Lessons From the Playroom Podcast (Episodes 1-100)

LFPR 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.

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LFPR 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.

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LFPR 98. Lynn Louise Wonders: 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 below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 97. When Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do

Sometimes, saying goodbye can be tricky and emotional for our clients, their families, and ourselves. In this week’s episode, Lisa gives some things to consider and do to support children and families with navigating goodbyes and endings. She’ll discuss how we really know when the child is ready to transition and ways to support the child and their parents/caregivers, especially when they are having a hard time saying goodbye.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 96. Little Lessons from the Playroom, Part 2

Lisa discusses three little, but very important questions she’s been asked by therapists from around the world that will expand your work as a play therapist!… 1) What do we do when we see our clients outside of a session? 2) How do we work with imaginary friends? 3) What do we do when a child refuses to do their chores or another activity they are supposed to do? And check out part 1 (episode #57) for more commonly asked “little questions” including what to do with broken toys, having food in the playroom, lying in the playroom, and what to do when a child tries to take a toy home. … Get answers to some of these little questions you might have and may not have learned in graduate school or anywhere else.

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LFPR 95. Death & Dying in the Playroom

Lisa discusses the truth about death and dying in the playroom and gives ideas and tips for what to do when these experiences show up in our child client’s play. She gives answers to the many questions therapists have asked such as: *What’s the point of death & dying play for children in the playroom? *How do we stay present with ourselves in the midst of activation and dysregulation when a child offers an experience of death and dying? *How do we deepen into the vulnerability and stay connected to ourselves in what may feel like an uncomfortable experience to promote integration? Find more information on this topic in her book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Extremes. Available now in three different versions: English, Spanish & Audio.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 94. Robyn Gobbel: Working with Parents of Children with Complex Trauma

How do we let parents know, that we know, how important they are in their child’s life? How can we stay grounded and connected to ourselves as play therapists when we find ourselves triggered or activated when working with overwhelmed parents? And how can we offer an “I see you” relational experience for parents that are experiencing complex trauma in their family system? Robyn Gobbel joins Lisa in this episode to answer these very questions. Not only do they discuss the value of working with these parents/caregivers and what to do when we feel stuck, but more importantly how to embrace working with parents in the play therapy process, honor the role they play in their child’s lives, and move from “ I should work with parents” to loving and adoring working with parents/families where complex trauma is part of their lives.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 93. Separation Anxiety in Play Therapy

In this latest episode, Lisa discusses what separation anxiety is and what can cause it, how we know when it’s normal or when to seek help, and what play therapists can do to support separation anxiety when it shows up in the playroom. You’ll hear fun and playful rituals that encourage co-regulation between the child and the parent/caregiver and how to encourage the child to develop an internal sense of safety from within. And you’ll get ideas/interventions for what you can do when separation anxiety shows up for your child clients during the play therapy session including how to support the child in widening their window of tolerance for transitions and separations.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 92. Jackie Flynn: Embracing Online Play Therapy

Lisa is joined by special guest Jackie Flynn for a conversation on how to make online play therapy a more deeply connected experience for your child clients and their families. They discuss: …How you can offer authenticity and co-regulation to the session. …How to create a sense of safety from the very beginning of the session and connect at deeper levels with your clients. …How to make it a more meaningful experience for your clients (and yourself). …And how you can use the fact that children are in their own home to your clinical advantage – the fact that the parents are available, children have access to their own toys, and in their own environment!! You’ll get a plethora of ideas, tips, and resources to help you deepen more into teletherapy .. and, if you’ve been struggling, become a bit more inspired and feel like a play therapist again.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 91. Interoception in Play Therapy

How do we know when we are grumpy, tired, overheated, or overwhelmed? … Lisa talks about this 8th sense called Interoception or the “How do we know” sense, which is absolutely critical to enhancing a child’s regulatory capacity … Why? Because what we see in the playroom is actually not behavioral issues, but really the child’s inability to stay connected and regulate through the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). But what does this have to do with interoception? … Regulation and attunement starts with our interoceptive capacity. We can teach children tons of regulation strategies, but if they cannot register the clues that let them know they need to regulate in the first place, what we’ve done is just handed them tools that they have no clue how or when to use. And as therapists we need to have this capacity enhanced in us!

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LFPR 90. Giving Children (and Ourselves) Permission to Feel in Play Therapy

Sometimes we think we’re feeling when we’re not … Sometimes we think we’re creating space for our clients to feel when we’re not … And sometimes we are encouraging avoidance when it’s hard to stay in our window of tolerance. Join Lisa in this podcast that’s all about reflecting on our own inner experience and understanding this lifelong journey we’re all on of learning how to feel at deeper levels so we can help our clients do the same – It’s an invitation to look at our relationship with our emotions and how that impacts our clients. As well as getting curious about the parents/caregivers’ experience with their own emotional landscape and how to help them to really understand the importance of being with the child’s emotions instead of trying to fix/change/make it better.

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LFPR 89. Non-Directive vs. Directive Play Therapy

Sometimes we can get stuck in either/or thinking when it comes to whether we use non-directive or directive play therapy modalities. But what if we could understand the significance and potential for both? What if we could go beyond to see that one is not better than the other? And what if we could honor that there are many paths to healing and that all theories serve a purpose?

Join Lisa as she discusses how it’s possible to combine different theories and approaches, why we might do this, and how to make a decision not based on external pressures, but instead based on the client goals, what the therapist needs, the timeframe, and the context in which the therapist may need to do play therapy. Because ultimately, both paths will get us to the end result.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 88. Countertransference in Play Therapy

Countertransference is not something we can avoid, get out of, check at the door, or even separate from ourselves … In this episode, Lisa discusses how transference and countertransference is really the therapeutic landscape from which to support our clients in a process of deep integration and healing.

Using a lens of Synergetic Play Therapy®, Lisa offers an understanding of how countertransference is not something to be afraid of, but something that offers incredible wisdom and a window into the inner experiences of our clients. It gives us an opportunity to become curious about our beliefs, both that keep us from being fully present and authentic, and that support us in being more deeply present, more deeply resonant, and ultimately, more deeply attuned.

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LFPR 87. Are Toys Necessary in Play Therapy

Join Lisa in this episode that is dedicated to therapists around the world who may have limited access to toys 💜 In this episode, Lisa explores what is really at the root of play therapy, what is the purpose of the toy, how to facilitate a child’s process even if toys in the traditional sense are not available, and what it really means as the therapist to be the “most important toy in the playroom.”

“With the understanding that a toy can be anything at all, we transcend cultural barriers and socioeconomic status to focus on the relationship and use whatever is in the environment. We also honor that the greatest toy in the playroom is really you, the therapist!” -Lisa Dion

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LFPR 86. Sonya Joyce: Healing Touch in Play Therapy

Join Lisa Dion and guest Sonya Joyce as they discuss perhaps one of the most important topics in the play therapy process – touch! … “Whether we like it or not, touch is a part of the play therapy experience.” … With this in mind, they explore ways to become more mindful and thoughtful about how to bring healing touch to children in the playroom, how to create a neuroception of safety around touch, how to model healthy boundaries and creative ways to bring touch into the child’s experience, and the ramifications if healing touch does not happen for our child clients.

Find Sonya Joyce’s full dissertation here.

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LFPR 85. Understanding Left-Brain / Right-Brain Decision Making

“The dysregulation in our body is information about the congruency of our decisions.” – Lisa Dion * As you enter into 2021, explore how to manifest decisions that are congruent and in alignment with your authentic self. Join Lisa in this unique Lessons from the Playroom podcast that’s not just about play therapy. She’ll help you explore how to plan, reflect and make decisions that integrate the left- and right-brain, how to know if you are making a congruent decision, and why there’s no such thing as a “bad” decision.

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LFPR 84. Jessica Stone: Wrapping Our Minds Around Digital Play Therapy

“Often the question is, ‘Why would we include digital tools in play therapy?” … But the more important question is, ‘Why wouldn’t we?!'” -Dr. Jessica Stone * Join Lisa Dion and special guest, Dr. Jessica Stone, PhD in a lively conversation about demystifying the world of digital play therapy. They explore what digital play therapy is all about, how to speak the digital language of your clients, why we would even include digital tools in our work as play therapists (or more importantly, why wouldn’t we?!), and how to take the fundamental tenets of play therapy and apply to the digital world.

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LFPR 83. “The Test” in Play Therapy

We’ve all experienced the “test” in the playroom. Is it personal? Is it not personal? How do we make sense of it? Lisa discusses this natural occurrence that happens in relationships, the importance of authenticity and congruence (and what that even means), and ultimately how to “show up” when the therapist is “tested.” Tune in as we discuss what the “test” is really all about and the two very important questions that children are asking – “Can I be me?” and “Will you be you?”

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LFPR 82. Helping Children with Online Learning

“When children are disengaged from learning, there is a disconnect between what they are being asked to learn and their interest level, style/way of learning.” Lisa Dion * As we all know, not all children are thriving with online learning. Many children are really struggling as their routines, ability to engage with their peers and so much more has been disrupted. Symptoms such as resistance to schoolwork, boredom, depression, lack of engagement and anger are leaving parents and clinicians scratching their heads trying to help these children who really do want to learn! Tune is as we discuss what this lack of engagement is really all about and how important it is to address learning styles, a child’s interests, and of course, regulation.

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LFPR 81. Robert Jason Grant: Working with Sensory & Neurodevelopmental Challenges through Teletherapy

“Sensory work requires a co-facilitator and co-regulator, and can be very workable and adaptable even via tele-therapy.” -Robert Jason Grant ~ Join Lisa and special guest Dr. Robert Jason Grant as they demystify the world of teletherapy when working with clients that have sensory and neurodevelopmental challenges. Discover why working with this population doesn’t require as much adjustment from in-person to on-line as you might think, as well as how to do a pre-assessment that can be imperative to your success in the process, learn creative strategies and interventions to engage and treat, and why bringing parents into the process is so important.

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LFPR 80. An Interview with Lisa – Behind the Microphone

To her thousands of listeners around the world, Lisa expresses in gratitude, “Thank you for providing me with a sense of home.” ~ It is time to turn the tables! For 80 episodes, Lisa has shared play therapy knowledge and insights, interviewed special guests and helped create discussion and new learning for clinicians all over the world. But who is this person behind the microphone? In this episode, Lisa is the one in the hot seat as she is interviewed by Katherine Eastlake, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist. Katherine takes Lisa all the way back to her very first play therapy session, the play therapy influences in her life, why she created the Lessons from the Playroom podcast, how the podcast helps her connect to a global feeling of home, and so much more.

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LFPR 79. Janet Courtney: Infant Mental Health and Play Therapy

“It’s about the therapist’s ability to attune in order to facilitate a process of attunement and playful touch between caregiver and infant.” – Janet Courtney ~ Traditional play therapy targets children ages 3 and older, but what about the children who aren’t yet three? How do we help these children? Join Lisa as she talks about infant mental health with special guest, Dr. Janet Courtney- founder of FirstPlay Therapy. Together they explore the biggest myth related to infants, the significance of implicit memory and most importantly, how clinicians can support healing and re-patterning for these very special little people.

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LFPR 78. Conflict In and Out of the Playroom

Why is conflict so hard to deal with when it arises and something we want to avoid? Listen as Lisa shares what to do when conflict shows up, why it’s actually a necessary part of growth, and how to cultivate a relationship within ourselves when it comes up in relationships both in and out of the playroom.

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LFPR 77. Emotional Age in Play Therapy

When our clients come to session it is easy to get caught up in thinking that they are their age, when in fact, they are not their age. At least not their chronological age. This episode is dedicated to helping you begin to understand the difference between emotional age and chronological age, a few clues to help you spot emotional age and regression, and how to work with these younger states in both your clients and yourself when they arise in the play room.

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LFPR 76. Attuning to Body Language in Play Therapy

Learning how to attune to body language, our own and the child’s is an essential component for co-regulation in play therapy. Staying in our window of tolerance to help the child move towards their own discomfort depends on it. Tune in as we learn how the body never lies and how we can become more adept at listening to its wisdom.

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LFPR 75. Clair Mellethin: Supporting Parents During the Pandemic

From the uncertainty, having to homeschool, working from home, navigating family dynamics, and all the other challenges that parents are being confronted with, it is no wonder that so many are feeling burned out, questioning themselves, and needing extra support.  Join Lisa and special guest, Clair Mellenthin, as they talk about how attachment, the many challenges of parenting during the pandemic, and most importantly, how best to support parents in ways where they know they are not alone.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 74. Nora Alwah: Social Justice in Play Therapy

What is social justice?  What is oppression?  What is intersectionality?  Join Lisa Dion and Nora Alwah, social justice educator and therapist, as they explore these questions and offer guidance to therapists on how they can support children and families in ways that create connection, attunement and empowerment.

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LFPR 73. Supporting Children through Anxiety and the Unknown

When life and situations become unpredictable, children have to orient to the unfamiliar just like adults do.  The difference is that their brains are a little further behind in their capacity to regulate through it often leading to high levels of anxiety and other symptoms.  Tune is as we explore how to support children through their anxiety and find a sense of security when the unknown arises.

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LFPR 72. Facilitating the Parent Check-in in Play Therapy

Talking with parents is an important part of the play therapy process, but what do we say?  How do we help them understand what their child is working on?  How do we communicate in a way that keep them engaged?  Tune in as we explore how to check in with our clients’ most important people.

Scroll down to Podcast #13 on “Setting Great Goals in the Playroom.”

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LFPR 71. Understanding Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue in Play Therapy

Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are far more common experiences for play therapists than we realize, especially during times of crisis.  And how are they further impacted when play therapists are going through the same crisis, such as the COVID19 pandemic? Tune in to this very important conversation that is essential for all play therapists to hear.

Podcast Links: Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 70. Understanding the Four Threats to the Brain in a Crisis

During a crisis, such as the current pandemic, waves of dysregulation can often feel like a daily experience and even the norm. Why? Because our brains are not just perceiving one threat, but four! Tune in as we revisit the 4 threats to the brain and learn the impact they may be having on our nervous system, as well as the key to regulating and coming back to yourself in the midst of all the intensity and chaos.

Podcast Links: Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 69. Online Play Therapy and Therapist Fatigue

Working with children and families virtually can surprisingly cause fatigue for the play therapist. From a difference in non-verbal cues to the way we sit to the lighting in the room, from hydration to whether or not we’re wearing shoes, all sorts of things play a role. Tune in to learn how to make online play therapy synergize with your nervous system.

Podcast Links: Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 1, Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 2

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe to the podcast here!

LFPR 68. 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 faster from damage. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to stimulate this nerve and help keep it (and your body) working as optimally as possible.

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 67. Rose LaPierre: 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 your client. But you don’t always have to be outside to benefit from nature’s nurturing tendencies. Join us as we explore the great outdoors once more!

Click below, listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 66. 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 self. In other words, lying has a purpose and, as therapists, it’s up to us to recognize the feelings underneath the fib.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 65. Jen Taylor: Cooperative Games in Play Therapy

Cooperative Games are growing in popularity, likely because of their ability to cultivate teamwork and appreciation of one another. In the playroom, they’re used effectively with siblings and families, reminding each player that it’s not about winning; it’s about the experience.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 64. Supporting Adoption 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 of the most important things we can do is fill in the gaps while allowing them the space to grieve.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, and subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 63. Presence in the Playroom

Much to Barbie’s chagrin, you’re the most important toy in the playroom. Still, showing up for a session isn’t enough: you must be fully present too. But in order to become present with the child, you must first learn how to be present with yourself.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 62. 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 is a higher power; for others, play therapy is their spiritual path.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 61. Kelly Miller: 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 possibility that what they’re eating is feeding underlying dysfunction. Diet might not be the sole answer, but it could play a vital role in finding a solution. Join Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, and Kelly Miller, LCSW, RPT-S, as they explore this intriguing topic.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 60. 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 this fear and anxiety is showing the child how to come back to who they truly are.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 59. Sensory Processing Disorder in Play Therapy

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 step in helping the client. The second, of course, is showing these children how to regulate.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 58. Hygiene Issues in Play Therapy

Little kids aren’t known for hygiene and inside the playroom is no different. However, a noticeable lack of hygiene may be the sign of something bigger. A child regressing in emotional age or reliving past trauma may engage in unsanitary behavior. When this happens, it’s important that we leave shame at the door.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 57. Little Lessons in Play Therapy

Little kids come with little issues, issues that might grow big if we are unsure how to handle them. In this podcast, Lisa discusses the commonly asked “little questions.” Tune in as she explores broken toys, food in the playroom, lying in the playroom, and what to do when a child tries to take a toy home.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 56. How to Stay Inspired as a Play Therapist

The brain is a high maintenance organ, one that wants a challenge! In order to stay passionate in our careers as play therapists, we must give the brain the growth it craves. But we must give ourselves permission too – the permission to be ourselves and pursue what inspires us.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 55. Grief and Loss in Play Therapy

When grief or loss occurs, we are culturally predisposed to expect sadness. But in and out of the playroom, children may feel a myriad of emotions ranging from heartache to anger to relief. How can we meet children where they are and give them the freedom to experience their loss in their own way? Tune in to explore this challenging topic.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 54. Kate Shannon: Music Therapy in the Playroom

Music plays an important therapeutic role, in the playroom and in life. It creates its own expression and its own language, allowing those who hear it to feel and react deeply. Take note: music matters.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 53. Medical Trauma in Play Therapy

Medical trauma is prevalent in the majority of children who have undergone medical procedures or experienced chronic and acute conditions. This shows up in the playroom in a variety of ways, including those that can lead the therapist to jump to conclusions. Listen in to explore how to not only help children who have experienced this type of trauma but how to minimize future trauma as well.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 52. Two Roles, One Room: When You’re a Parent and a Play Therapist

Being a parent and a play therapist has both benefits and drawbacks. While parenthood can offer added insight, having kids doesn’t translate into having all the answers inside the playroom. Why? Because like children, no two parents are exactly alike.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 51. Working With Gifted Children in Play Therapy

Gifted children are unquestionably bright, but the gifted child isn’t the same as the intelligent child. Often the difference lies not only in intellectual needs but also the ability to regulate. Giftedness typically comes packaged with self-imposed standards that are impossibly hard to meet, leaving the child bored, angry, or anxious.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 50. The Inevitable Childhood Conflict

Parents often want their children to get along, a family environment void of argument. But the sibling dynamic is one in which disagreement is unavoidable. This isn’t always a bad thing – conflict leads to empowerment and growth.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 49. Working with Parents in the Playroom

Parents in the playroom can give even the most seasoned play therapists pause, leaving them feeling insecure and watched. But moms and dads are part of the healing package. Relying on the power of parents only enhances the power of play.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 48. Rupture and Repair in Play Therapy

Rupture, repair, repeat – it’s a recipe for relationship. Whether that relationship is with your client or with yourself, misattunement is unavoidable but necessary occurrence. It provides the foundation of trust, opening the doors to true healing.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 47. Double Duty – Working With Twins in Play Therapy

Twins may be nature’s 2-for-1 deal, but being a twin (or having twins) comes with unique challenges not always experienced by singletons. From separation anxiety to individuality, join Lisa Dion (who is a fraternal twin) and Susan Stutzman (a mother of identical twins) as they discuss these marvelous multiples.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 46. Resurrecting Rogers – What Did Carl Rogers Really Want to Say?

Carl Rogers is one of the most influential psychologists in history, but he’s also one of the most misunderstood. Above all, he advocated for acceptance of self so clinicians could help their clients do the same. In this podcast, Lisa takes you right into the words and teachings to help us explore what he truly wanted us to know and some of it just might surprise you.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 45. Dueling Parents – Managing High Conflict Divorce in Play Therapy

Divorce is often painted as a traumatizing experience, but what it looks like through the perspective of a child varies greatly. Working with high conflict divorce requires recognizing this deviation. It also requires a neutrality, and a focus on what matters most: healing the child.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 44. Emotional Flooding in the Playroom – When the Therapist Finds Themselves Outside Their Window of Tolerance

Emotional flooding is part of therapy: it occurs in all play therapy paradigms. Looking at it not through a lens of shame but with a focus on connection turns it from an enemy into an ally. In fact, emotional flooding – because of its realness and rawness – can lead to greater levels of healing and authenticity.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here! 

LFPR 13. Setting Goals in the Playroom

From the boardroom to the playroom and everywhere else, setting goals is a vital part of success. But in therapy sessions, the best goals follow certain rules, rules that allow both parent and therapist to see the progress made. After all, it is seeing this progress that acts as a catalyst of encouragement, keeping the parent bought into the play therapy process and the therapist able to celebrate the changes their clients are making.

Click below, Listen here on Apple Podcasts, check out the Show Notes on our blog, or subscribe to the podcast here!