Nature Nurtures: Why the Great Outdoors are Good for Kids
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S From tree forts to snowball fights, playing outside is a rite of passage for children. They wear skinned elbows, burnt noses, and dirt between their toes like [...]
Explicit Memory versus Implicit Memory: When Do Kids Remember?
Memories – they may be in the corners of our minds, but they’re also in the corner with questions: the age that memory develops is a hot topic. Many people assume that [...]
The Vagus Nerve: Why it’s a Key to Regulation
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 [...]
Nature in Play Therapy (Part 2)
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 [...]
Lying in Play Therapy
Lying in Play Therapy 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 [...]
Supporting Adoptive and Foster Parents in Play Therapy
Supporting Adoptive and Foster Parents in Play Therapy Working with adoptive and foster parents is a rewarding experience, but the lack of education that runs rampant poses a challenge. As therapists, one [...]
Spirituality in the Playroom
Spirituality in the Playroom 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 [...]
Food for Thought (Literally!): Nutrition in the Playroom
Food for Thought (Literally!): Nutrition in the Playroom The connection between gut and brain is becoming more widely studied and gaining in increased importance. For children who struggle, this brings up the [...]
Perfectionism in the Playroom
Perfectionism in the Playroom 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 [...]
Sensory Processing Disorder in the Playroom
Sensory Processing Disorder in the Playroom 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 [...]