191. Little Lessons Series: Addressing Hesitation, Aggressive Play, and Emotional Boundaries in Play Therapy

Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, answering your insightful questions about navigating the complexities of the playroom. Today’s episode focuses on how to handle those challenging moments in therapy where uncertainty, emotional flooding, and parents’ concerns come into play.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Chrissy’s question: “What do you do when a child can’t decide on what to play with or doesn’t even play after coming for weeks?” Lisa breaks down how to navigate moments of hesitation, offering insights on how to remain present and supportive without rushing to fix the situation. She also discusses how emotional age and developmental stage impact engagement in play.

Sally’s question: “What do you do when the parent tells you they don’t want their child to play with aggressive toys or engage in aggressive play, like war play?” Lisa explores the importance of understanding the parent’s concerns and how to guide the conversation to help them see how aggressive play can be therapeutic and necessary for the child’s emotional expression and processing.

Carolyn’s question: “How do you respond when a child says ‘I love you’ or asks if you’ll move in with them or be their mother?” Lisa offers valuable advice on how to respond authentically to these deeply emotional moments, explaining how to navigate the child’s need for connection while maintaining professional boundaries and emotional safety.

Join Lisa for a candid and thought-provoking conversation, as she offers practical strategies to help you stay grounded and authentic when facing common and challenging scenarios in the playroom.

🎧 Have a question you'd like Lisa to explore in an upcoming episode? Email your question to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or send in an audio clip. Your curiosity fuels this podcast—and the entire play therapy community grows because of it.