Beyond Words: A Story of Connection
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S I sat down in the middle of the room and waited. I wondered which child would come to me? She came. She was about 6 years old [...]
Growth Requires Friction
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S In this article published in the Science of Psychotherapy magazine, Lisa talks about how growth requires friction. It requires tension points and challenge. It requires moving out [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
What It’s Like to Learn from the Living Room: An Interview with a Homeschooling Mom
With schools closed and many in isolation, several parents now must assume the role of academic teacher - from phonics to fractions, geography to geology, it’s getting real! Move over common core [...]
Balancing the Left Brain & the Right Brain in Play Therapy
Balancing the Left Brain & the Right Brain in Play Therapy By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S Play therapy is very much a right-brain experience. When a child is playing, their right brain [...]
Breaking Out of the “Shoulds”
By Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S I once worked with a nine-year-old client named Joey*. He really struggled in school. He had a very focused interest on one thing/task, and everything else was [...]
How a Tragedy Inspired a new Play Therapy Model
How a Tragedy Inspired a new Play Therapy Model Renown therapist Lisa Dion developed Synergetic Play Therapy after a hit-and-run car accident. In dedication to my daughter, Avery Grace. When I was 29 [...]