Podcast Season 22021-11-11T16:28:41-07:00

Lessons from the Playroom Season 2

Attachment to Self: The Cornerstone of Healing with Mili Shoemaker

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 186 “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 [...]

February 9th, 2025|Podcasts|

Unveiling Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Through a Play Therapy Lens with Natascha Lawrence

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 185 “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 [...]

January 25th, 2025|Podcasts|

Vision, Momentum, and Mastering the Business of Therapy with Lisa and Jen Taylor

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 184 "Your fear will always be the ceiling of your innovation." – Lisa Dion In this special New Year’s episode, Lisa Dion 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 [...]

January 9th, 2025|Podcasts|

The Way of Play: A New Approach to Connection in Play Therapy with Georgie Wissen Vincent

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 183 "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, [...]

December 26th, 2024|Podcasts|

Climbing the Mountain: A Holistic Approach to Family Play Therapy with “Dr. Sassy” (Stacy Jagger)

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 182 "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 [...]

December 14th, 2024|Podcasts|

Little Lessons Series: Messes, Transitions & Bathroom Breaks – Listener Q&A with Lisa

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 181 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 [...]

December 4th, 2024|Podcasts|

Navigating Life’s Transitions: An Empty Nester’s Journey with Lisa Dion

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 180 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 [...]

November 2nd, 2024|Podcasts|

Little Lessons Series: Authenticity in the Playroom – Q&A with Lisa

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 179 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 [...]

October 27th, 2024|Podcasts|

Reconnecting to Our True Nature: A Transformative Conversation with Marie José Dhaese

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 178 "We are all seeds, each of us with a unique essence and potential. Therapy is about providing the safety, space, and care for that essence to grow and transform." – Marie José Dhaese 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 [...]

October 8th, 2024|Podcasts|

Little Lessons Series: Navigating the Teenage Terrain – Q&A with Lisa

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 177 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?" [...]

September 23rd, 2024|Podcasts|

Embracing Newcomers: Cultivating Cultural Humility as Therapists with Liliana Baylon

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 176 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 [...]

September 12th, 2024|Podcasts|

Books as Bridges: Co-Regulation and Attachment through Bibliotherapy with Tammi Van Hollander

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 175 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 [...]

August 26th, 2024|Podcasts|

Little Lessons Series: Listener Q&A with Lisa

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 174 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 [...]

August 17th, 2024|Podcasts|

Back to Our Roots: A Deep Dive into Experiential Play Therapy with Nilüfer Devecigil

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 173 In this 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 [...]

August 4th, 2024|Podcasts|

International Crisis Play Therapy: Insights from Isabella Cassina & Claudio Mochi

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 172 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 [...]

July 5th, 2024|Podcasts|

Creating Affirming Play Therapy Spaces for Transgender & Gender-Diverse Children with Jennifer Shivey

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 171 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, [...]

June 22nd, 2024|Podcasts|

Behind Closed Doors: Supporting Child Survivors of Sex Trafficking with Alejandro Castro Croy

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 170 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 [...]

May 31st, 2024|Podcasts|

Beyond Toys: Play Therapy Across Medical, Occupational, and Animal-Assisted Settings

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 169 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 [...]

May 10th, 2024|Podcasts|

Demystifying Minecraft in the Therapeutic Space with Brian Keating

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 168 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 [...]

April 19th, 2024|Podcasts|

Defying Expectations to Embrace Human Potential: Amit Chintan Ramlall’s Journey Beyond the Label of Autism

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 167 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 [...]

March 25th, 2024|Podcasts|

Giving a Voice to Children with PANS/PANDAS with Dr. Montserrat Casado

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 166 In this 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 [...]

March 16th, 2024|Podcasts|
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