Lessons from the Playroom

Original Air Date: October 25, 2022 The one-and-only Bonnie Badenoch* joins Lisa for this beautiful conversation about non-judgmental presence and how this is so critical in our role as therapists.  In this episode, you’ll hear: How, as a profession, we've become concretized into the left hemisphere (e.g., in a movement toward protocols, interventions, and evidence-based therapies) and how this has pulled us more into the role of experts trying to "fix" people; What holding a “non-judgement” presence means;  What the “inner community” is, how to be aware and work with our inner community in order to be present with our clients;   How to return to a non-judgmental presence in moments when we experience judgment (and how to even recognize when we’re in a place of judgment); The 2 pillars of non-judgmental presence and the importance of this in our work; and How to engage in our own reflective processes and having supportive others who can truly hold a nonjudgmental space for you.   Listen to this beautiful conversation that gets us back into the right hemisphere in our work as therapists and back to trusting the wisdom of the client in their own healing process. Discover how to bring more non-judgmental presence in your clinical work and how to offer this same space for yourself. Bonnie is moving toward retirement, and we’re so grateful that she could join. Thank you Bonnie and much love on the journey 🙏💕 *Bonnie Badenoch, LMFT, has been a therapist, mentor, teacher, and author, spending the last 17 years integrating the discoveries of relational neuroscience into the art of therapy. In 2008, she co-founded the nonprofit agency Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind to offer this work to the community of therapists, healthcare providers, and others interested in becoming therapeutic presences in the world. For 30 she has supported trauma survivors and those with significant attachment wounds to reshape their neural landscapes for a life of meaning, resilience, and warm relationships.  Her conviction that wisdom about the relational brain can support healing experiences for people at every age led to the publication of Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology in 2008 and The Brain-Savvy Therapist’s Workbook in 2011. Bonnie’s latest writing is The Heart of Trauma: Healing the Embodied Brain in the Context of Relationships (2017). These books seek to build a bridge between science and practice with clarity, compassion, and heart. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Join Lisa Dion for a discussion on a topic that has been requested more than once since the beginning of this podcast, and it’s something we all experience (Yes … therapists, parents, children … all human beings on this planet!) …. We’re diving into the intriguing topic of negative self-talk and why we actually can’t get rid of it (... no matter how many positive self-affirmations we say to ourselves).   Through a compelling exploration of the multifaceted dimensions of negative self-talk, discover the brilliant purpose of negative self-talk. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:  How negative self-talk emerges (hint: It involves thoughts like "I should," "I shouldn't," "I need to," "I have to," and "I'm not good enough"). The limitations of the positive thinking movement and why we actually can’t get rid of negative self-talk. The function of negative self-talk (...it’s likely not what you think). The neuroscience behind negative self-talk and how it’s a homeostatic mechanism in the mind that is actually trying to support you (... what?!). A shift in our understanding of depression and when we or someone else is experiencing high levels of negative self-talk. What actually helps us quiet negative self-talk (...again, probably not what you’re thinking). How to come to a place of honoring yourself, your choices, and your unique way of moving through the world, while recognizing the valuable role of negative self-talk Tune in to this perspective-shifting episode and gain valuable insights into understanding and utilizing negative self-talk as a tool for growth and congruence. You'll also come to recognize that, in the journey toward authenticity, negative self-talk can be your ally rather than your adversary, helping you navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and deep self-appreciation 💕 Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 1, 2021 Countertransference is not something we can avoid, get out of, check at the door, or even separate from ourselves ... In this episode, Lisa discusses how transference and countertransference is really the therapeutic landscape from which to support our clients in a process of deep integration and healing. Using a lens of Synergetic Play Therapy®, Lisa offers an understanding of how countertransference is not something to be afraid of, but something that offers incredible wisdom and a window into the inner experiences of our clients. It gives us an opportunity to become curious about our beliefs, both that keep us from being fully present and authentic, and that support us in being more deeply present, more deeply resonant, and ultimately, more deeply attuned. As beautifully stated by Sebern F. Fisher in her book, Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma: Calming the Fear-Driven Brain, "Countertransference and transference are always co-arising & co-constructing at the place where the therapist's experience meets that of the patient." Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this engaging episode, Lisa Dion brings together three guests that are near-and-dear to her heart: Michelle Wayman, Mili Shoemaker, and Lisa Walton. All three are either Certified Synergetic Play Therapists or Certified Synergetic Play Providers and are joining her from diverse corners of the world - Argentina, Australia and the United States. Together, they embark on a profound exploration of the intricate connections between the therapist and their clients, with a particular emphasis on the intriguing question of why therapists seem to attract the clients they do. Have you ever found yourself wondering why certain clients gravitate towards you? Have you ever noticed patterns where clients with similar struggles appear in waves on your caseload? Or, that you have clients struggling with the same type of challenges? If so, perhaps this isn’t just a coincidence! In this episode, Lisa and these amazing therapists explore the multifaceted reasons behind the client-therapist connection. They discuss how therapists often manifest clients who reflect aspects of their own experiences and challenges, shedding light on the idea that the clients we attract serve as mirrors, guiding us toward self-discovery and growth. Join us as we delve into: Why the clients who enter our therapeutic spaces are not random and what they reveal to us about our own journeys. How our clients are actually our teachers, mirroring back reflections of our own experiences that we might be avoiding or haven’t yet integrated. Why countertransference is not something to fear, but actually something we can embrace to be better therapists for our clients.  How having an understanding of why we attract the clients we do can transform our work, infusing it with curiosity and self-awareness and offering our clients deeper experiences of co-regulation and healing. It's a phenomenon that indeed warrants introspection. In this enlightening discussion, you'll discover that clients are not just recipients of therapy—they are our teachers. The moment we gain awareness about why we attract certain clients, we embark on a journey of self-discovery that enriches both our professional practice and personal growth.  This podcast episode is dedicated to every one of our little mirrors who have walked into our therapy spaces and showed up in our lives … helping reveal to us our unfinished business so we can know where to shine the spotlight, where to do our own work, and where to keep healing within ourselves … and offering us the gift of healing within ourselves in order for us to keep showing up for our others in more expansive and meaningful ways 💕 Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.  

Original Air Date: April 13, 2021 How do we know when we are grumpy, tired, overheated, or overwhelmed? ... Lisa talks about this 8th sense called Interoception or the "How do we know" sense, which is absolutely critical to enhancing a child's regulatory capacity ... Why? Because what we see in the playroom is actually not behavioral issues, but really the child's inability to stay connected and regulate through the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). But what does this have to do with Interoception? ... Regulation and attunement starts with our interoceptive capacity. We can teach children tons of regulation strategies, but if they cannot register the clues that let them know they need to regulate in the first place, what we've done is just handed them tools that they have no clue how or when to use.  And as therapists we need to have this capacity enhanced in us!  Lisa shares ideas for starting to develop the interoceptive capacity in ourselves as therapists and our child clients, in this really important discussion that tells us that our body might actually be the most important toy in the playroom. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Heather Fairlee Denbrough, an experienced play therapist, discusses strategies for supporting children dealing with suicidal ideation. Topics include recognizing signs, creating a safe space for expression, developing safety plans, and prioritizing self-care for therapists. Don't miss this crucial conversation!

Original Air Date: July 5, 2022 We're resharing this fabulous conversation between Lisa and Carmen Jimenez-Pride to talk about Internal Family Systems (IFS) and how to incorporate it in the playroom! In this episode, Carmen, a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and an Internal Family Systems therapist herself, shares how the Internal Family Systems framework  offers a really cool way to hold the client’s experience in the playroom, as well as our experience as therapists. Whether you are or aren’t familiar with IFS, you will definitely want to have a listen!  Here’s a few things you’ll hear discussed in this conversation:  What IFS looks like in the playroom and for our child clients; How to help your clients build a relationship with all parts of themselves (e.g., exiles, protectors, and firefighters); How to support the client in fully embracing all aspects of themselves and the experiences that made them who they are;  How to share the IFS work with parents/caregivers and how to help parents understand their own parts and protective systems;  How to recognize our parts as therapists and how they can show up in the playroom as well; and One of the biggest lies that play therapists may tell themselves and how this can be so challenging to our own emotional wellbeing. Plus, you’ll hear a funny story about Carmen … how she did not want to be a therapist - What?!  And how she did end up starting her clinical and play therapist journey. On behalf of the field, thanks Carmen for going this direction and all you've been doing for communities, families and kids!  You’re such an inspiration to so many! *Don’t know Carmen yet? …. She’s the founder and Executive Director of Outspoken Counseling and Consulting and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Certified EMDR Therapist, Internal Family Systems Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Registered Children Yoga Teacher, Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, and LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator. She’s an international speaker, award-winning best-selling author, and business consultant, as well as a visionary in the play therapy community. You may also recognize her for creating the Diversity in Play Therapy Summit, which has brought together so many brilliant minds working to effect change within the practice of play therapy by increasing cultural awareness and cultural competence for healers working with diverse populations. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa and Robyn Gobbel talk about a topic never discussed before on this podcast and super important for us as clinicians working with kids ... They're talking about the brain (...Robyn loves to talk about the brain), and more specifically how to teach kids about the brain.  But first, we're so excited to announce Robyn's new book coming out this month, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work!! Weaving together relational neuroscience with practical ideas and application, Robyn has created the ultimate guide for parents who would love to understand and ultimately transform their children's challenging behaviors into safety and connection (... guaranteed, after listening to this episode, you're going to want to go get your copy today!). Robyn also gets the reward for favorite bio that Lisa has ever read ... see below for Robyn's bio (... it really gives you a sense of her awesomeness) and a link to her website to learn about her new book and so many helpful resources for you as a clinician and when supporting caregivers - she’s truly creating something very unique, very special, and very extraordinary.  Enjoy this fun and engaging podcast about teaching kids about the brain (... because sometimes, as clinicians we think, oh yeah, that's a good idea, but we don't always know how to actually go about doing it), as well as how to empower kids and grown-ups to understand their brain and themselves more fully.  In this episode, you’ll hear: A discussion about the importance of understanding the brain and its impact on behavior. How Robyn’s own experience with learning about the brain transformed her life and relationships. Strategies for introducing the topic of the brain to children, including visual aids and creating a safe space for curiosity (... including introduction to the concept of the Watchdog and Possum brain pathways as a way to explain brain functions to kids, as well as the importance of the Owl pathway for safety, connection, and presence). How children’s baffling behaviors stem from a longing for safety and connection. How to involve caregivers in the therapeutic process and help them to understand and recognize their child(ren)’s behaviors from a neurological perspective.  Listen to this super insightful episode that will encourage curiosity in yourself, support you in your work with caregivers and help them to understand their child(ren)’s behaviors with the same curiosity and understanding, and a deeper appreciation for how ALL children’s behaviors make so much sense. *Robyn Gobbel, MSW, loves coffee, P!NK, and everything about the brain. Once (recently!) her teenager went ballistic on her for getting ANOTHER (glitter!) coffee mug in the mail. Robyn loves cultivating deep, resonant connections with anyone who is up for it, and is especially fond of all the grown-ups in the world who love and care for kids impacted by trauma- helpers, healers, educators, and parents.  Her favorite thing ever (besides glittery coffee mugs) is teaching anyone who will listen to harness the power of neuroscience so they can cultivate deep, resonant connections. What would change in the world if we could all do that? To see, be with, feel, and deeply know each other…and ourselves. Robyn thinks everything could change.  You can get your hands on all sorts of free resources at www.RobynGobbel.com, including her podcast, The Baffling Behavior Show. Robyn is the author of Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work (September 2023). Get Robyn's book, Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors here: https://robyngobbel.com/book. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.  

Original Air Date: February 1, 2022 OMG! - the synergy between Lisa and this guest is … well, let’s just say, it’s like getting an opportunity to eavesdrop on a beautiful conversation between two brilliant minds! (... and we just couldn't help share this podcast episode again :) Kim Barthel is an award winning Occupational Therapist, teacher, and best-selling author who has successfully merged play, Polyvagal Theory and Sensory Processing. Tune in and discover: *Ways to more deeply understand the body, nervous system activation, and what it looks like in your client; *How to truly understand a child client’s behavior at a deeper level (hint: it has to do with perception and body movement); *How to visibly identify confirmation that something has integrated in the child (e.g., their moments of empowerment or deep connection to themselves); *The biggest misunderstanding about the autonomic nervous system; and *What regulation truly means, how it’s connected to the body, and ideas for how to regulate more through your own body. Listen to today's episode and “geek out” with Lisa and Kim on a topic that they both love dearly - Learn how to safely help a child be in their “vessel” and to access a more flexible, adaptable, socially connected, engaged, and playful response through the body. *Kim Barthel's mission is to support the conscious evolution of the human spirit. Kim is an award-winning occupational therapist, multi-disciplinary teacher and best-selling author who is active in supporting people in many contexts globally. She is passionate about understanding complex behavior, neurobiology, trauma-sensitive practice, attachment and mental health. Kim has 37+ years of practice in helping people to be their best selves. Join her for her online series - Trauma-Sensitive Practice. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

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. ✨ Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.