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

Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Ep. 183

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, and author specializing in parenting and child development (…you likely know her from her co-parenting books with Dr. Dan Siegel). Together, they dive into the magic of play—not only as a therapeutic tool but as a way to strengthen relationships and foster meaningful connections.

Together, Lisa and Georgie explore:

Why play is more than just an activity—it’s a language.
The importance of involving parents in the therapeutic process and how to make it meaningful.
A sneak peek into The Way of Play’s “Play Strong Strategies” that blend neuroscience with practical tools for connection.
How this book fills a gap in resources for parents and therapists alike, offering an approachable way to communicate the magic of play.
Georgie’s reflections on customizing play therapy to meet the unique needs of every child and family.
Tips for therapists to reconnect with their own playfulness.

Grab a notebook, and tune in for a conversation that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to bring new energy into your play therapy practice!

Resources mentioned:

The Way of Play Book: www.playstronginstitute.com

Episode Transcript

Lisa Dion: Hi listeners. Welcome back to the next episode of Lessons from the Playroom podcast. I have with me yet another amazing guest, and we’re going to go in a different direction today. Listeners, I want you to pull out a pen and paper, but I also want you to get ready because we’re going to put a new book on your radar—an important book for you to have in your playroom, particularly to support the work that you’re doing with parents. So, with that, my special guest today is Georgie Wissen Vincent. If you are not familiar with Georgie, let me introduce you to this lovely woman. She’s a nationally recognized play therapy expert and is the co-founder of the Play Strong Institute with Tina Payne Bryson. You may recognize Tina’s name—she was the co-author with Dan Siegel of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline. She’s sort of all over the airways and the field. But Georgie, you both co-founded the Play Strong Institute, if that is a correct understanding, which is a continuing education organization for professionals and parents. She completed advanced study in play therapy at the University of Roehampton in London and is also a child, adolescent, and family psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles. Georgie, thank you for coming on and talking about not only the book that we’re going to get into, which I’m super excited about, but also helping us learn a little bit more about the Play Strong Institute and the amazing things that you’re up to. You’re supporting other play therapists and parents out there doing more of what we know needs to happen to help kids heal. So, thank you so much. Georgie Wissen Vincent: Lisa, thank you so much for having me on. I actually can’t believe that I’m sitting here talking to you because you’re somebody that I’ve turned to as a resource. We’ve never met each other— Lisa Dion: I know! Georgie Wissen Vincent: … actually one-on-one before, so it’s sort of like, wow, I didn’t even know this was on my bucket list. But now I get to kind of brag that I’ve had a conversation with you. I’m really thrilled to be here on a number of levels and to talk to you, play therapist to play therapist, and talk about this great book that Tina and I have coming out soon. Lisa Dion: Yeah, love. Well, I’m going to go ahead and mention the name of the book so that play therapists listening can go ahead and hear it. Will you tell us the name of the book? Georgie Wissen Vincent: So, the book is called The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids. We called it The Way of Play because, you know, Tina and I have been talking for years. She and I kind of met by accident. It wasn’t like I went to see her at a speaking engagement or something and then introduced myself after she was done talking. We literally bumped into each other in Pasadena, where we both live, and I got to talking with her. I came to work with her at her group practice, the Center for Connection, and I was telling her, “Play is so important. I don’t think a lot of families understand how important it is.” I trained intensively in play therapy techniques in my practice, and we built a play therapy team together that then turned into the Play Strong Institute. As we were training therapists—because we are still offering play therapy courses to train therapists—we were bringing up our own team and trying to infuse playfulness into all of their therapeutic techniques. We realized that this is something that transcends just tearing our hair out trying to help families understand that it’s more than just behavior. It’s about deepening their relationships and taking on a way of being together with our children. That’s what translated into the book being called The Way of Play. We’re very thrilled that we get to call it that. Lisa Dion: Yeah, awesome. Perfect, perfect title. Well, Georgie, before I hit record on here, you and I were just chatting briefly, and you were sharing that a lot of play therapists say they wish they had a resource or more understanding of how to communicate with parents about the significance of play. I really think your book fills that gap. You know, there can be conversations about what the play therapy process is, but it sounds like your book is really tackling something deeper. It’s not just, “What is play therapy?” but, “What is play really?” I mean, as play therapists, we understand the notion that play is children’s first language. It’s their language that they’re fluent in. But to write a book on it—that’s a deep dive into that topic. Can you share a little more about your hope for this book? How do you hope play therapists will use it? Then we can dive into some of the content. Georgie Wissen Vincent: Yeah, I think the book answers a big need that a lot of therapists were expressing to me and that I was feeling myself. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could pull together all of what I’ve learned about filial interaction?” At the same time, I was training in play therapy. I came back to the U.S. after studying in England and discovered infant and early childhood mental health. I wanted to start working with younger and younger children because it’s all about early interaction and supporting the parent-child relationship. We know how important it is to continue doing that even as kids get older and more independent. They may be able to get their own popsicles out of the freezer, but we’re still raising them, supporting them, and connecting with them. What I noticed was how impactful it is for parents to have information about not just what play therapy is and how it works, but also their role in the play relationship they’re asking the therapist to have with their child. That role kept getting wider and wider as we started pairing neuroscience, attachment research, trauma research, and understanding of neurodevelopmental differences into our work at the Center for Connection, which is interdisciplinary. Long story short, I wanted to have something to hand parents—not as a replacement for conversation, but as a starting point for us to come together in our shared understanding of the value of play in relationships. Whether we’re talking about parents and children, therapists and children, early childhood educators, or anyone else working with kids, it’s about the same foundational principles. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had the same set of really easy tips to follow, backed by science, all in one place? That’s another reason we structured the book this way. No matter what page you land on, you’re going to find something helpful and supportive. Lisa Dion: OK, so the book talks about the significance of play and the neuroscience behind it. But I’m curious—if you and Tina wrote a book together, it’s not your average book. What are the other gaps this book fills, or what makes it unique? Georgie Wissen Vincent: The incredible thing that happened organically is that I discovered Tina’s work with Dan Siegel when my child wasn’t even born yet. I was pregnant with my son and flipping through The Whole-Brain Child, thinking, “I know all this stuff, but how am I going to do it with my own baby?” I devoured The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline. What struck me was how practical it all was—things like “Name it to tame it” and “Connect then redirect.” They explained what’s happening neurologically in such a way that even an average parent could understand it without being a professional. That’s what we wanted for The Way of Play—simple, easy-to-follow strategies, beautifully illustrated to make the content jump off the page. Even if you only look at the pictures, you’ll walk away understanding play in a new way, deepening your relationship with your kids, and helping them build emotional skills. Lisa Dion: As you were talking, I got excited because I realized this book isn’t just for parents. It’s also for play therapists. It’s about remembering how to play for ourselves, going beyond the technical aspects of facilitating play with clients. Would you agree? Georgie Wissen Vincent: Absolutely! Play therapists facilitate play, but do they play themselves? This book can be a resource for therapists to reconnect with their own playful side, deepening their work and bringing more authenticity into the playroom. Lisa Dion: That’s such a valuable insight. Georgie, let’s shift gears. I want to talk about how you involve parents in the therapeutic process. For many play therapists, there’s this ongoing question of how to balance working with the child and engaging the parents. What are your thoughts on involving parents? Georgie Wissen Vincent: That’s such a great question. I think it depends on the family, the context, and the child’s needs. There are situations where the relationship itself—between the parent and the child—needs support. In those cases, it makes sense to bring them into the playroom together. Maybe they’ve been through something challenging as a family, and it’s important to process it as a unit. On the other hand, there are times when parents could benefit from direct parenting consultation outside of the session. Sometimes, they need support to build skills or manage their own stress. We live in a society that often expects parents to know everything instinctively, but that’s just not realistic. When parents feel empowered with tools and understanding, they’re better able to support their child’s growth. Lisa Dion: That’s such an important point. It’s not about one-size-fits-all; it’s about tailoring the approach to what’s most effective for each family. Georgie Wissen Vincent: Exactly. And there are cases where individual play therapy is the best choice—especially if the child has unique developmental or emotional needs. The key is flexibility and understanding that involving parents can look different depending on the situation. Lisa Dion: That makes so much sense. Georgie, I have another question for you. Whenever I write or create something, I find it expands my own understanding of the topic. Did you have any “aha” moments or revelations while writing this book? Georgie Wissen Vincent: Oh, absolutely. Writing this book forced me to step back and think about how to communicate play in a way that’s accessible to parents. As therapists, we’re steeped in technical language and deep theories. I had to pull myself out of that mindset and approach the topic as if I were explaining it to someone encountering these ideas for the first time. One of the biggest revelations was realizing how much we, as therapists, take for granted. For example, the idea that play is a child’s first language is second nature to us, but for many parents, it’s a completely new concept. Writing the book helped me simplify and distill those ideas into practical, actionable strategies. Lisa Dion: That’s such an important perspective. And as you’re talking, I’m thinking about how play therapists can benefit from that same simplicity. Sometimes we get so caught up in technique that we forget to truly embody play ourselves. Georgie Wissen Vincent: Exactly. That’s one of the things I hope play therapists take away from this book. It’s a reminder to reconnect with our own sense of playfulness. When we do, we show up more authentically in the playroom and in our relationships with clients. Lisa Dion: Beautifully said. Let’s talk about the Play Strong Institute. You’ve mentioned your training programs a few times. Can you share more about what you offer? Georgie Wissen Vincent: Sure! The Play Strong Institute provides a variety of trainings for play therapists and other professionals. One of our flagship programs is a 150-hour course that integrates child-centered play therapy with neuroscience, attachment theory, and trauma-informed practices. It’s designed to help therapists customize their interventions to meet the unique needs of each child and family. We also focus a lot on involving parents in the therapeutic process. For example, we teach therapists how to scaffold skills and support emotional regulation through play. It’s about going beyond the traditional approaches to create more meaningful and lasting change. Lisa Dion: That’s incredible. And it sounds like your program really equips therapists to handle a wide range of challenges. Georgie Wissen Vincent: Yes, absolutely. We’ve had hundreds of therapists go through the program, and the feedback has been amazing. It’s so rewarding to see how they’re able to deepen their practice and make a real difference in the lives of their clients. Lisa Dion: Georgie, this has been such an enlightening conversation. Before we wrap up, can you tell listeners where they can find The Way of Play and learn more about the Play Strong Institute? Georgie Wissen Vincent: Absolutely! The Way of Play will be available everywhere books are sold starting January 21st. You can also visit playstronginstitute.com for more information about the book and our training programs. Lisa Dion: Perfect. Georgie, thank you so much for sharing your time, wisdom, and passion with us today. I can’t wait for our listeners to get their hands on this book. Georgie Wissen Vincent: Thank you, Lisa. It’s been such a joy to be here and to connect with your listeners. Lisa Dion: Alright, listeners, you heard it—go grab a copy of The Way of Play and check out the incredible resources at the Play Strong Institute. And as always, wherever you are in the world, take a moment to honor yourself. Remember, you are the most important toy in the playroom. Until next time!