The Brain on Shame
Most of us, at some point in our practice, will encounter a parent not yet sold on play therapy – we come across dads full of doubts or moms musing […]
Keeping the Connection When a Child Wants to Leave
From frogs inside of pockets to the darndest things they say, children are full of surprises. In many ways, this is wonderful: they make us laugh and smile and see […]
Games in the Playroom: Tools of Intervention and Assessment
Some theories of thought suggest that games should be kept out of the playroom and certain therapists abide: they don’t remember Memory, they’re sour on Candyland, they check Checkers at […]
The Resistant Child: When a Client Refuses to Enter the Playroom
Kids react to the idea of play therapy differently. Some run into the playroom with Nerf guns a’ blazing. Other kids aren’t quite as enthusiastic; they linger in the doorway, […]
Turning Time Apart into a Time to Connect
I travel all around the world. Some months I travel a lot. In order for me to follow my heart and teach, I’m required to travel; to soar, I must […]
The Forgotten Ones: Perfect Children Need Play Therapy Too
When it comes to play therapy, the acting out, aggressive, non-compliant, anxious child typically gets referred. Even the sad, depressed, withdrawn child finds a way onto an adult’s radar and […]
Compassion Fatigue? Avoid it by Leaving Work in the Playroom
As play therapists, it’s not always easy for us to leave our work in the playroom. Some of us carry it with us – like sand inside our shoes, we […]
Dear 40….
Dear 40, I’ve always known I’d meet you – I even knew exactly when. I’ve been looking forward to it since I was 20, half my life ago. I don’t […]
What Does it Really Mean to Go Home?
It’s my last night in Melbourne, Australia. My bags are packed. My boarding pass is in hand. My alarm is set to make sure I get to the airport on […]
The Long Goodbyes: Giving Children Permission to Feel During Loss
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S Change surrounds us. The leaves fall from trees, animals go extinct, birthdays come and go, people leave and people die. Saying goodbye is part of […]
Five Out-of-the-Box Ways to Connect With Your Child
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S We know our children – we raise them, we love them, we struggle with them, we grow with them. But, as the years go by, […]
Body Image: How You Can Help Your Child Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food
By Chelsea Hester In a world that is populated with diets, food advertisements, and models of only certain shapes and colors, children of all ages are being bombarded by external […]
Emotions from the Inside Out, Part 2
“It takes courage to let go of the familiar and embrace the new.”-Alan Cohen By Kelly Miller, LCSW, RPT Everybody has emotions and feelings, but not everybody feels or expresses their […]
Teaming with Teachers – Working With a Client’s School
Have you tried working with a client’s school and found it challenging? If so, you are not alone; this is often the case. While everyone may want to work together […]
Help Your Child Overcome Nameless Anxiety
Children share their emotional and body-based experiences in an attempt to integrate life events; including experiences in utero, at birth and post birth. These pre-cognitive events shape a child’s behavior, […]