cultivate a “reflective practice;”
And how to further develop yourself as a play therapist through the modalities that you practice.

As a bonus, Marshall also shares his poem, Digging Deeper that he recently shared in the book, Advanced Sandtray Therapy.

Marshall Lyles, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S, lives in the Austin, Texas, area and has 20 years of practice in family and play therapy. Drawing on lessons learned from working with attachment trauma in a variety of mental health settings, Marshall regularly teaches on trauma, expressive therapies, and attachment-informed family work around the globe. He’s published in professional journals and magazines in addition to contributing to several books including recently co-authoring the book Advanced Sandtray Therapy (released in September 2021).

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

A fundamental question of your practice as a play therapist, might be - “How do I support parents/caregivers in becoming the external regulator for their child?”

With this mantra in mind to “treat the parent/caregiver how you would love the parent/caregiver to treat the child,” Lisa Dion tackles this very topic of how to support parents/caregivers in becoming their child’s external regulator.

In this Lessons from the Playroom episode, you’ll learn:

How to support parents/caregivers when they themselves do not already have a template for regulation, or they don’t know how to do it well, or perhaps their own internal disorganization is activating their child’s disorganization and dysregulation.
How to help the parent/caregiver come to see that all behaviors are designed to support regulation (their child’s and their own).
Four things you can do to help support and set the parent/caregiver up for success in becoming the external regulator for their child.
What to do if the parent/caregiver is not quite ready to develop the skills of being the external regulator.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this 102nd episode, Lisa is joined by special guest Dr. David Crenshaw for a touching and heartfelt conversation about Finding the Hidden Gifts Within Children, especially those who have been deeply mistreated and hurt.

In this episode, David reminds you that children who have been wounded so often present with many protective patterns that often hide their inner treasures, talents, strengths, and deeper qualities about themselves.

And at times, these patterns are so strong in the child, that you might get easily swayed, become confused, or forget that they are protective strategies … Forgetting that under all that shutdown, back talk, aggressive behavior, or resistance, is the child’s true self - their virtues, their essence, their wholeness.

Listen as David shares his wisdom and some of the lessons learned from his 53 years in the field - and a key message to always look for the treasures buried within.

*David A. Crenshaw, Ph.D. is Clinical Director of the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie He is Past-President of the New York Association for Play Therapy, a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist; a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychology, and a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor. He has received several Lifetime Achievement Awards including most recently in 2021 by the Association for Play Therapy. He is the author/editor/co-editor of numerous books, book chapters, and journal articles on child aggression, play therapy and child trauma.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

What does it really mean to be culturally competent?...

To help us kick off the next 100 episodes, Lisa is joined by a truly amazing individual who is a leader in our play therapy field - Dr. Eliana Gil. Likely you have heard of her 😉 ... Dr. Eliana Gil is the founding partner of the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery & Education. As one of the pioneers for working with trauma in the play therapy field, she's written several books read by countless therapists worldwide. She's also the former president of the Association for Play Therapy and received APT's Lifetime Achievement award in 2011.

Join Lisa and Eliana in a conversation about:

What it means to become culturally competent as a therapist
Steps to building an anti-racist and culturally-informed practice
Ways to respond when children are exploring racism and cultural issues in the playroom
How to dive deep within yourself to move from not just reflection, but ACTION!

You’re invited to think through how cultural issues can show up in your work as a play therapist. And to get curious about when these conversations need to happen, how to do it authentically, and based on your own training.

Eliana ends with a beautiful message about growing and deepening into your experience as a play therapist.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this 100th episode, the tables are turned once again and Lisa is interviewed about being a "Third Culture Kid" (TCK), what it means, and how it has influenced the creation of Synergetic Play Therapy®.

Lisa is interviewed by Judy Norman, Certified SPT Therapist and mother of two TCKs who also spent over a decade of her adult life living abroad. Join Lisa and Judy as they discuss some of the challenges faced by Third Culture Kids (e.g., identity crisis, lack of sense of belonging, and relational struggles) that can show up in your play therapy session, as well as the many beautiful strengths and gifts that can emerge from the experience of being a Third Culture Kid. They’ll also give you strategies and techniques to connect more deeply with these children, and support them in cultivating a deeper relationship with themselves.

Judy Norman is a Certified SPT Therapist, SPT Supervisor, SPT Consultant, and creator of the Synergetic Approach to Education. Judy is founder of the Braindrops Play Therapy & Wellness LLC. She has been working in some capacity in the field of education for over 20 years, as a School Counselor, a District Social Emotional Learning Coach, and national presenter on creating trauma-sensitive schools. Judy teaches the SPTI course - One Foot in Education: Exploring Education through an SPT Lens.

And join us for the next 100 episodes - new journey, new learning, more deeper and masterful conversations. Join Lisa and special guests as they share with you some of the many lessons they've learned along the way from their own experiences and study, and the lessons they've learned from children they've worked with, so that you can support children in the best ways possible.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Join Lisa as she demystifies working with pre-teens and teens and shares how to apply your play therapy skill set to this population (hint: you actually don't need to change much of what you're already doing). She'll also tell you the reason that we might feel awkward, not good enough, unsure, and confused as therapists when working with this age group, as well as give strategies and techniques to support the pre-teen and teen to discover their authentic self.

If you want more information, check out Lisa's 3-hour course on Pre-Teens and Teens in Play Therapy at https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa is joined by guest Lynn Louise Wonders. Lynn is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Professional Mentor and Supervisor, Career, Parenting and Relationship Coach at Wonders Counseling Services, LLC. She’s an expert in navigating high conflict divorce and custody cases.

Listen as Lisa and Lynn discuss how to not get caught in the crossfire of high conflict divorce, what your role is as the child’s therapist, and how to be present for the child so ultimately the child can know their own self and truth in what can be a highly stressful and chaotic situation.

Plus, you’ll find out how to …

Be proactive and prepared so you don't find yourself stuck in these often challenging and painful situations such as getting quality training, reading articles and books, and having consultation experts and seasoned supervisors on speed dial.
Keep attuned to the ever-changing status of your own "band-width" when working with high conflict casts. Learn how to put your own self-care first.
Practice grounding and shifting into neutral gear. Don't let parents at war hook you into the chaotic energy of their high conflict (whether they throw that hook at you intentionally or unintentionally).
Maintain the child's therapy as their “oasis” when parents are at war and be the “oasis keeper” for the child.
Know your role and stay in your role, and practice this over and over again during the client case.

Lynn Louise Wonders (www.wonderscounseling.com) is a licensed and certified professional counselor supervisor in Georgia and a registered play therapist supervisor. She is an author, trainer and professional consultant to child and family therapists around the world. She has helped thousands of therapists learn how to bridge and blend non-directive and directive play therapy approaches prescriptively through her in person and online training events since 2010. She has additional background as a yoga and meditation teacher since 1995.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Sometimes, saying goodbye can be tricky and emotional for our clients, their families, and ourselves. In this week’s episode, Lisa gives some things to consider and do to support children and families with navigating goodbyes and endings. She’ll discuss how we really know when the child is ready to transition and ways to support the child and their parents/caregivers, especially when they are having a hard time saying goodbye.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

In this newest episode of the Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa discusses three little, but very important questions she’s been asked by therapists from around the world that will expand your work as a play therapist!... 1) What do we do when we see our clients outside of a session? 2) How do we work with imaginary friends? 3) What do we do when a child refuses to do their chores or another activity they are supposed to do? And check out part 1 (episode #57) for more commonly asked "little questions" including what to do with broken toys, having food in the playroom, lying in the playroom, and what to do when a child tries to take a toy home. … Get answers to some of these little questions you might have and may not have learned in graduate school or anywhere else. *💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa discusses the truth about death and dying in the playroom and gives ideas and tips for what to do when these experiences show up in our child client’s play. She gives answers to the many questions therapists have asked such as:

What’s the point of death & dying play for children in the playroom?
How do we stay present with ourselves in the midst of activation and dysregulation when a child offers an experience of death and dying?
How do we deepen into the vulnerability and stay connected to ourselves in what may feel like an uncomfortable experience to promote integration?

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

How do we let parents know, that we know, how important they are in their child’s life? How can we stay grounded and connected to ourselves as play therapists when we find ourselves triggered or activated when working with overwhelmed parents? And how can we offer an “I see you” relational experience for parents that are experiencing complex trauma in their family system?...

Robyn Gobbel joins Lisa in this episode to answer these very questions. Not only do they discuss the value of working with these parents/caregivers and what to do when we feel stuck, but more importantly how to embrace working with parents in the play therapy process, honor the role they play in their child’s lives, and move from “ I should work with parents” to loving and adoring working with parents/families where complex trauma is part of their lives.

Robyn Gobbel is a writer, trainer, speaker, and educator dedicated to understanding why humans behave the way they behave. She teaches parents of children who have experienced trauma how the brain works, why behaviors are simply an externalization of what's happening in the brain, body, and nervous system, and how to respond to children's behaviors in a way that creates healing, not just behavior change. Robyn hosts the Parenting After Trauma podcast. Find her on her website here: https://robyngobbel.com/

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

You’ve likely experienced this at some point … The child that comes to therapy because of a concern of having a difficult time separating. Or the child that struggles to leave their parent/caregiver to go into the playroom … Separation anxiety can often show up in many ways in the play therapy process.

In this latest episode, Lisa discusses what separation anxiety is and what can cause it, how we know when it’s normal or when to seek help, and what play therapists can do to support separation anxiety when it shows up in the playroom.

You'll hear fun and playful rituals that encourage co-regulation between the child and the parent/caregiver and how to encourage the child to develop an internal sense of safety from within.

And you'll get ideas/interventions for what you can do when separation anxiety shows up for your child clients during the play therapy session including how to support the child in widening their window of tolerance for transitions and separations.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Lisa is joined by special guest Jackie Flynn for a conversation on how to make online play therapy a more deeply connected experience for your child clients and their families.

They discuss:

...How you can offer authenticity and co-regulation to the session.

...How to create a sense of safety from the very beginning of the session and connect at deeper levels with your clients.

...How to make it a more meaningful experience for your clients (and yourself).

...And how you can use the fact that children are in their own home to your clinical advantage - the fact that the parents are available, children have access to their own toys, and in their own environment!!

You'll get a plethora of ideas, tips, and resources to help you deepen more into teletherapy .. and, if you’ve been struggling, become a bit more inspired and feel like a play therapist again. (We might suggest having something to take notes while you listen.)

*Jackie Flynn is host of the Play Therapy Community podcast and private Facebook group. She is a Registered Play Therapist, Education Specialist & Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant. She is also host of the Annual Innovative Child Therapy Symposium.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

How do we know when we are grumpy, tired, overheated, or overwhelmed? ... Lisa talks about this 8th sense called Interoception or the "How do we know" sense, which is absolutely critical to enhancing a child's regulatory capacity ...

Why? Because what we see in the playroom is actually not behavioral issues, but really the child's inability to stay connected and regulate through the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). But what does this have to do with Interoception? ...

Regulation and attunement starts with our interoceptive capacity. We can teach children tons of regulation strategies, but if they cannot register the clues that let them know they need to regulate in the first place, what we've done is just handed them tools that they have no clue how or when to use.

And as therapists we need to have this capacity enhanced in us!

Lisa shares ideas for starting to develop the interoceptive capacity in ourselves as therapists and our child clients, in this really important discussion that tells us that our body might actually be the most important toy in the playroom.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Sometimes we think we're feeling, when we're not ... Sometimes we think we're creating space for our clients to feel, when we're not ... And sometimes we are encouraging avoidance when it's hard to stay in our window of tolerance.

Join Lisa in this podcast that's all about reflecting on our own inner experience and gives understanding to this lifelong journey we're all on of learning how to feel at deeper levels so we can help our clients do the same - It's an invitation to look at our relationship with our emotions and how that impacts our clients. As well as getting curious about the parents/caregivers' experience with their own emotional landscape and how to help them to really understand the importance of being with the child's emotions instead of trying to fix/change/make it better.

Other podcasts that might be helpful on your journey of becoming aware of the feelings that you try to numb, avoid, move away from or that tend to flood and make it difficult to stay in your window of tolerance are:

Ep. 88 - Countertransference in Play Therapy

Ep. 76 - Attuning to Body Language in Play Therapy

Ep. 44 - Emotional Flooding: When You Find Yourself Outside Your Window of Tolerance

Ep. 25 - Emotional Flooding in the Playroom

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Sometimes we can get stuck in either/or thinking when it comes to whether we use non-directive or directive play therapy modalities.

But what if we could understand the significance and potential for both? What if we could go beyond to see that one is not better than the other? And what if we could honor that there are many paths to healing and that all theories serve a purpose?

Join Lisa as she discusses how it's possible to combine different theories and approaches, why we might do this, and how to make a decision not based on external pressures, but instead based on the client goals, what the therapist needs, the timeframe, and the context in which the therapist may need to do play therapy.

Because ultimately, both paths will get us to the end result.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Countertransference is not something we can avoid, get out of, check at the door, or even separate from ourselves ... In this episode, Lisa discusses how transference and countertransference is really the therapeutic landscape from which to support our clients in a process of deep integration and healing.

Using a lens of Synergetic Play Therapy®, Lisa offers an understanding of how countertransference is not something to be afraid of, but something that offers incredible wisdom and a window into the inner experiences of our clients. It gives us an opportunity to become curious about our beliefs, both that keep us from being fully present and authentic, and that support us in being more deeply present, more deeply resonant, and ultimately, more deeply attuned.

As beautifully stated by Sebern F. Fisher in her book, Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Calming the Fear-Driven Brain, "Countertransference and transference are always co-arising & co-constructing at the place where the therapist's experience meets that of the patient."

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"With the understanding that a toy can be anything at all, we transcend cultural barriers and socioeconomic status to focus on the relationship and use whatever is in the environment. We also honor that the greatest toy in the playroom is really you, the therapist!" -Lisa Dion

ARE TOYS NECESSARY IN PLAY THERAPY ... In this latest Lessons from the Playroom, we ask the question, are toys really necessary in play therapy? .... Join Lisa in this podcast episode dedicated to therapists around the world who may have limited access to toys.

In this episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa helps us understand what is really at the root of play therapy, what is the purpose of the toy, how to facilitate a child's process even if toys in the traditional sense are not available, and what it really means as the therapist to be the "most important toy in the playroom."

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

Join Lisa Dion and guest Sonya Joyce as they discuss perhaps one of the most important topics in the play therapy process - touch! ...

"Whether we like it or not, touch is a part of the play therapy experience." ... With this in mind, they explore ways to become more mindful and thoughtful about how to bring healing touch to children in the playroom, how to create a neuroception of safety around touch, how to model healthy boundaries and creative ways to bring touch into the child's experience, and the ramifications if healing touch does not happen for our child clients.

Guest Sonya Joyce is a Child/Adolescent Psychotherapist in Ireland, trained in Play and Art Therapy. She offers, "I noticed that children were always leading me into play in my Art therapy sessions and this led me to study play further, firstly dipping my feet in the water with a short course in Therapeutic Play Skills, and then embarking on a 4 year Masters Course in Creative Psychotherapy and Play Therapy with the Children’s Therapy Centre, County Westmeath, Ireland. During this time I began work with an organisation working with children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse."

Sonia is also a mother to 4 children, aged 17, 14 and 11 year old twins and describes this as "the greatest learning experience of all!"

To read the Sonya's full dissertation - "What Did I Do?" - An Exploration of the Inner Experiences of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists When Touch Arises in the Playroom: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/what-did-i-do-when-touch-arises-in-the-playroom/

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"The dysregulation in our body is information about the congruency of our decisions." - Lisa Dion As you enter into 2021, explore how to manifest decisions that are congruent and in alignment with your authentic self. Join Lisa in this unique Lessons from the Playroom podcast that's not just about play therapy ... She'll help you explore how to plan, reflect and make decisions that integrate the left- and right-brain, how to know if you are making a congruent decision, and why there's no such thing as a "bad" decision. *💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"Often the question is, 'Why would we include digital tools in play therapy?" ... But the more important question is, 'Why wouldn't we?!'" -Dr. Jessica Stone *

Join Lisa Dion and special guest, Dr. Jessica Stone, PhD in a lively conversation about demystifying the world of digital play therapy. They explore what digital play therapy is all about, how to speak the digital language of your clients, why we would even include digital tools in our work as play therapists (or more importantly, why wouldn't we?!), and how to take the fundamental tenets of play therapy and apply to the digital world.

Dr. Jessica Stone, PhD is a psychologist, international speaker, sought after clinical supervisor, and renowned play therapist. She is the co-creator of The Virtual Sandtray, a best-selling author, and developer of Digital Play Therapy. Dr. Stone has been featured for her work throughout the virtual world as an innovator, ambassador of play, and stalwart advocate for the use of digital technology in the field of psychology.

We’ve all experienced the “test” in the playroom. Is it personal? Is it not personal? How do we make sense of it?

Lisa discusses this natural occurrence that happens in relationships, the importance of authenticity and congruence (and what that even means), and ultimately how to “show up” when the therapist is “tested.”

Tune in as we discuss what the “test” is really all about and the two very important questions that children are asking – “Can I be me?” and “Will you be you?”

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"When children are disengaged from learning, there is a disconnect between what they are being asked to learn and their interest level, style/way of learning." - Lisa Dion

As we all know, not all children are thriving with online learning. Many children are really struggling as their routines, ability to engage with their peers and so much more has been disrupted. Symptoms such as resistance to schoolwork, boredom, depression, lack of engagement and anger are leaving parents and clinicians scratching their heads trying to help these children who really do want to learn!

Tune is as we discuss what this lack of engagement is really all about and how important it is to address learning styles, a child's interests, and of course, regulation.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"Sensory work requires a co-facilitator and co-regulator, and can be very workable and adaptable even via tele-therapy." -Robert Jason Grant

Join Lisa and special guest Robert Jason Grant as they demystify the world of teletherapy when working with clients that have sensory and neurodevelopmental challenges.

Discover why working with this population doesn't require as much adjustment from in-person to on-line as you might think, as well as how to do a pre-assessment that can be imperative to your success in the process, learn creative strategies and interventions to engage and treat, and why bringing parents into the process is so important.

Dr. Robert Jason Grant, LPC, NCC, Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, and Advanced Certified Autism Specialist specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. He is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy, an ASD and neurodevelopmental disorders approach incorporating play therapy, behavioral therapy, and relationship development approaches. Dr. Grant is an international speaker and keynote presenter having presented for the American Counseling Association, Association for Play Therapy, American Mental Health Counselors Association, and The World Autism Congress. He is a multi-published author of several articles, book chapters, and books. He is currently serving on the board of directors for the Association for Play Therapy.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

To her thousands of listeners around the world, Lisa expresses in gratitude, "Thank you for providing me with a sense of home." ~

It's time to turn the tables! For 80 episodes, Lisa has shared play therapy knowledge and insights, interviewed special guests and helped create discussion and new learning for clinicians all over the world. But who is this person behind the microphone?

In this episode, Lisa is the one in the hot seat as she is interviewed by Katherine Eastlake, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist. Katherine takes Lisa all the way back to her very first play therapy session, the play therapy influences in her life, why she created the Lessons from the Playroom podcast, how the podcast helps her connect to a global feeling of home, and so much more.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"It's about the therapist's ability to attune in order to facilitate a process of attunement and playful touch between caregiver and infant." - Janet Courtney

Traditional play therapy targets children ages 3 and older, but what about the children who aren't yet three? How do we help these children?

Join Lisa as she talks about infant mental health with special guest, Dr. Janet Courtney- founder of FirstPlay Therapy. Together they explore the biggest myth related to infants, the significance of implicit memory and most importantly, how clinicians can support healing and re-patterning for these very special little people.

Janet Courtney, PhD, LCSW, Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, is Founder of FirstPlay® Therapy which is offered for two different developmental levels including “FirstPlay® Developmental Infant Play Therapy” for ages birth to 2 years, and FirstPlay Kinesthetic Storytelling®” for children ages 3 years and older. Dr. Courtney is author and Editor of the groundbreaking books, “Infant Play Therapy: Foundations, Models, Programs, and Practice,” “Touch in Child Counseling and Play Therapy: An Ethical and Clinical Guide,” and “Healing Child and Family Trauma through Expressive and Play Therapies: Art, Nature, Storytelling, Body, and Mindfulness.” Dr. Courtney specializes in the areas of attachment and infant mental health and infant play therapy and offers a certification training to practitioners in FirstPlay® Therapy.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"The more we try to avoid conflict, the more it shows up in our life." - Lisa Dion

Why is conflict so hard to deal with when it arises and something we want to avoid? Listen as Lisa shares what to do when conflict shows up, why it's actually a necessary part of growth, and how to cultivate a relationship within ourselves when it comes up in relationships both in and out of the playroom.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"When a child comes into play therapy, we are not working with their chronological age, but their emotional age." - Lisa Dion

When our clients come to session it is easy to get caught up in thinking that they are their age, when in fact, they are not their age. At least not their chronological age. This episode is dedicated to helping you begin to understand the difference between emotional age and chronological age, a few clues to help you spot emotional age and regression, and how to work with these younger states in both your clients and yourself when they arise in the play room.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"The body never lies. The body is always revealing the truth relative to the individual's perception in any given moment." - Lisa Dion

Learning how to attune to body language, our own and the child's is an essential component for co-regulation in play therapy. Staying in our own window of tolerance to helping the child move towards their own discomfort depends on it. Tune in as we learn how the body never lies and how we can become more adept at listening to its wisdom.

*💜Join our Newsletter💜 https://bit.ly/SPTcommunity

*If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us. Follow Lisa Dion and the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Lisa Dion’s Book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes is available in English, Spanish and on Audible. Find more information and free resources to support you on your play therapist journey at https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/

*Interested in credits and courses delivered to your living room? Take a look at all our classes, available on our learning site: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/

"Let's ask parents, not how they are doing, but what they need and what it is like in their boat." - Clair Mellenthin

From the uncertainty, having to homeschool, working from home, navigating family dynamics, and all the other challenges that parents are being confronted with, it is no wonder that so many are feeling burned out, questioning themselves, and needing extra support. Join Lisa and special guest, Clair Mellenthin, as they talk about how attachment, the many challenges of parenting during the pandemic, and most importantly, how best to support parents in ways where they know they are not alone.

"To overcome systems of oppression that want institutional racism to be invisible, we need to name it! ... And make it explicit!" - Nora Alwah

What is social justice? What is oppression? What is intersectionality? Join Lisa Dion and as she invites Nora Alwah, social justice educator and therapist, to explore these questions and offer guidance to therapists on how they can support children and families in ways that create connection, attunement and empowerment.

Nora Alwah is a queer cis-woman of color, and an immigrant from Denmark and Comoros. Nora is passionate about fiercely challenging systemic oppression and empowering people to reclaim their unapologetic truth and innate power. She is a somatic psychotherapist, a social justice educator and adjunct faculty at Naropa University. In her private practice, Nora specializes in working with marginalized populations, including people of color, bilingual individuals, immigrants, queer people, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Visit her website: www.noraalwah.com

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"All symptoms and behaviors a child displays while anxious are attempts at regulation." - Lisa Dion

When life and situations become unpredictable, children have to orient to the unfamiliar just like adults do. The difference is that their brains are a little further behind in their capacity to regulate through it often leading to high levels of anxiety and other symptoms. Tune is as we explore how to support children through their anxiety and find a sense of security when the unknown arises.

"To the degree you link what's happening in the playroom to the goal, you increase the probability of parent involvement and buy-in." - Lisa Dion

Talking with parents is an important part of the play therapy process, but what do we say? How do we help them understand what their child is working on? How do we communicate in a way that keep them engaged? Tune in as we explore how to check in with our clients' most important people.

"The word compassion means 'to suffer with' or merge with. This is different than empathy." - Lisa Dion

Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are far more common experiences for play therapists than we realize, especially during times of crisis. And how are they further impacted when play therapists are going through the same crisis, such as the COVID19 pandemic? Tune in to this very important conversation that is essential for all play therapists to hear.

"It's normal that you're going through waves of dysregulation right now. All 4 threats to the brain are being activated.- Lisa Dion

During a crisis, such as the current pandemic, waves of dysregulation can often feel like a daily experience and even the norm. Why? Because our brains are not just perceiving one threat, but four! Tune in as we revisit the 4 threats to the brain and learn the impact they may be having on our nervous system, as well as the key to regulating and coming back to yourself in the midst of all the intensity and chaos.

"At the end of the day, teletherapy is about relationship. It's about the experience of connection." - Lisa Dion

Working with children and families virtually can surprisingly cause fatigue for the play therapist. From a difference in non-verbal cues to the way we sit to the lighting in the room, from hydration to whether or not we’re wearing shoes, all sorts of things play a role. Tune in to learn how to make online play therapy synergize with your nervous system.

Podcast Links:

Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 1
Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 2

"The vagus nerve has a crucial part in our overall health and well being." - Lisa Dion

The vagus nerve is one of the most important nerves in your body. Not only is it vital to regulation, but it plays a role in immunity and helps the body recover faster from damage. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to stimulate this nerve and help keep it (and your body) working as optimally as possible.

"When you're connected to nature, it will inform where you can go in the playroom." - Rose LaPierre, LPC, RPT-S, ACS

From the mountains to the trees to the warm summer's breeze, sometimes we just need our Mother Earth. Bringing nature into play therapy provides a wonderful opportunity to further regulate yourself and your client. But you don't always have to be outside to benefit from nature's nurturing tendencies. Join us as we explore the great outdoors once more!

"Whatever the lie a child tells, it's all part of a protective pattern. And protective patterns are never right or wrong." - Lisa Dion

While lying often gets a bad rap, everybody lies (yep, even you!). In fact, it has less to do with manipulation and more to do with protection of self. In other words, lying has a purpose. As therapists, it's up to us to recognize the feelings underneath the fib.

"The object of the same is not to win; the object of the same is to experience playing for the sake of playing." - Jen Taylor, LCSW, RPT-S

Cooperative Games are growing in popularity, likely because of their ability to cultivate teamwork and appreciation of one another. In the playroom, they're used effectively with siblings and families, reminding each player that it's not about winning; it's about the experience.

"One of the best ways to support foster and adoptive parents is to let them grieve." - Lisa Dion

Working with adoptive and foster parents is a rewarding experience, but the lack of education that runs rampant poses a challenge.

As therapists, one of the most important things we can do is fill in the gaps while allowing them the space to grieve.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Presence isn't just about showing up; it's about participating with the fullness of you." - Lisa Dion

Much to Barbie's chagrin, you're the most important toy in the playroom. Still, showing up for a session isn't enough: you must be fully present too. But in order to become present with the child, you must first learn how to be present with yourself.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"How can you embrace your own spirituality, what is meaningful to you, to help a child heal?" - Lisa Dion

Spirituality in the playroom not only means working with clients and families who may hold different belief systems, but it also means finding your own. For some, this is a higher power; for others, play therapy is their spiritual path.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Diet is just another partner in crime contributing to the symptoms that show up in the playroom." - Lisa Dion

The connection between gut and brain is becoming more widely studied and gaining in increased importance. For children who struggle, this brings up the possibility that what they're eating is feeding underlying dysfunction. Diet might not be the sole answer, but it could play a vital role in finding a solution.

Join Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, and Kelly Miller, LCSW, RPT-S, as they explore this intriguing topic.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Perfectionism is the strategy the child is using to manage their anxiety and fear." - Lisa Dion

Perfectionism in the playroom shows up in a variety of ways. But beneath the need to be perfect sits a child's uncertainty about themselves. The key to regulating this fear and anxiety is showing the child how to come back to who they truly are.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"It's not that children with SPD don't want to regulate; it's that they can't." - Lisa Dion

Sensory Processing Disorder is a misunderstood challenge that can show up in the playroom in a variety of ways. Often, recognizing the issue is the first step in helping the client. The second, of course, is showing these children how to regulate.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"A child's failure to notice a lack of hygiene is often a sign that they're disconnected from their bodies." - Lisa Dion

Little kids aren't known for hygiene and inside the playroom is no different. However, a noticeable lack of hygiene may be the sign of something bigger. A child regressing in emotional age or reliving past trauma may engage in unsanitary behavior. When this happens, it's important that we leave shame at the door.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Broken toys may be a metaphor for how children see themselves." - Lisa Dion

Little kids come with little issues, issues that might grow big if we are unsure how to handle them. In this podcast, Lisa discusses the commonly asked "little questions." Tune in as she explores what to do with broken toys, having food in the playroom, lying in the playroom, and what to do when a child tries to take a toy home.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"We all have deep within us the desire to pursue something that inspires us. We have a natural desire to evolve and grow" - Lisa Dion

The brain is a high maintenance organ, one that wants a challenge! In order to stay passionate in our careers as play therapists, we must give the brain the growth it craves. But we must give ourselves permission too – the permission to be ourselves and pursue what inspires us.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Grief elicits different emotions. It's important to provide space for a child's experiences while looking at how we handle loss ourselves." - Lisa Dion

When grief or loss occurs, we are culturally predisposed to expect sadness. But in and out of the playroom, children may feel a myriad of emotions ranging from heartache to happiness to suppression. How can we meet children where they are and give them the freedom to experience their loss in their own way? Tune in to explore this challenging topic.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Music makes a connection without having to say anything." - Kate Shannon, CBMT

Music plays an important therapeutic role, in the playroom and in life. It creates its own expression and its own language, allowing those who hear it to feel and react deeply. Take note: music matters.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"One of the best ways to reduce medical trauma is by making the unknown known. Children need information and lots of it." - Lisa Dion

Medical trauma is prevalent in the majority of children who have undergone medical procedures or experienced chronic and acute conditions. This shows up in the playroom in a variety of ways, including those that can lead the therapist to jump to conclusions. Listen in to explore how to not only help children who have experienced this type of trauma but how to minimize future trauma as well.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"It's isn't about being a parent or not. It's about showing up in the playroom and being real." - Lisa Dion

Being a parent and a play therapist has both benefits and drawbacks. While parenthood can offer added insight, having kids doesn't translate into having all the answers inside the playroom. Why? Because like children, no two parents are exactly alike.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"When it comes to giftedness, one of the most important things to focus on is how these children manage their internal worlds." - Lisa Dion

Gifted children are unquestionably bright, but the gifted child isn't the same as the intelligent child. Often the difference lies not only in intellectual needs but also the ability to regulate. Giftedness typically comes packaged with self-imposed standards that are impossibly hard to meet, leaving the child bored, angry, or anxious.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Every family has both peace and war, dysregulation and regulation, support and challenge." - Lisa Dion

Parents often want their children to get along, a family environment void of argument. But the sibling dynamic is one in which disagreement is unavoidable. This isn't always a bad thing - conflict leads to empowerment and growth.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"When mom and dad are in the room the power to heal can become greater. Then the relationship between the child and parent becomes your client." - Lisa Dion

Parents in the playroom can give even the most seasoned play therapists pause, leaving them feeling insecure and watched. But moms and dads are part of the healing package. Relying on the power of parents only enhances the power of play.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"The majority of relationship, any relationship is rupture. Repair is the remedy." - Lisa Dion

Rupture, repair, repeat - it's a recipe for relationship. Whether that relationship is with your client or with yourself, mis-attunement is an unavoidable but necessary occurrence. It provides the foundation of trust, opening the doors to true healing.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Twins are master co-regulators but also susceptible to losing themselves. The key is to help them find the 'I' in 'we.'" - Lisa Dion

Twins may be nature's 2-for-1 deal, but being a twin (or having twins) comes with unique challenges not always experienced by singletons. From separation anxiety to individuality, join Lisa Dion (who is a fraternal twin) and Susan Stutzman (a mother of identical twins) as they discuss these marvelous multiples.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

It is a sparkling thing when I encounter realness of another person. It's so obvious when a person is not hiding behind a façade but is speaking from deep within themselves. When this happens, I leap to meet it. I want to encounter this real person." -

Carl Rogers Carl Rogers is one of the most influential psychologists in history, but he's also one of the most misunderstood. Above all, he advocated for acceptance of self so clinicians could help their clients do the same. In this podcast, Lisa takes you right into the words and teachings to help us explore what he truly wanted us to know and some of it just might surprise you.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Play therapy is about the child. It's not about navigating the conflict between feuding parents." - Lisa Dion

Divorce is often painted as a traumatizing experience, but what it looks like through the perspective of a child varies greatly. Working with high conflict divorce requires recognizing this deviation. It also requires a neutrality, and a focus on what matters most: healing the child.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Emotional flooding is inevitable; it's part of relationship. It's not about shame, but connection, providing a platform upon which real repair can flourish." - Lisa Dion

Emotional flooding is part of therapy: it occurs in all play therapy paradigms. Looking at it not through a lens of shame but with a focus on connection turns it from an enemy into an ally. In fact, emotional flooding - because of its realness and rawness - can lead to greater levels of healing and authenticity.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"If you have a child who is not playing, honor that child and meet them where they are." - Lisa Dion

A playroom without play can cause confusion. But there are many reasons a child may leave the toy box shut. Sometimes, it's a reflection of anxiety or tied to a younger emotional age. Other times, this issue isn't one at all: discovering the play requires setting aside our preconceived notions about what play entails.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"If the things that are not challenging for them are promoted and highlighted, that gets to be their story, not the disability." - Lisa Dion

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is often misunderstood, with diagnoses that vary by country. In this podcast, Lisa is joined by special guest Natascha Lawrence as they work to break down the confusion surrounding FASD while exploring the ways to most effectively support these amazing and misunderstood children.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Games are platforms to help kids process their emotions. Sometimes peek-a-boo and hide-and-go-seek are just about wanting to be seen. " - Lisa Dion

Child's play is serious business and Peek-a-Boo and Hide-and-Go-Seek are no exceptions. But these games, like so many, act as a platform for the emotions a child is processing at any given time. At their heart, they may be most about wanting to be seen and wanting to be found.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Art isn't about interpreting a drawing. It's about being with and attuning to the child in the process of creation." - Lisa Dion

Art in the playroom can be a challenge, especially for therapists who believe they are artistically limited. But art provides a necessary and informative outlet for children. It's not the final product that's important; it's the process that counts. Being present and attuned keeps the therapist from painting themselves into a corner of insecurity and self-doubt.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Children will bring in whatever they need to bring in. There is no type of play that is better or worse." - Lisa Dion

Recreating a movie can sometimes take the place of imaginative play. When this happens in the playroom, it provides clues to the underlying problem and challenges. The key is learning to flip the "script" towards integration.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Don't be fooled by the smile. Underneath there may be a lot of pain waiting to come out." - Lisa Dion

People-pleasing in the playroom happens, and not just with children; therapists get caught in people-pleasing too! This ever-so-familiar coping strategy is often covering up challenges a child or therapist may not yet be able to face. Recognizing why this happens and what to do when it happens is the first step to creating a session filled with integration instead of placation.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Trust that both you and the child will be okay." - Lisa Dion

Early termination happens for a handful of reasons. Sometimes, we can't change this. But shifting our perspective helps us look at terminations through another view, trusting ourselves and the child in the process.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"The bop bags, like every other toy, will become what the child needs to be." - Lisa Dion

Bop bags in the playroom are a controversial toy. But do they promote aggression and anger? Or can they be used to promote integration, self-awareness, and regulation? The answer: it depends on how you use them.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." - Lisa Dion

Teachers and play therapists make a powerful pair, but this starts with an initial conference. How can clinicians assure this meeting goes well, putting themselves in a position where they're viewed as an ally rather than a threat? Success involves nine elements and lots of validation.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Play is just the boat... we must figure out what's going on in the ocean." - Lisa Dion

Play therapists often focus on protocol, technique, and, of course, toys. But what's below all this? Engaging the right-brain and allowing yourself to feel are keys to helping your clients.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Challenges and discomforts are necessities of growth." - Lisa Dion

All of us have moments when we doubt ourselves. Moments when we shake our heads in frustration. Moments when we have no idea what we're doing. But challenges in the playroom are a necessity - they allow us to master new techniques and broaden our skills. Getting it wrong? It might just be right.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Regulating the client is the biggest challenge of teletherapy." - Lisa Dion

Teletherapy allows us to reach clients regardless of distance. In play therapy, it requires modification and parental support. But the connection can be powerful and purposeful.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Working with mutism means working with the anxiety underneath the symptom." - Lisa Dion

From the child who only talks to certain people to the child who doesn't talk at all, selective mutism has many faces. The playroom is a common place where it surfaces. But a silent child speaks without words, telling us to look below the surface at the nervous system underneath.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"The fear of going towards something in the playroom is a reflection of a wound in us that hasn't healed." - Lisa Dion

As play therapists, we're often taught to check ourselves at the door. But, when the child's challenges reflect our own, this is difficult for even the most seasoned clinician. What happens when we embrace the mirror and tap into our humanness? You just might experience some of the most powerful sessions when you see yourself in your client's struggle.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"We can't promise to keep kids safe from tragedy, but we can promise to have a plan." - Lisa Dion

Tragedy is an inevitability of life, no matter how much we wish it wasn't. No one is immune, including kids. But heartbreak can bring about a myriad of emotions, inside and outside of the playroom. We can't always keep kids safe, but we can reduce their fear of the unknown.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"The intake session isn't about data collection; it's about creating a relationship." - Lisa Dion

The intake session is a vital part of play therapy. But it's not all about educating parents about the process and their involvement, it's also about the nervous system - yours and mom and dad's.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Sleep is the largest separation we go through everyday." - Jessica Schaffer, RPT, Infant Sleep Specialist

From the refusal to go to sleep to an inability to stay asleep, a child’s tossing and turning speak volumes. But why do some children want to ban the bed? And how does this look inside the playroom? A play therapist who also happens to be a sleep specialist helps us uncover the answers.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"When I think of being outside, I think of free-flowing." - Avery Dion, age 12

Play therapy often happens inside of four walls, but the world outside acts as a co-facilitator. Nature is a powerful force for adults as well as kids. Embracing everything from roots to rocks helps the healing process.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Emotional flooding is a normal response; it's the shame applied to it that does the damage." - Lisa Dion

Emotional flooding is often thought of as a bad thing, but this isn't necessarily true. There is knowledge in the nervous system and wisdom in the body's reaction.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

A child uses technology to fulfill a need. We must meet that need before turning off the TV. You can't take away someone's boat without giving them another one." -Lisa Dion

Children scream for ice cream and screen time too. But is technology as harmful as many assume or is it a necessity? Does using it mean a child is zoning out or could it mean they're engaging? In this podcast, we discuss why screen time isn't a clear cut issue: inside the shades of gray is a child meeting his or her needs.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Sand doesn't just help regulate the child; it helps regulate the therapist too." - Lisa Dion

There are so many ways to use sand in a play therapy session, but have you ever considered turning your sand tray into a regulation device? The key to this is the right tools. So, shift towards the sifter and explore the many ways sand helps tell us all about the state of the nervous system.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

Whether we remember before the age of two or three is still misunderstood and even debated, so understanding the different types of memory helps us understand that memory does indeed exist at early ages. It helps us understand that even if the mind doesn't remember, the body does.

"Maybe the goal is not to calm. Maybe the goal is to connect." Lisa Dion

Often, it's our natural inclination to ask children to calm down. This happens inside playrooms, classrooms, and on top of jungle gyms. But is this the best solution? Or should we focus less on the idea of calmness and more on the idea of connection?

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"It's not that 'I know better.' It's that 'I know different.'" - Dave Garrison

Working with dads in the playroom isn't always the same as working with moms. It takes understanding the psychology of men, learning how to communicate in a way that is meaningful, and proving that you are a partner who doesn't know "better", you just know "different."

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Rejection is one of the most challenging experiences we can have as humans. But behind rejection lies acceptance and growth." - Lisa Dion

Rejection is something we look upon negatively, both in the playroom and in our personal lives. But, here's a secret: behind rejection is always, always acceptance. This is one of the many reasons rejection is a boost rather than a barrier.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"It's the child really feeling that you're with them that heals them most. Sometimes, that just doesn't require words." - Lisa Dion

A child’s refusal to speak inside the playroom can leave even the most seasoned therapist flustered. But connecting with clients involves much more than words. Silence can be golden when you know what it means and how to harness it.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"The moment we believe we have figured it out is precisely the moment we stop growing" - Lisa Dion

Play therapy is an evolving field with new ideas around every corner. And each theory - new and old - has something to offer. Seeking knowledge improves your practice and benefits your clients (and yourself). As play therapists, it is important to embrace the idea that growth really never ends. The moment we believe we have figured it out is precisely the moment that we stop growing.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"The important message to our kids: 'All of you is welcome.'" - Lisa Dion

Sexual identity and sexual orientation are not discussed often enough in the field of play therapy. But embracing these topics benefits our clients. So does refraining from black and white thinking. After all, children are colorful (and so are we).

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Boredom in the playroom may be a messenger. This turns it from something negative into your greatest friend." -Lisa Dion

Boredom in the playroom is something most therapists experience - from an unyielding yawn to counting the ticks of a slow-moving clock, we've all found ourselves less than enthused in one session or another. But boredom isn't always a negative thing. Sometimes, it's a gentle reminder that it's time to grow.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Congruence in the playroom is one of the most important elements in creating safety" - Lisa Dion

From fear of the unknown to uncomfortable incongruence, the brain is a worry wart! It's forever on the lookout for external and internal threats. And there are certain things that bother it more than others.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Everything that happens in the playroom must be linked back to goals" - Lisa Dion

From the boardroom to the playroom and everywhere else, setting goals is a vital part of success. But in therapy sessions, the best goals follow certain rules, rules that allow both parent and therapist to see the progress made. After all, it is seeing this progress that acts as a catalyst of encouragement, keeping the parent bought into the play therapy process and the therapist able to celebrate the changes their clients are making.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"In play therapy, children need to know that they're in charge" - Lisa Dion

A child wanting to end a session early can rattle even the most seasoned therapist. So how do you handle the situation? In this podcast, Lisa Dion discusses how to recognize flooding, return a child to their window of tolerance, and why ending a session doesn't need to end the relationship.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Game act as metaphors, providing insight into a child's feelings" - Lisa Dion

From Candyland’s Gum Drop Mountain to the rungs of Chutes and Ladders, games in play therapy are more than a race to the finish line. They provide us with direct insight into the minds and nervous system states of our child clients. Learn some tips on how to make games in your play therapy sessions more than about just winning and losing.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"We can work with parents to help them find a clear explanation that helps soothe their child’s potential anxiety and helps minimize apprehension."

Talking to kids about why they are going to play therapy isn’t always easy. As play therapists, we can work with parents to help them find a clear explanation that helps soothe their child’s potential anxiety and helps minimize apprehension. Not only does it teach kids what to expect, but it also helps the parent get on board.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Find the wisdom. Find the blessing. Learn from your clients and allow them to be your teachers" - Lisa Dion

It's easy to have gratitude for the good things in our lives, but what about the challenges? In this podcast, you'll learn how appreciation can widen your window of tolerance and open your heart. You'll also learn that clients come into our playrooms for a reason.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Play therapy is like a secret code that therapists know how to dissect" - Avery, age 11

Kids say the darndest things and they also ask the best questions. Join Lisa as she's interviewed by her eleven-year-old daughter, Avery. Listen in as they go back and forth discussing the power of play and hear Avery's advice to all play therapists.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

Voicing the toy is an important part of play therapy, but it’s the child’s voice that should prove loudest.

In this podcast, Lisa offers tips on helping the child stay engaged in their process. She explains why sticking to the facts helps both client and therapist experience a session that sticks as well.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

How do we help kids transition at the end of a play session? How do we help them face the unknown? Find out in this week's podcast.

It’s hard to say goodbye, especially for children! How do you help kids transition at the end of a play session? How do you help them transition at the conclusion of therapy altogether? How to you help them face the unknown? In this podcast, Lisa addresses why parting is sweet sorrow and how to help children accept change.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

Setting boundaries in the playroom can be quite the confusing process! When to set them? How to set them? Why to set them? Is it important to set them? These are just a few of the questions that Lisa will address in this podcast to help shed some light on this important topic.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Our playrooms should be rooms that allow children to explore a range of emotion." - Lisa Dion

Did you know that your playroom is a reflection of you? What you put in it and how you set it up is information to the child about where you are willing to go emotionally and what is happening in your own nervous system! Join Lisa as she discusses what your playroom says about you and explores some of the most essential toys to have in it and ideas about how to set it up.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"Part of play therapy is widening the child's perspective but also widening our own" - Lisa Dion

Therapists are so good at identifying and working with the problem, but are we as trained to also recognize empowerment? In this podcast, Lisa addresses why it can be challenging to recognize when a child is moving into empowerment, and she shares multiple strategies to help you identify when your child clients are overcoming their challenges.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"If you learn how to regulate your nervous system in a different way, you can avoid compassion fatigue" - Lisa Dion

Have you ever gone home at the end of the day only to realize that you can’t stop thinking or dreaming about your clients? Once home, have you found yourself agitated or highly fatigued and not sure why? Chances are your clients came home with you! In this episode, we explore what happens when we take our clients energetically home with us and what to do so that we can leave our clients in the playroom.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com

"You are the most important toy in the playroom" - Lisa Dion

Without learning about ourselves as the most important toy, we miss part of the magic in the playroom and we miss understanding how play therapy actually works. In this podcast, we'll explore why not recognizing our own internal states cuts off access to a deeper level of intuitive knowledge available to us during the play and leaves us missing out on the ability to fully connect with the child.

Come learn with us! .... for recorded play therapy training webinars for Non-Contact CE hours, introductory level SPT courses, the SPT Certification program, and free webinars to support you on your life's journey join us here: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com