Episodes

  • 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.

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  • 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.

  • Original Air Date: July 6, 2021

    Goodbyes can stir up complex emotions for our clients, their families, and even us as therapists. In this week's episode, join Lisa Dion as she delves into the art of saying goodbye in the therapeutic context.

    Discover valuable insights on recognizing the right moment for a child to transition and gain practical strategies to offer essential support to both the child and their parents or caregivers, especially in those challenging moments when saying goodbye feels particularly tough. Lisa shares her wisdom on this essential aspect of therapeutic work, ensuring that goodbyes become moments of growth and resilience for all involved.

    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 is joined by Tammy Schamuhn, the Co-Founder and Director of the Institute of Child Psychology and host of the Child Psych podcast. Together, they delve into the essential topic of identifying the roadblocks that sometimes get in a parent/caregiver’s way of fully supporting their child’s therapy and healing process.

    Tammy, an unwavering advocate for parents, shares insights from her experience, discussing the challenges parents face and the importance of involving them in the therapeutic journey. With a co-authored parenting handbook set to release in the upcoming year, Tammy speaks to the complexities of parenting and the need to engage and support parents/caregivers in the child’s therapy process.

    Discover more about:

    The reasons therapists may hesitate to directly engage with parents/caregivers when the child is the focal point of treatment. The struggles parents/caregivers face, especially in dealing with shame. Strategies to align with parents/caregivers, fostering holistic support for the child's healing journey. Roadblocks for parents/caregivers in fully supporting their child’s therapy process, ranging from internal beliefs and unresolved childhood wounds to societal expectations and environmental influences. The key to empowering parents/caregivers to be co-regulators for their child (... Hint: It involves developing sometimes new templates). Helping parents/caregivers in uncoupling their projections to gain a holistic perspective of their child's challenges. The pivotal role parents/caregivers play in a child's therapy process and how empowering them enhances the child's healing journey.

    Don't miss this enlightening episode, serving as a poignant reminder to prioritize parents/caregivers in the therapeutic equation. Explore the roadblocks parents/caregivers face and discover how to support them in becoming agents of healing for their children.

    🎉 And we’re so excited to announce a new partnership between The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and the Institute of Child Psychology. SPTI courses will now be available at ICP through a unique subscription model, providing therapists with an additional valuable resource. Check it out here. 💜

    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 12, 2022

    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.

  • We have a really fun topic today! Lisa is joined by the fantabulous Maria Laquerre Diego to unravel the intriguing world of villains in play therapy! (...Learn more about Maria and some of the amazing trainings she offers to play therapists below.) In this episode, Maria shares her experiences incorporating villain characters into therapy, providing clients with a unique opportunity to explore their identities and feel seen.

    Get ready to talk about all things villainous! Join Maria and Lisa and discover:

    The significance of viewing villains as complex characters with their own motivations and narratives, offering a fresh perspective on clients' struggles and the realization that villains are not diagnosable. Insight into the indispensable role of villains in our lives, exploring why heroes cannot exist without their counterparts. An exploration of the perspective-dependent nature of labeling heroes and villains, challenging binary thinking. The connection between a child's perception of themselves or their world and their attraction to both hero and villain characters. Practical applications, including the use of sand tray figures and dress-up items, to delve into the duality within oneself. The encouragement to follow the client's lead, allowing them to be the expert in their process, whether identifying with heroes or villains.

    This episode will challenge the binary thinking of good and bad and help to embrace the nuanced nature of traits based on individual perspectives. Join the conversation as Maria and Lisa invite you to explore your own perceived "hero" and "villainous" qualities with curiosity and without judgment. It's time to own and celebrate all the parts within us!

    *A self-described geek, Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT, RPT-S is a therapist turned CEO. In addition to supporting mental health providers, Maria takes an active role in addressing the continued stigma of mental health services through the use of pop culture – everything from movies and television shows to superheroes and Disney characters. Maria has spoken about mental health at several local events, has served as an officer on professional boards, and has provided training to clinicians all over the country. Check out her upcoming play therapy conference, Play Therapy: To Infinity & Beyond!, scheduled March 5-10, 2024 at the fantabulous Disneyland Resort!

    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: November 8, 2022

    In this episode the tables are turned and the lovely Jackie Flynn, host of the Play Therapy Community Podcast/Facebook group and the Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summits, interviews Lisa about how play therapy and being a play therapist has become a spiritual practice for her over the years.

    Join Lisa and Jackie as they talk about:

    What spiritual practice means and how doing our own “work” as a therapist can become a spiritual practice; How the playroom is a giant "meditation cushion" for therapists to grow within themselves as human beings; How to hold a larger perspective as a therapist and engage in a deeply self-reflective practice as a way of supporting the client in their own reflective awareness and healing journey; How the moment itself has everything we need in order to navigate whatever is arising in the client’s therapeutic work - Nothing is missing. The Synergetic Play Therapy concept of “One Foot In/One Foot Out” and how this is a contemplative practice in action in the playroom; and How being authentically with ourselves as therapists can support us in truly helping our clients in the most profound ways possible.

    In this episode, you’ll also hear how Lisa's very first play therapy session revealed to her, not only how to help children in their healing journey, but how to experience the playroom as a place of curiosity for what needs to be developed and worked within herself so that she could continue to develop herself as a therapist.

    A message from Lisa to all of her listeners - Give yourself permission to find safe places and connections that allow you to look inward; get curious about what parts of you are showing up in the playroom that are asking you to be in relationship with them; and a deeper invitation to be with the parts of yourself that are emerging - because as you know, 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.

  • Join Lisa Dion and Tracy Turner-Bumberry in this episode to explore the fascinating world of mandalas and their application in our work with children (... a super cool and likely unexplored tool in your clinical practice). In today's conversation, Tracy will unravel the mystery behind mandalas and share her insights into their powerful use in therapy.

    Tracy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor. She brings a wealth of expertise to our discussion as a Certified AutPlay Trainer and Therapist, a Certified Animal Assisted Play Therapist, and a Certified DBT Therapist. Tracy is also a national speaker on a variety of play therapy topics and a published author with her notable book, "2,4,6,8 This is How We Regulate."

    Join Lisa and Tracy for a deep dive into the transformative magic of mandalas and learn about:

    What a Mandala is, its multicultural roots, and the therapeutic power they hold for children and their families; How Tracy uses terms such as “circle art” and “circle play” to demystify mandalas in the therapy process; How to embrace curiosity and playfulness in exploring circle play, focusing on the process and meaning; Practical applications including templates and Tracy’s Wellness Mandala practice; Adaptation of circle play for neurodivergent clients with emphasis on creation of a safe space; Dos and don'ts of using Mandalas in therapy, emphasizing a child-led, non-interpretative approach; Different ways to use Mandalas directively and non-directively, and with individual clients and with their families; Ways to enrich the therapeutic process using music during circle play and the significance of creating a quiet, introspective space; Tracy's insights into recurring themes in mandala creation, such as centering, use of color, ideas of completion or incompletion, and impermanence; and The essence of the "safe circle" and its role in providing a sacred and protected space for authentic expression.

    Tune in and uncover the magic of mandalas and their powerful application in the therapy process for our clients and their families. 💫

    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 15, 2018

    Lisa Dion is joined by Jessica Schaffer, Registered Play Therapist, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Certified Sleep Consultant to help us understand sleep issues for children.

    From the refusal to go to sleep to an inability to stay asleep, a child’s tossing and turning speak volumes. But why do some children want to ban the bed? And how does this look inside the playroom? A play therapist who also happens to be a sleep specialist helps us uncover the answers.

    "Sleep is the largest separation we go through everyday." - Jessica Schaffer, RPT, Infant Sleep Specialist

    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 15, 2021

    Sometimes we can get stuck in either/or thinking when it comes to whether we use non-directive or directive play therapy modalities.

    But what if we could understand the significance and potential for both? What if we could go beyond to see that one is not better than the other? And what if we could honor that there are many paths to healing and that all theories serve a purpose?

    Join Lisa as she discusses how it's possible to combine different theories and approaches, why we might do this, and how to make a decision not based on external pressures, but instead based on the client goals, what the therapist needs, the timeframe, and the context in which the therapist may need to do play therapy.

    Because ultimately, both paths will get us to the end result.

    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 so excited for this next topic. It’s a topic that’s never been addressed on this podcast series and a topic that is rarely explored in the field of play therapy. So settle in, grab something to take notes because Lisa is joined by Ludmila (Mila) Golovine to talk about using interpreters in play therapy.

    Mila is the CEO and President of MasterWord Services, Inc. As a professional interpreter, Mila is familiar with the toll interpreting for survivors may have on the interpreters themselves. For the past 15 years, she has applied her training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy and Trauma Informed Care, as well as skills as a Master Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner and a Certified Demartini Method Facilitator to tirelessly help promote health and wellness for language professionals and raise awareness about the experiences of human trafficking survivors and their language access needs. See below to know a bit more about Mila and her organization MasterWord Services.

    We know that interpreters are sometimes used in play therapy, but there’s not a lot of training for play therapists to understand what the interpreter experience is or how to attune and work collaboratively with the interpreter in the shared goal of helping the child heal.

    This is a brilliant and powerful conversation! And has so much helpful information for us as therapists. In this episode you’ll learn about ….

    The role of the interpreter and how to become aware of the language that is most comfortable for our clients; How to recognize the different cues in our play therapy sessions for our clients when we are speaking to the person in their primary language or in the language in which their trauma occurred; How the play therapist can be both the external regulator for both the child and the interpreter who is also becoming activated as they are channeling the trauma information through them (...as Mila shares, sometimes the interpreter becomes even more deeply affected than the therapist in the room); How to set boundaries in a session that support interpreters who are asked to come into the session and relieve a trauma in a way to help us understand what the child is going through (...that’s a huge ask! Let’s appreciate this and make sure we are supporting interpreters in being in their window of tolerance.); The need for awareness and attuned collaboration between a play therapist and interpreter when facilitating healing for a client; Why we do not want to use family members as interpreters; The challenge interpreters have in the interpretation process itself (e.g., cultural cues, body language and non-verbal cues being different, etc.); The possible ruptures and challenges that can occur within the client-interpreter-therapist relationship with differences in culture and language and how to support interpreters in more mindfully aware ways; The attribution bias and how this can show up in the therapy session in the relationship between client and therapist; and The important takeaways and calls to action that Mila has for all of us as therapists when working with children and their families when there are language/cultural differences.

    Plus, check out the amazing trauma-informed resources that Mila has on her website MasterWord.com for interpreters that you can share with the interpreters you work with.

    *Ludmila is also an advocate for social justice and is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) Trainer of the Year Award, Houston Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business Award; Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Gulf Coast Area regional winner, and Congressional Recognition G7 “Excellence in International Service” award. She’s a rockstar!!!! Thank you Mila for your vision and your 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.

  • Original Air Date: September 13, 2022

    If you’ve ever studied with Lisa Dion, you know she loves talking about the nervous system. And in this episode, she’s going to talk about the collective nervous systems within families and how to help support the regulation of the family system.

    If you’re just as excited about this topic as Lisa, you’ll definitely want to take notes for this one …

    Here’s what you’ll hear …

    How nervous system expressions occur within the context of families; How all behavior (even what we term as dysfunctional) is actually functional and has a purpose; How the family system is always in balance and how it is always attempting to equilibrate itself; How to become the external regulator to help regulate the family nervous system; and How to use this information clinically to inform your therapeutic work.

    Plus, learn a powerful tip that will help you shift the collective nervous system of the family unit in a most transformative 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.

  • 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.