Change and Transformation for a New Year
As we move into this New Year, let’s keep some things in perspective particularly as we’re thinking about change and transformation for the next year, or even reflecting on our […]
Why We Can’t Just Start Over In The New Year
I’ve often reflected on how we tend to rush into the next year … with little thought about the year before. I hear a lot of common thinking that sounds like […]
Discovering the Gift of Challenge
Many of us are taught to believe that somehow life would be “better” if we could get rid of or minimize the challenges that we experience and just learn to […]
An Examination of Child-Centered Play Therapy & Synergetic Play Therapy
By Bethany J. Townsend, Ph.D., Lindsay Ishman, Lisa Dion & Kara L. Carnes-Holt Original Manuscript: To read the author’s original manuscript (pdf version) for free, please click here. Abstract: Child-Centered […]
Learning Bracelets – The Importance of Movement in the Classroom
“Mom, I am struggling because I can’t concentrate in class!” This is something most children have said at some point – maybe they feel that science is boring, math is […]
Practicing Mindfulness in Parenthood
Mindfulness is something we hear a lot about, but what does it really involve? In simple terms, it’s the act of being present in the moment (not merely physically, but […]
What Emotional Intelligence Really Means
How would you define emotional intelligence? When I define emotional intelligence, I define it as the capacity to BE with. But be with what?… The capacity to be with our […]
How Trying To Be Calm Gets In The Way Of Regulation
Have you heard the idea that a child needs a calm adult in order to regulate? The idea that an adult’s “calm” presence is the answer to regulating a child […]
What Regulation Really Means
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S The more therapists I teach, the more aware I become that the concept of regulation or becoming regulated is often misunderstood. Many people think that […]
Authenticity in the Playroom
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S “I assure you that it’s okay to be yourself in the playroom. In fact, it’s necessary if you’re going to help a child regulate through […]
Spring Cleaning Your Playroom: Don’t Throw Away the Broken
Spring (or even Fall if you reside in a country in the Southern hemisphere 😉) comes with many things – longer days, warmer weather, blooming trees and flowers. It also […]
Beyond Words: A Story of Connection
I sat down in the middle of the room and waited. I wondered which child would come to me? She came. She was about 6 years old and I don’t […]
Growing as a Play Therapist
Whether you’re a play therapist or a teacher, an architect designing multi-million-dollar buildings or a veterinarian working with sea turtles, it’s easy to grow complacent in your career over time. […]
Don’t Expect to Stay Calm – Stay Connected!!
Many leaders, gurus, even health “experts” are telling us to stay calm. I understand their intention but it’s impossible to ‘stay calm” in these turbulent times. ‘Staying calm” is not […]
When a Child’s Nervous System is in Collapse Response / SHUT DOWN
Collapse (also called “hypo-arousal”) is a response like fight-or-flight, but we shut down instead of jump into action. It is a survival response that causes us to shut down as […]