Lessons from the Playroom

Original Air Date: June 28, 2019 "It isn't about being a parent or not. It's about showing up in the playroom and being real." – Lisa Dion Being both a parent and a play therapist comes with unique insights—but it doesn't automatically provide all the answers in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa explores the benefits and challenges of navigating these dual roles, highlighting why every parent—and every child—is different. Tune in to discover: How parenthood can inform your work with children Why having children doesn't equal having all the answers in therapy Ways to show up authentically in the playroom, regardless of your parenting experience This episode is a thoughtful exploration of balancing personal and professional perspectives, helping therapists connect more deeply with the children they serve. 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

Original Air Date: November 7, 2023 Join Lisa Dion as she dives into a topic we all experience—therapists, parents, children—negative self-talk. Despite the countless affirmations we try, negative self-talk refuses to go away. But what if it wasn't meant to? In this perspective-shifting episode, Lisa explores the purpose behind negative self-talk and how it can actually support us. What You'll Learn: How negative self-talk shows up in thoughts like "I should," "I shouldn't," and "I'm not good enough" Why positive affirmations alone often don't work The surprising function of negative self-talk and what it's really trying to do The neuroscience behind it as a homeostatic mechanism in the mind Shifts in understanding depression and the role of negative self-talk Strategies to honor yourself while working with your inner critic How negative self-talk can become an ally in your journey toward authenticity Tune in to gain a new perspective on your inner dialogue and discover how understanding negative self-talk can help you navigate life with wisdom, self-compassion, and authenticity. 💕 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

Original Air Date: October 24, 2023 In this captivating episode, Lisa Dion is joined by three incredible colleagues—Michelle Wayman, Mili Shoemaker, and Lisa Walton—from Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Together, they explore a fascinating question: why do therapists attract the clients they do? Have you noticed patterns in your caseload, with clients showing up who reflect similar struggles or challenges? Lisa and her guests dive into how these connections are far from random. Clients often act as mirrors, reflecting parts of our own experiences and guiding us toward self-discovery and growth. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why the clients who enter our therapy spaces are not random and what they reveal about our own journeys How clients serve as teachers, mirroring experiences we might be avoiding or haven't yet integrated Why countertransference can be embraced as a tool for deeper understanding and connection How awareness of these patterns can transform your practice, infusing it with curiosity, self-awareness, and deeper opportunities for co-regulation and healing This episode is a heartfelt reminder that clients are more than recipients of therapy—they are guides and mirrors helping us illuminate where we need to grow, heal, and show up more fully. Tune in to explore how understanding these connections can enrich both your professional practice and personal journey. 💕 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

The brain is a high-maintenance organ—and it thrives on challenge! In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how play therapists can stay energized, inspired, and fulfilled by giving the brain the growth it craves while also giving ourselves permission to be authentically ourselves. "We all have deep within us the desire to pursue something that inspires us. We have a natural desire to evolve and grow." – Lisa Dion Tune in to discover practical ways to honor your brain's need for growth, embrace what excites you, and stay connected to what drew you to play therapy in the first place. This episode is a reminder that personal evolution and professional fulfillment go hand in hand. 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

Original Air Date: October 10, 2023 In this powerful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the incredible Heather Fairlee Denbrough—Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor—to tackle one of the most challenging and important topics in child therapy: supporting children experiencing suicidal ideation or attempts. This conversation is an essential resource for caregivers and professionals alike. Lisa and Heather offer practical guidance, hope, and strategies to help children navigate these overwhelming experiences safely and compassionately. What You'll Learn: How to recognize subtle signs of suicidal thoughts in children Creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for children to share their feelings Using play as a tool for children to explore and shift their stories Developing safety plans with children and caregivers, identifying triggers and red flags Facilitating open conversations about suicidal ideation with children and families Prioritizing therapist self-care and maintaining emotional safety in difficult sessions Accessing support networks and resources for challenging situations Join Lisa and Heather for this crucial conversation that emphasizes empathy, connection, and compassion when supporting children through some of life's most difficult moments. ❤️ Note: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. 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

Original Air Date: September 19, 2019 "Broken toys may be a metaphor for how children see themselves." – Lisa Dion In this episode, Lisa tackles the "little" questions that often carry big meaning in the playroom. What do you do with broken toys? How should you handle food, lying, or a child wanting to take a toy home? Each situation offers insight into a child's inner world and an opportunity for connection, growth, and understanding. Tune in as Lisa shares practical strategies and thoughtful reflections to turn everyday playroom moments into meaningful learning experiences. 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

Often, when we think about boundaries, we imagine a list of rules and restrictions like: you can't do this, you can do this, and if you don't do this, this is going to happen. But this isn't actually the essence of a boundary and it's not what the boundary is designed for. Setting boundaries is actually a courageous act that requires self-awareness and self-love. It's about prioritizing your own well-being and honoring your own needs. And by understanding the importance of boundaries, we can navigate relationships and maintain our connection to ourselves. Join Lisa in this episode where you're invited to embrace a more flexible approach to boundaries … but we get it - even the words "flexible" and "boundary" may seem contradictory to you right now. Here's what you'll learn: Why boundaries are flexible and can change from moment to moment; How setting boundaries is about taking responsibility for ourselves, not controlling others; How to recognize the clues (in our bodies) that tell us when it's time to set a boundary; Why nervous system work is essential for boundary work; Different ways to set boundaries, such as redirecting, being honest, or removing oneself from the situation; Why rejection often makes setting boundaries challenging (... and when we don't set a boundary, how it's a form of self-rejection); Why sometimes perceived deal breakers aren't actually deal breakers; and How to translate this more relational-boundary setting into our work as clinicians. Tune in to this episode and discover how honoring your boundaries not only allows for connection and maintains relationships, but is a deep act of self-love and acknowledgement of your own worthiness. ✨ 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

Original Air Date: July 30, 2023 In this deeply insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Dee Ray, an expert in the field of multicultural play therapy, to discuss an incredibly important and timely topic for every play therapist: Multiculturalism in Play Therapy. If you don't already own Dee's book, Multicultural Play Therapy, you'll definitely want to grab a copy after listening to this conversation—it's an essential resource for therapists working with children! In this episode, you'll hear Dr. Ray's wisdom on how to integrate multiculturalism into your play therapy practice to connect more deeply with your clients from diverse backgrounds. In this episode, you'll learn: 🌎 What multicultural play therapy is—and what it means to be a culturally-inclusive play therapist. 🤝 Cultural humility—How cultural humility is the cornerstone of creating cultural opportunity in therapy. ⛔ Barriers and fears—Identifying and addressing barriers that prevent us from fully connecting with ourselves and our child clients. 🔨 Repairing ruptures—What to do when a rupture occurs in the therapeutic relationship and how to use cultural humility and cultural comfort to bring about cultural opportunity. 👨‍👩‍👧 Working with families—How to develop a more multicultural orientation when working within the family system and with parents/caregivers. 📚 Multicultural playroom—What research says about creating a multicultural playroom and how to incorporate multiculturalism into your play therapy room. This episode is a must-listen for all clinicians, especially those working with children from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Ray offers practical insights and advice on how we can be more culturally aware and inclusive in our work as play therapists. Don't miss this important conversation that will inspire you to bring multiculturalism more consciously into your practice and to create an environment where all children feel seen, understood, and valued. 🌟 Listen now and share this episode with anyone who could benefit from learning about multiculturalism in play therapy. 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

"Perfectionism is the strategy the child is using to manage their anxiety and fear." – Lisa Dion That child who needs everything just right? Who gets upset when the block tower falls or the drawing isn't "perfect"? There's more going on than meets the eye. In this episode, Lisa unpacks the deeper truth behind perfectionism in the playroom—and why it's not just about wanting to do things well. At its core, perfectionism is often a protective strategy, a way for a child to manage inner uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. You'll learn how to recognize the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways perfectionism shows up in your sessions, and most importantly, how to help children return to themselves—to a place of safety, self-trust, and inner regulation. This episode is a beautiful reminder: we don't have to "fix" perfectionism—we just have to meet it with presence. Original Air Date: November 22, 2019

In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa is joined by Gabriel (Gabe) Lomas, an expert in the field of play therapy, to address a topic rarely discussed in the world of therapy: working with deaf children in the playroom. This episode offers a unique and insightful perspective that will deepen your understanding and approach to supporting children who are deaf. In this episode, Gabe shares his expertise on the challenges and nuances of working with deaf children in therapy, helping to shine a light on an often misunderstood and overlooked aspect of play therapy. In this episode, you'll hear: 🔍 Understanding deaf children—Why deaf children are often misunderstood and how to address these misunderstandings in the therapeutic space. 💬 Challenges of being deaf—The emotional and developmental challenges deaf children face, especially in the parent-child relationship. 🗣️ Effective communication—Why it's crucial to speak to deaf children in a language that makes sense to them and how this influences the therapeutic relationship. 🎲 The role of play therapy—How play therapy can bridge the gap, helping deaf children explore perceptions of themselves and their world. 🤝 Joining the world of a deaf child—How to offer deaf children a felt sense of being understood, seen, and validated during play therapy sessions. 🔊 Advocacy for deaf children—What therapists, educators, and caregivers need to be aware of when advocating for deaf children's needs in therapy and beyond. This episode will provide you with deep insights into the lived experiences of deaf children and how to be a more effective and compassionate therapist, parent, or educator for them. Gabe shares real-life case examples from his own experiences in child welfare and play therapy, and he even reveals what he believes to be the superpowers of deaf children—a powerful ending you won't want to miss! 🌟 Listen to this episode and gain a profound understanding of how to support and advocate for deaf children in your practice and beyond. 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