Lessons from the Playroom

This is both a milestone and a farewell. After years of heartfelt conversations, transformative insights, and connections across the globe, Lessons from the Playroom reaches its 200th—and final—episode (at least for now). To mark this occasion, Lisa is joined by someone who has been part of the podcast from the very beginning: her daughter, Avery Dion. Many listeners will remember Avery’s sweet childhood voice in the podcast jingle—today, at 19 years old, she returns for her third and most profound conversation with Lisa. Together, they explore what it truly means that the body keeps the score. Avery courageously shares her lived experience with chronic Lyme disease and the surprising ways her body has become both messenger and teacher. From pain and symptoms that point toward hidden truths, to the psychology of autoimmune illness and the role of self-compassion, Lisa and Avery dive into the raw, real, and deeply human ways the body holds memory, emotion, and wisdom. Together, they explore: How the body holds memory, emotion, and unfinished stories Avery’s journey with chronic Lyme disease and the wisdom it revealed The connection between autoimmune illness and self-criticism Why pain and symptoms can be seen as protectors and messengers What it means to find neutrality and balance in life’s highs and lows An invitation for listeners to pause, tune into their bodies, and welcome symptoms as guides toward authenticity Recorded in the intimacy of their own space, this episode is as tender as it is inspiring. It is not only about Avery’s healing, but also about the ways her journey has shaped Lisa as a therapist, teacher, and mother. As Lisa closes this chapter of Lessons from the Playroom, she extends deep gratitude to every listener who has been part of this journey. While the podcast itself is wrapping up, the library of 200 episodes remains—an ongoing resource and companion for therapists, parents, and seekers of wisdom both inside and outside the playroom. 💜 Thank you for listening, sharing, and growing alongside us. May these lessons continue to guide and inspire you for years to come.  

Original Air Date: June 22, 2023 We are so excited about this hot topic and our incredible guest—Stacy Jagger! Stacy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), and AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She is the founder and clinical director of Music City Family Therapy and the author of 30 Day Blackout and A Letter from Emma. You may have seen her as a regular guest on “Today in Nashville” or sharing her expertise on child development on local morning and evening news. In this episode, Stacy and Lisa dive into how screens—phones, tablets, TVs, and computers—impact children and families. For many families, screens have become a distraction from connection or a way to avoid deeper issues. More importantly, excessive screen use is a major cause of dysregulation in kids' nervous systems. 💡 What you’ll learn in this episode: 📱 The impact of screen time on children—How excessive digital engagement can influence nervous system regulation and emotional well-being. 🔍 Assessing screen time use—How to evaluate a child and family's screen habits and connect it to their treatment goals. 🔄 Shifting focus to connection—Ways to help families disconnect from screens and rebuild relationships with themselves and each other. ⏳ The 30-Day Digital Detox—What it looks like to recalibrate a child and family’s nervous system through a screen-time blackout (or greyout). 🌱 Rebuilding a new normal—How to artfully reintegrate screens after a blackout period without returning to old habits. This powerful conversation will give you insights, tools, and practical strategies to help families find balance in their screen use and prioritize connection over digital distraction. 📌 Curious to see if your family (or your clients) might benefit from a 30-Day Blackout? Take Stacy Jagger’s Screen Time Quiz: Click here to take the quiz. 🌟  Listen now and discover how to help families reset, reconnect, and create a healthier digital balance. Additional Resources:   💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities 📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives 🔗 Follow us on Instagram 🔗 Find us on Facebook  

In this episode, Lisa welcomes back Ana Gomez, internationally recognized expert in EMDR Therapy, complex trauma, and dissociation, for her third appearance on the podcast. Ana shares insights from her brand-new book, EMDR Sand Tray-Based Therapy: Healing Complex Trauma and Dissociation Across the Lifespan, offering practical, innovative strategies for trauma work. Together, Lisa and Ana explore the evolution of Ana’s integrative approach, combining her love of symbols, dreams, and sand tray work with EMDR therapy. This powerful union creates a flexible pathway for clients to safely access and process traumatic experiences, reorganize their relationship with their life stories, and unlock reparative, healing moments—even when verbal language is limited. In this episode, you’ll learn about: How sand tray symbols and avatars act as “story keepers,” allowing children and adults to safely engage with overwhelming experiences. Real-life clinical examples, including a transformative case with a child in foster care who connected with his experiences through symbolic play before he could verbalize them. Strategies for integrating EMDR and sand tray therapy with individual clients, parent-child dyads, families, and group settings. How to honor protective patterns and internal defenses while gradually moving experiences from implicit memory into explicit awareness. Ways parents can actively participate in sessions, supporting attachment completions and delivering guided interweaves under the therapist’s guidance. Practical insights for therapists, play therapists, and trauma professionals seeking adaptable, client-centered approaches that facilitate healing, integration, and identity work. Ana also shares where to find her book and access her global trainings and workshops, providing clinicians with tools to deepen their practice and expand their therapeutic repertoire. Whether you’re EMDR-trained, a play therapist, or simply curious about innovative trauma work, this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical guidance for your clinical toolkit.  

Original Air Date: May 3, 2020 The word compassion means ‘to suffer with’ or merge with. This is different than empathy." – Lisa Dion As play therapists, we hold so much. And often, we don’t realize how deeply the work impacts us—especially when we’re navigating crises both personally and professionally. In this essential episode, Lisa explores the nuanced differences between vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue—experiences that are far more common in the field than we may recognize. She also reflects on what happens when therapists are living through the same crises as their clients (as many did during the COVID-19 pandemic), and how that overlap can amplify the emotional toll. This is a deeply important conversation that shines a compassionate light on the realities of holding space for others—without losing ourselves in the process. 🎧 If you’re a play therapist, caregiver, or anyone who supports others through pain, this one is for you.

What happens when therapists bring their own attachment histories into the playroom—consciously or not? In this deeply validating and insightful conversation, Lisa welcomes back Dr. Clair Mellenthin—renowned play therapist, author, and professor—to unpack her groundbreaking dissertation research and explore how a therapist’s personal story shapes their clinical work, especially within family-based play therapy. Together, they explore: Why many play therapists are drawn to the work as “wounded healers” Research that debunks the myth of needing to be fully healed to help others How personal attachment wounds show up in the playroom—and why doing our own work matters The power of mentorship and community in creating earned security and ongoing healing How support systems help therapists feel seen, grounded, and more confident with families Common struggles therapists face when working with parents, especially with limited training Practical steps for building confidence through integration, connection, and focused learning Moving stories that show the healing ripple from therapist to family Whether you’re a student, seasoned therapist, or supervisor, this episode offers normalization, challenge, and inspiration—helping you reflect on your therapeutic presence, embrace your vulnerabilities, and cultivate authentic connection in the healing space.  

This episode originally aired in June 2023 when Synergetic Play Therapy turned 15 this year 🎉 (and was also Lisa’s birthday week! 🥳), which made it the perfect moment to pause and reflect on how far the field of play therapy has come—and where it might be headed next. In this celebratory episode, Lisa dives into the evolution of the mental health and play therapy fields—from early models focused on behavior change to today’s integrative approaches that honor the nervous system, the body, and the power of relationship. You’ll hear about the rise of neuroscience, Polyvagal Theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and the increasing recognition that you—the therapist—are the most important toy in the playroom. 💕 And of course, Lisa can’t help but look to the future, offering thoughts on what might be next for the field, including the emerging role of perception and the mind in the healing process. 🎧 Whether you’ve been tuning in since 2017 or just recently joined us, thank you. We’ve reached over a million downloads, and we’re so grateful you’re part of the journey.

In this powerful follow-up episode, Lisa reunites with psychologist, author, and digital play therapy pioneer Dr. Jessica Stone to explore the ever-evolving intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and mental health. Together, they dive into why the playroom must evolve—offering a grounded, nonjudgmental look at how digital tools and AI are showing up in children's lives and what that means for us as therapists.  Together they explore: Is digital play therapy the same as virtual play therapy?  How do you ethically use tools like ChatGPT, story generators, or VR in the therapeutic process?  And what deeper needs might children be trying to meet when they turn to technology? From theoretical foundations to real-life examples and practical strategies, Lisa and Dr. Stone address common clinician concerns—like fear of the unknown, resistance to change, or overwhelm—and reframe digital tools not as replacements for traditional play, but as powerful entry points for connection, healing, and expression. You’ll hear honest reflections, tips for engaging tech-wary caregivers, and new ways to bring congruence and confidence to your practice—whether you’re curious, cautious, or actively integrating technology into your sessions. 🎧 Bonus: This is Part 2 of Lisa and Dr. Stone’s conversation! Be sure to check out their earlier episode 84: Wrapping Our Minds Around Digital Play Therapy.

In this latest episode, Lisa tackles three little, yet powerful questions that every play therapist faces at some point in their practice. These insightful answers will expand your approach and deepen your work with children. 🔹 What to do when you see your clients outside of a session? 🔹 How to navigate working with imaginary friends in therapy? 🔹 What to do when a child refuses to do their chores or other tasks they should be doing? These are just a few of the essential questions Lisa dives into, giving you practical answers that can make a world of difference in your play therapy work. 🎧 Don't miss part 1 of this series (Episode #57), where Lisa answers even more common "little questions" such as: What to do with broken toys The role of food in the playroom How to handle lying in the playroom What to do when a child tries to take a toy home Get answers to the questions you might not have learned in graduate school but will absolutely need in your play therapy practice. Original Air Date: June 24, 2021 *** 💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:  👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com 📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books 🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/ ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives: 👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/ 🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/ Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

In this powerful and deeply human episode, Lisa is joined by two internationally recognized leaders in the field of complex trauma and dissociation—Ana Gómez and Jill Hosey—for a heartfelt conversation about their monumental new release: The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children. More than just a book discussion, this episode offers a reverence-based reframe of dissociation—not as pathology, but as a brilliant, adaptive survival strategy used by children navigating overwhelming experiences. Ana and Jill share their personal insights from editing this groundbreaking 900+ page volume, which weaves together theory, research, clinical case work, and embodied practices from over 60 contributors. Together, they explore the profound responsibility therapists carry—not only to understand dissociation in their clients but to honor how it arises in their own inner worlds. You’ll hear candid reflections on what it means to be a regulated presence in the therapy room, how fear of dissociation may show up in clinicians, and how co-regulation becomes the foundation for relational healing. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the topic of dissociation or are a seasoned trauma therapist, this episode invites you to shift from fear to curiosity—from fragmentation to integration. 💡 Key Topics Include: Why The Handbook is the first of its kind in the field Dissociation as a creative, protective superpower Therapist nervous system responses and the importance of co-regulation Misdiagnosis, marginalization, and what happens when dissociation is misunderstood The emotional labor of this work—for both therapist and client A call to action for deeper training, relational attunement, and self-reflection 📘 The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children is available through Routledge, Amazon, Caversham Booksellers (Canada), and other major online retailers.

One of the most highly requested topics in play therapy is finally here—understanding sexualized play in the playroom. In this deeply insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Jodi Mullen, a leading expert in play therapy and child trauma, to explore what it means when sexualized play emerges in sessions. 🔹 How to trust your felt sense as a clinician when sexualized play appears 🔹 Identifying red flags and themes that may indicate sexual trauma 🔹 Understanding transference and countertransference as clinical clues 🔹 The key differences between medical trauma vs. sexualized trauma 🔹 How aggression presents in children with sexual trauma and what it means 🔹 How to talk to parents and caregivers when trauma or abuse is suspected 🔹 The single most important thing we can do for children when justice isn’t possible Dr. Jodi Mullen shares real-life examples, clinical insights, and powerful strategies to help play therapists feel more prepared and confident when working with children who have been sexually abused or demonstrate sexualized play. ✨ This episode is a must-listen for any therapist navigating this complex and sensitive work. Original Air Date: August 29, 2023 *** 💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:  👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com 📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books 🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/ ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives: 👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/ 🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/ Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute