Lessons from the Playroom

Join Amit Chintan Ramlall and his father as they discuss defying expectations with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They delve into assumptions about ASD, the Chintan Project's impact, sensory compensation in neuroplasticity, and the importance of individual perspectives in therapy. This episode challenges conventional thinking and emphasizes the need for curiosity and humility.

Original Air Date: July 29, 2020 Discover the profound language of the body in therapy! In this episode, Lisa delves into the power of attuning to both our own and the child's body language, crucial for fostering co-regulation in therapeutic settings.  Gain valuable techniques for staying within your window of tolerance to guide children through their discomfort. Join Lisa to explore the unerring wisdom of the body and learn to deepen your ability to listen and respond effectively to your clients. "The body never lies. The body is always revealing the truth relative to the individual's perception in any given moment." - Lisa Dion 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 today’s episode, we delve into one of the most requested topics of the past year. Dr. Montserrat Casado joins Lisa to shed light on PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), offering invaluable insights for supporting children, parents, and therapists. Tune in as Montse and Lisa engage in a captivating conversation, debunking misconceptions about PANS/PANDAS, and offering new ways of understanding and supporting clients and caregivers. Discover Montse's personal journey and her decade-long mission to educate therapists on understanding PANS/PANDAS in children. Key topics covered: Understanding PANS/PANDAS: Definitions and associated symptoms, including the gut-brain connection. Impact on immune responses and brain inflammation. Primary issues such as OCD, rage/aggression, developmental regression, and restrictive eating. Exploring underlying factors such as infections and toxicity. Trauma responses and navigating overactive reactions. The complexities of parenting a child with medical challenges and behavioral issues. How PANS/PANDAS impact nervous system regulation and dysregulation Counseling strategies with a focus on the brain and systemic therapy approaches. Supporting attachment and strengthening the parent-child relationship. Hope for healing: Insights into therapeutic strategies and fostering resilience in children with PANS/PANDAS. Wow, wow, wow! 😳🤯 Don't miss this enlightening discussion! Tune in now to gain invaluable insights into supporting children with PANS/PANDAS. 💖 Find the resource Montse recommends here: https://aspire.care/  *Dr. Montse Casado was a professor of counseling for 17 years training school counselors, mental health counselors, play therapists and marriage and family therapists. Montse loves working with children and families whether in therapy, schools or empowerment parenting workshops. As an educator, she has done many workshops over the years helping families and clinicians understand children through a holistic, trauma-focused and strength based approach. Her work integrates Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, Trauma, Attachment, Resiliency, Strength-Based Parenting and Nature based activities. Dr. Montse is currently working as a Child/Family Therapist, Parent Educator and Expressive Arts Coach/Educator in North Carolina. One of her passions is to educate child therapists as to how to Understand PANS/PANDAS in Children. 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 15, 2022 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.  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 us in this enlightening episode as we delve into uncharted territory with guest Dave Hompes, a renowned author, nutritionist, functional medicine practitioner, and mind-body coach. With his extensive expertise in integrative approaches to health, Dave sheds light on the intricate connection between psychology and the dynamics of the mind and body. In this captivating conversation, discover: Insights into the profound relationship between nutrition and mental health through compelling case studies, including epilepsy, Autism Spectrum, Tourette syndrome, and more. The most important question you can ask when faced with a client's challenge or issue. Recognizing subtle clues indicating a potential mind-body or body-mind correlation. How individual genetics, nutrient needs, and environmental factors contribute to mind and body symptoms. How the stories that people tell are sometimes more telling than lab results when understanding health issues. Prepare to be intrigued and enlightened as we explore the intricate interplay between mind and body in this thought-provoking episode! *Dave Hompes is an author, nutritionist, functional medicine practitioner, and mind-body coach with extensive expertise in integrative approaches to health. During a career spanning almost 25 years he has worked with clients from all ages and many backgrounds, from toddlers, teens, adults and the elderly to professional athletes and celebrities. He employs a wide range of therapeutic methods to help people overcome digestive, hormonal, immune, detox, neurological, and energy-based imbalances. Dave embraces a multidimensional view of human nature, considering biological, philosophical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects in his work. He has recently founded the Higher Minded Health Academy with the goal of training polymathically-minded health and wellbeing practitioners. 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 1st 2022 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. 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 as she hosts Tara McDonald and Karen O'Neill from PIP Solutions UK in an engaging discussion on the versatile practice of play therapy across the lifespan, with an added focus on the concept of symbolic repair. Prepare to be captivated by this episode, as it is filled with insightful content that you'll want to jot down or take notes! Key Insights: Discover the various forms that play therapy can take, spanning from infancy through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Embrace the notion of allowing oneself to be playful, whether interacting with a parent-child dyad or engaging with a client in their senior years. Understand the importance of tailoring play therapy to suit the developmental stage of the client, even if it diverges from conventional perceptions of “play therapy.” Learn strategies for creating a neuroception of safety for adults around play, including ways to invite parents and caregivers to be playful in their interactions with their children. Explore the concept of "Symbolic Repair" in psychotherapy and its application across different stages of life. Discover the timeless game that transcends any age! Learn about its captivating nature and how it manifests at every stage of life. 🥰 Join Tara, Karen, and Lisa for an enlightening conversation that delves into the myriad ways play can be integrated into people's lives at any age, offering opportunities for profound healing through symbolic repair. Prepare to be intrigued and delighted! *Learn more about Tara & Karen and their training institute PIP Solutions UK here. What is also so exciting is that Tara and Karen will be hosting Lisa for a 3-day in-person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program in October 2024 in Cheshire, UK. Get all the details here and join us in 2024! 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: September 28, 2021 Embark on a transformative journey with Lisa Dion in this compelling episode as she navigates the fundamental question at the core of play therapy practice: "How do I empower parents/caregivers to become a co-regulator or external regulator for their child?" Guided by the mantra of treating parents/caregivers the way we wish them to treat their children, Lisa delves into the intricacies of supporting parents who may lack a regulation template, struggle with the art of regulation, or find their own internal disorganization echoing in their child's disarray. In this insightful episode, you'll discover: Strategies to support parents/caregivers without a regulation template or facing internal disorganization, fostering a ripple effect. The profound realization that all behaviors, both by the child and the parent/caregiver, are rooted in the pursuit of regulation. Four actionable steps to empower and prepare parents/caregivers to seamlessly step into the role of external regulator for their child. Guidance for situations where a parent/caregiver might not yet be ready to develop the essential skills of being the external regulator. Join Lisa in unraveling the secrets to nurturing resilient families and creating a roadmap for parents/caregivers to confidently embrace their role as co-regulators or external regulators. This episode is a must-listen for therapists, parents, and anyone wanting to support transformative parent-child dynamics. 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, we’re turning the tables back toward Lisa’s direction to discuss what it takes to make hard decisions (both personal and professional), the courage it takes to make the hard decisions, and the reasons we don’t make hard decisions. And joining Lisa for this discussion is the perfect person to have the conversation - Robert Abel, Jr., Operations Director for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute.  Join us for a deep dive into the world of decision-making, touching on: Understanding the neurobiology and relational aspects that make decision-making challenging.  Cultivating the courage to authentically express ourselves and face difficult choices head-on. Unveiling some of the tough decisions therapists encounter in their clinical practice. Exploring what happens when we don’t make the hard decisions (... hint: it has something to do with the mind and body). Navigating the decision-making process as therapists concerning the well-being of children, such as mandatory reporting. Supporting a child in making hard decisions including discovering who they actually are versus who they think they should be (... perhaps our most important work). You’ll also hear some of the hard decisions Lisa has had to make in her life (personally and professionally), how these decisions have been instrumental on her life journey, and why her favorite quote is “I’d rather have the whole world against me than me against my own soul” (source: Dr. John Demartini). Tune in to this captivating episode and unravel the significance of embracing hard decisions. Gain insights into the profound impact they can have, allowing us to authentically express ourselves and allow ourselves to be fully loved for who we are. 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: January 16, 2023 Lisa is joined by an incredibly important person in her life - Duey Freeman, a former professor at Naropa University (Lisa’s alma mater) and founder of the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies and the Gestalt Equine Institute. Duey, a true “elder” (as he is described by many) and mentor in the field of attachment and human development, was Lisa’s former graduate school professor and has been one the most instrumental professors in her career. (see below for Duey's full bio*) Get ready to learn about a new way to conceptualize the attachment process and human development- a theory that just may be a foundational piece of missing information in your work as a therapist, as well as how Duey uses equine therapy to re-heal attachment disruptions. This podcast isn’t just for those that work for horses - this information is a must hear for everyone!  Here's what you'll hear in this episode …  An attachment and human development theory that is usable clinically when working with people - the Freeman Attachment Cycle (Lisa integrates this model into her Synergetic Play Therapy courses); The reason why we're always supporting clients in working through the first stages of development ("Is the world ok?" and "Am I ok?") whether we’re working with a child that is 3 years old or 50 years old; What happens for a child when their attachment and developmental needs are not met;  How to bring instinct and intuition back into all our relationships and into all our therapeutic relationships; and How Duey's work with horses and equine therapy can give us greater understanding about our work in the playroom (plus you'll hear something amazing about what happens when a person is put on a horse and having them be moved by a horse...it's absolutely amazing!) This one will not only give you an amazing new lens from which to see your client work and how to become a therapist WITH your clients, but connect you to your own attachment and life experiences at a really deep level (...It might even bring tears to your eyes). *Duey Freeman is a sought after teacher, trainer, licensed therapist, and equine professional around the world. He has traveled to teach professionally in over 8 countries, has developed a practical attachment theory and human development theory that is taught to thousands of university students, has over 80,000 direct client hours, and co-founded both the Gestalt Equine Institute and the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies. He provides supervision to therapists and graduate students, does business and land consultations for new equine therapy sites, and models being a life-long student to your passions. Podcast Resources:  Freeman Attachment Cycle 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.