Lessons from the Playroom

In this Lessons from the Playroom podcast, Lisa clarifies one of the biggest misconceptions out there right now for parents and therapists - that regulation means being CALM. ...You've likely heard the idea that a child needs a calm adult in order to regulate - that in order to regulate, the adult needs to be and stay calm - or that an adult's "calm" presence is the answer to regulating a child when they are dysregulated. But if you've ever tried to truly stay calm when a child is activated, screaming, throwing a tantrum, doing something scary, or even shutting down and withdrawing, you know that it's actually really hard to be or stay calm (... nearly impossible) because inside you're likely feeling your own activation and states of dysregulation. So what do we do instead? .... Join Lisa is this discussion and learn: What regulation is and what it isn't (defining regulation in relation to the autonomic nervous system); How to access our ventral state in the midst of a child's dysregulation; What regulation (and co-regulation) really looks like in the moment (... hint: it's not to calm them down or try to look calm as the adult to calm them down); Why regulation is not better than dysregulation (calm is not better than mad or anxious for example) - it's all information and both are necessary for integration and learning how to regulate; How the impulse to get a child to "calm down" has very little to do with the child and everything to do with us and our inability in the moment to access our ventral state; The key to not setting ourselves up for shame and helplessness as parents/caregivers and therapists when our children or child clients are dysregulated, flooded, and overwhelmed; A new definition of emotional intelligence and a new way to cultivate emotional intelligence for children by helping them connect to themselves and access their ventral in the midst of all that activation. Let's put the word "calm" in the drawer for a little while ... Not forever because calm is an important state of the nervous system and just as important as all the other ones ... But just for a little while because we've become overly attached to the word... … And consider replacing "calm" with the word "connect." - To connect to ourselves in our own moments of dysregulation and when we're with a child that is starting to get activated and dysregulated. And next time we read or hear something that says a child needs a calm adult when they're having a hard time or are dysregulated, pause for a second and understand that what a child really needs is an adult that can connect to ventral, to themselves, be honest about their internal experience, not need to runaway from it, but knows how to be in it without losing themselves - not for the adult to pretend they are calm when inside they're having a really challenging time. 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.

Lisa Dion met her next guest at her very first APT conference. She was doing a presentation on supervision. As Lisa sat in her course, she remembers thinking, "Who is this woman?! Wow!" She was so captivated by her and her teaching. And today, Lisa is delighted to be joined by Paris Goodyear-Brown, the creator of the TraumaPlay™ model, the founder and Clinical Director of Nurture House, and the Executive Director of the TraumaPlay™ Institute. She is an internationally renowned speaker, a prolific author, and a master clinician. Join them as they talk about how holding hard stories can be complicated, challenging, and at times confusing especially when your own stuff as a therapist comes up … Because in a sense, we're all dedicated (... probably not consciously) to a lifelong inner-process and journey of self reflection and discovery as a way of being in service to others … Learn more about how knowing many play therapy modalities helps you to be able to say "yes, yes, and yes" to all the clients that walk in your doors; How to hold both your client's stories and your own stories in connected, fun and compassionate ways; Learn more about TraumaPlay and this beautiful idea of the "cascade of care" and the "Play Therapist Pallett" technique as ways to mitigate hearing hard stories; Ways to practice self-care as a therapist and "detox" the trauma energy after a session; How to help parents/caregivers hold their own and their child's hard stories, especially when grief and gratitude doesn't go hand-in-hand. Listen to today's episode and discover not only how to show up for yourself and your clients in ways that are connected and compassionate, but a way of walking alongside your clients as they "tell" their hard stories. 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 most beautiful and eye-opening (and, unfortunately, so relevant to what's happening in the world right now) conversation with someone very dear to her about understanding the experience of immigrants and refugees. Liliana Baylon is a bilingual (English-Spanish), bicultural therapist and Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor. And today she talks with Lisa about understanding the experience of immigrant and refugee families, and some really important things to be aware of that will widen your cultural lens and shape how you work with your clients. Liliana will share insights from her own journey, as well as how this has led to her interest and niche in treating couples and children who have experienced trauma/abuse and multicultural issues from an attachment lens. Here's what you'll hear in Lisa's conversation with Liliana… Understand the experience and challenges of immigrants and refugees; How to support immigrant and refugee clients with a process of grieving - becoming aware of their journey, perceived challenges, and giving language to organize what they are going through (e.g., their emotions, needs and hopes); Understand the nervous system experience of immigrants/refugees and what it means for their identity and their internal/external sense of safety; Learn the perceptions of immigrants and refugees from the SPT concept of the 4 threats to the brain - physical safety, perceptions of the unknown, incongruence in the environment, and shoulds/unmet expectations; How to hold the family when there has been intergenerational disruptions and support them in repairing the ruptures and coming back together; Understand the crisis that an immigrant or refugee is faced with regarding their "global perspective" - their view of self, view of others, and view of the world; and How to hold space for clients with the intention of helping them answer the questions: "Who am I?", "What do I want?", "What is important to me?", "What are my values?", and "How can I be myself in my many worlds/cultures?" As you listen, you're invited to pause and notice what comes up for you ... Noticing moments where you might feel a need to advocate, fix, or rescue ... And if you do, consider, as Liliana shares, what possibly might we be taking away from our clients including how this may impact their journey to empowerment - wow, just so powerful! Listen to today's episode and expand your cultural lens when working with immigrant and refugee clients/families - Take what Liliana shares and become a bit more sensitive, aware, and curious, as well as feel more resourced with your clients when normalizing and speaking to what the experience might have been for them. *Liliana Baylon holds a Master's Degree of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy in addition to being an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Register Play Therapist - Supervisor, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, ICEEFT Certified EFT Therapist, EMDR Certified, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist - Consultant, Completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, AF-CBT trained, and an Independent Facilitator of the Becoming a Love and Logic Parent Way. 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.

Drumroll please ….. Lisa Dion and her next guest have a super exciting announcement to make (hint: if you're a teacher, educator, school counselor or work in any way with schools, you're going to love this 😍) Join Lisa and Judy Norman, Certified SPT therapist/supervisor and SPT co-teacher as they share the launch of the Synergetic Education™ Institute (https://synergeticeducation.com/). 🎉🙌 ...It's been years in the making as they've both seen the profound impact of bringing Synergetic Play Therapy® tenets into schools to support educators, school-based mental health professionals, and educational leaders. In fact, it's been such a success, Heather Forbes, Founder of Beyond Consequences Institute, "Help for Billy" Author, Speaker, and Developmental Trauma Expert (...many of you may know of her) referred to one of their schools as the most advanced trauma-informed schools she's ever visited! (...wow, thank you Heather 🙏💕). Not only will you learn more about this new Institute and it's trainings - a real paradigm shift, but you'll also hear: *Ways to collaborate with schools if you're a play therapist; How to shift your mindset to help empower educators; The 5 developmental stages of where an educator is at in the process of meeting children where they are at; A reframe on what trauma-informed really means at an education level; How to redefine self-care and help teachers develop a deeper relationship within themselves (SPT-style); New resources that you can bring into your practice today. Listen to today's episode and discover why Heather Forbes believes that what Judy and the Synergetic Education™ Institute is doing in the schools is creating "the most [that she has ever visited. - And she has visited a lot!] advanced trauma-informed school(s)" where every student knows "they matter and are important." 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.

This next Lessons from the Playroom guest gave Lisa the most amazing surprise when she jumped on - it filled Lisa with so much joy, delight and an urge to connect … And this is totally what they're talking about today - how to captivate, engage, be with (along with what to do), and create a playful connection with your child clients during the initial play therapy session. Lisa is joined by the one and only Liana Lowenstein. Liana is a Registered Clinical Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist - Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto, Canada for 32 years. She has 12 books (and is about to release her 13th!!) used by mental health professionals all over the world. Join Lisa and Liana in a conversation about: How to engage children (and their parents/caregivers) in the initial session (Liana will give tons of ideas, games and activities); Knowing when a child is engaging and what to do if they're feeling anxious or struggling to connect; How to bring your play techniques, ideas and activities to life in an attuned way for your clients; and The significance of "being with" your client in order to facilitate "the doing" aspects of a play therapy session Listen to today's episode and discover some really, really cool play therapy activities, techniques, strategies and ideas to use with your clients. **And check out Liana's newest book, Assessment & Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents & Families (vol. 4) that was just released today - there's one creative and playful idea after another from so many therapists from around the world - it will fill your mind with so many different possibilities and strategies. 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 Lessons from the Playroom episode, Lisa discusses the #1 thing that will get you off track as a therapist ... and it's trying to be someone you're not! Despite messages that might suggest differently, authenticity and "being yourself" is not easy and has so many implications for therapists. Join Lisa in a conversation to explore: How you know when you're trying to be someone you're not; Why it's so important to be yourself in the playroom; How to show up most like yourself and embody what feels true for you as a therapist; and How to access a deeper level of attunement that is needed to support your clients. Tune in and join Lisa on the journey to learn more about this most essential ingredient to your client's healing journey - and this time it's about discovering who you are as a therapist. *If you'd like to learn how to develop a more embodied practice to support your clients on their healing journey, check out this episode on Interoception & Play Therapy (episode # 91). 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.

OMG! - the synergy between Lisa and her next guest is … well, let's just say, it's like getting an opportunity to eavesdrop on a beautiful conversation between two brilliant minds! 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.

Lisa Dion's next special guest is a Certified SPT therapist, coach, mom and Yoga instructor. She's known her for years - all the way back to when Lauren worked in Cape Town, South Africa. Listen as Lauren Porter and Lisa talk about how to make Yoga a practice that can support you as a therapist and redefine and unpack yoga in a way that maybe you haven't considered… ...And how getting to know yourself more and experiencing a widening of your window of tolerance for your emotional states can help your practice as a therapist tenfold. Whether you're experienced in yoga or not, deepen your understanding of the possibility of how yoga can support you in being with your clients in more embodied ways. You'll discover: What yoga is really about (hint: it's not to help you feel better) How yoga gives understanding to both the conceptual world and the embodied YOU How to overcome the mental, emotional and physical blocks that prevent you (and all of us) from having a lived experience How to use yoga as a practice for knowing yourself more and why it's so important to consider if you're a therapist How yoga can "hold you" in times of flooding or overwhelm The connection between yoga and [one of Lisa's favorite concepts) Interoception All the ways that a yoga practice can look (...the answer might surprise you) And before she goes, Lauren guides you through an exercise to unlock the diaphragm (...it's perfect for when someone says, "take a deep breath" and you can't - because this absolutely happens sometimes … or more times than we want to count). Listen to today's episode and expand your capacity for accessing the ventral vagal response so that you're able to stay connected to yourself with whatever is happening in you and around you (...playroom included). 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.

Happy New Year! To kick off January 2022's first podcast, Lisa Dion is jumping into another most requested topic - Translating the Play to Parents/Caregivers. In this episode you'll find out why this can be such a challenge for play therapists, but oh-so important! Learn 4 tips for how to translate the child's play to parents/ caregivers including how to: Set the stage early on in the process for parents about what they can expect and to honor/protect the confidentiality of what's going on in the room with the child client. Develop or enhance parent buy-in within the therapeutic process. Translate what the child is doing in the room to the parents (being able to shift from a right-brain experience to a left-brain process) Maintain congruence and authenticity when explaining to parents what's happening in the child's process Note: If it's helpful, you might want to return to podcast episode #13 to discover how to set great goals in the playroom. We know it's tough work being a play therapist - a gentle reminder to give yourself grace and time in the process, as well as know that you're doing an amazing job already and it's good enough - You are 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.

We're ending the year with our most requested topic - Working With Childhood Sexual Abuse In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Sueann Kenney-Noziska whose work with sexually abused children and adolescents is absolutely remarkable. In addition to maintaining a full-time private practice, she is internationally recognized as an esteemed author, guest lecturer, and professional speaker (... a phenomenal speaker!). Sueann has been educating therapists, courts, and community partners for years regarding the impact of trauma, dynamics of sexual abuse, delayed disclosure, and other matters pertaining to childhood abuse and trauma. This episode is packed with so much information, you might want a paper and pen to take notes. And join them in a conversation to explore: Challenges (and rewards) of working with this population Common dynamics that occur during sexual abuse The disclosure process and why it's so hard for children/teenagers to disclose Ways to support parents in building relationships with their children for future open dialogue/disclosure How the trauma narrative can look differently for these children and in a play therapy process Ways to navigate this work while taking care of yourself to prevent vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue Listen to today's episode and let Sueann's wisdom give you insight and clarity on working with this very special population through the play therapy process. 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.