The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute’s “Lessons From the Playroom” podcast is a series of audio and video recordings heard in over 100 countries. Every week, Lisa shares her wisdom or is joined by special guests to explore some of the little lessons kids teach us that make a big difference in the play therapy process and offer ways to transform both you and the clients that you work with.
Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an international teacher, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, co-founder of the Synergetic Education Institute, creator of the Business of Therapy and host of the Lessons from the Playroom podcast. She is the author of Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity and is the 2015 recipient of the Association for Play Therapy’s Professional Education and Training Award of Excellence.
Listen wherever you listen or on your favorite podcast app …
Season 2 Episodes
143. Ann Beckley-Forest: Working with Adoption & Attachment Trauma/Wounding
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 [...]
142. The Impact of Trauma Exposure on Therapists
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 [...]
141. Risë VanFleet: Filial Therapy & Supporting Parents in Becoming the Primary Change Agent
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 [...]
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✨ “I listen to Lisa’s podcasts regularly and absolutely love them. As a play therapist in the UK, I sadly cannot access any live training but learn so much from the podcasts. Lisa’s generosity with her huge wealth of experience and knowledge is amazing, and yet she never preaches and is always mindful of different therapeutic styles and opinions. The subject range is varied and always of interest. I have told so many fellow therapists about the podcasts and they are all hooked too.” – Rachel Hill, UK
✨ “Love listening to Lisa’s podcast. She has a wonderful way of explaining neuroscience so it’s easy to understand. I appreciate all the different variety of topics she has covered. They have helped me immensely in my private counselling practice. From listening to the podcasts regularly, I now want to dive into the Synergetic Play Therapy program. Thanks, Lisa, for sharing your experience and wisdom with us all.” – Jodie Ward, Australia
Season 1, First 100 Episodes
Lessons from the Playroom Episode #100: Third Culture Kids in Play Therapy
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®. Join Lisa and Judy Norman, Certified SPT Therapist and mother of two TCKs who also spent over a decade of her adult life living abroad, 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.
Click video above, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!
Lessons from the Playroom Episode #98: How to Not Lose Yourself in High Conflict Divorce
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.
Click video above, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!
Lessons from the Playroom Episode #99: Pre-Teens & Teens in Play Therapy
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 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.
Click video above, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!
Listen wherever you listen or on your favorite podcast app …
Also Featured On:
Boundaries from a Nervous System Perspective
Lisa joins Master Life Coach Krista Resnick on Becoming Boundaried to talk about boundaries from an internal/nervous system perspective. In this episode, Lisa shares powerful, yet simple practices to help you come back home to yourself so that you can speak your truth and not get swayed by your emotions.
Regulated Does Not Equal Calm
Lisa joins Robyn Gobbel on Parenting After Trauma podcast to talk about how regulated does not equal calm. Learn the difference between regulated and calm, including the risks of pretending to be calm when we aren’t. As parents and clinicians who care for kids with a history of trauma, it’s important to negotiate ways within ourselves that we can be honest and congruent with our true experiences (maybe we are mad!) while still remaining regulated and offering felt-safety.
Neurodiverse Families: The Myths & Mirrors of Coregulation S8.E3
Lisa joins Karen Peters on Parenting in the Trenches to talk about the myths and mirrors of coregulation. Learn why coregulation is so powerful, some of the surprising misconceptions about how it works, and ways you can support your child more effectively through those intense emotions that feel like they’ll never pass safely.
On Finding Inspiration, Congruence & Purpose
In this rich and uplifting interview on Women Today with Emma Teitel, Lisa Dion shares powerful wisdom about how to lead an inspiring and purposeful life that is in alignment with who you truly are – On Finding Inspiration, Congruence & Purpose.
Managing Conflict: Tools for Dealing with Difficult Conversations
On this episode with Straight Talk Live, find out why learning how to manage conflict is one of the greatest skills to have. And yet most of us either avoid it or simply don’t have the tools to effectively deal with it. Lisa shares practical, science-based tools for dealing with conflict and explains what’s going on inside the brain during difficult conversations.
Regulation for Clinicians with Lisa Dion & Jackie Flynn
A 1-hour training to support therapists through the ups and downs during this global COVID-19 pandemic with regulation, connection, and moving back into the window of tolerance (including navigating online play therapy sessions). Learn how to come back online with yourself!
Online Play Therapy
Online therapy is a new option to see your clients and their parents interact in the home, but computers aren’t foreign things for children. Lisa talks about what to do with a parent in the room when that’s not the norm and how to do the intake with the parent including the nuts and bolts of the platform.
Boundaries – Relationship Tool with Lisa Dion
Interview with Jayson Gaddis. Boundaries are by far one of the most important tools in intimate relationships. How much do you struggle to say no says a lot about how much you value yourself. You must get boundaries if you want to go the distance in a relationship.
The Neurobiology of Play Therapy: A Synergetic Approach – HPP 02
Play Therapy Community Podcast: Episode 69
In this podcast, Lisa talks about her experience in many settings to include private practice, schools, social services, foster care agencies, and orphanages. Synergetic Play Therapy’s name was influenced by Lisa’s love for the brain and understanding what happens in the nervous system.
Straight Talk Live: Ep. 7
Lisa talks about “How Understanding Our Neuroscience Unlocks Transformation” and dives into *How transformation actually works, *What’s the science behind accessing your creativity, intuitive capabilities, and innovative action, and *What makes you freeze up, give up, or stay complacent.
The Neurobiology of Parenting and Healthy Child Psychology
Would you love some fresh insight and new perspective on parenting? Check out this Neurobiology of Parenting Interview Lisa did with Michael Johnson, the Mojo Master.
Managing the Stress of the Coronavirus
Lisa discusses and normalizes the stress and body activation that we are all experiencing; what regulation is and how can we do it right now?; and explores how to regulate through the intensity and how this is just as important as sleeping well, eating well, washing hands, etc.
Science of Psychotherapy Podcast
In this podcast, Lisa talks about her book Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity and the neurological processes that lead kids to dysregulation. Listen in as she discusses how therapists can help their clients facilitate deep emotional healing without causing their own nervous systems to shut down.
“All play is an expression of something going on inside of a child.”
In this episode, Lisa explains and discusses the importance of regulation. She also shares how we can use forms of play, children’s most natural form of communication to help. Lisa shares the fastest way of communicating with children and ways children can learn to develop a relationship with the experiences that are happening in their bodies.
Coleyology Podcast with Coley
“Therapy in my opinion, is helping the child discover what wisdom is in them and then teaching them to connect with themselves in a new way so they can direct the energy in a different place – but don’t shut their experience down.” Lisa talks with Nicole Lemaster about the inherent wisdom in the body and how to work with children.
Heart To Horses Podcast
Paradigm Shifts in Parenting – A New Way of Thinking about Children’s Moods
In this podcast, Lisa Dion continues her presentation on the biology of behavior in children and adults. She discusses strategies and tools that help parents and educators understand and support their own emotional landscape and the children they care for.
Listen To Part 2A
Listen To Part 2B
Authentic Goal Setting
Become empowered and inspired- master your life and your goals. Drop the “shoulds,” just be your real self, and Lisa Dion says- you will accomplish more of your goals. If you are frustrated with your lack of progress on your New Year’s resolutions or worried about world events, or if you simply want to be more…
Synergetic Play Therapy With The Boulderist
You are in for a treat with Episode 007 because our guest is Lisa Dion. Lisa is a leader in the world of play therapy. She talks about challenges and behaviors – and ways to work with people expressing those behaviors – in a way that is useful to us all, but especially to parents. Have a listen!