Lessons From The Playroom

"The more we try to avoid conflict, the more it shows up in our life." - Lisa Dion Why is conflict so hard to deal with when it arises and something we want to avoid? Listen as Lisa shares what to do when conflict shows up, why it's actually a necessary part of growth, and how to cultivate a relationship within ourselves when it comes up in relationships both in and out of the playroom. 

"When a child comes into play therapy, we are not working with their chronological age, but their emotional age." - Lisa Dion When our clients come to session it is easy to get caught up in thinking that they are their age, when in fact, they are not their age.  At least not their chronological age.  This episode is dedicated to helping you begin to understand the difference between emotional age and chronological age, a few clues to help you spot emotional age and regression, and how to work with these younger states in both your clients and yourself when they arise in the play room.

"The body never lies. The body is always revealing the truth relative to the individual's perception in any given moment." - Lisa Dion Learning how to attune to body language, our own and the child's is an essential component for co-regulation in play therapy.  Staying in our own window of tolerance to helping the child move towards their own discomfort depends on it.  Tune in as we learn how the body never lies and how we can become more adept at listening to its wisdom.

"Let's ask parents, not how they are doing, but what they need and what it is like in their boat." - Clair Mellenthin From the uncertainty, having to homeschool, working from home, navigating family dynamics, and all the other challenges that parents are being confronted with, it is no wonder that so many are feeling burned out, questioning themselves, and needing extra support.  Join Lisa and special guest, Clair Mellenthin, as they talk about how attachment, the many challenges of parenting during the pandemic, and most importantly, how best to support parents in ways where they know they are not alone.

"To overcome systems of oppression that want institutional racism to be invisible, we need to name it! ... And make it explicit!" - Nora Alwah What is social justice?  What is oppression?  What is intersectionality?  Join Lisa Dion and as she invites Nora Alwah, social justice educator and therapist, to explore these questions and offer guidance to therapists on how they can support children and families in ways that create connection, attunement and empowerment.   Nora Alwah is a queer cis-woman of color, and an immigrant from Denmark and Comoros. Nora is passionate about fiercely challenging systemic oppression and empowering people to reclaim their unapologetic truth and innate power. She is a somatic psychotherapist, a social justice educator and adjunct faculty at Naropa University. In her private practice, Nora specializes in working with marginalized populations, including people of color, bilingual individuals, immigrants, queer people, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Visit her

"All symptoms and behaviors a child displays while anxious are attempts at regulation." - Lisa Dion When life and situations become unpredictable, children have to orient to the unfamiliar just like adults do.  The difference is that their brains are a little further behind in their capacity to regulate through it often leading to high levels of anxiety and other symptoms.  Tune is as we explore how to support children through their anxiety and find a sense of security when the unknown arises.

"To the degree you link what's happening in the playroom to the goal, you increase the probability of parent involvement and buy-in." - Lisa Dion Talking with parents is an important part of the play therapy process, but what do we say?  How do we help them understand what their child is working on?  How do we communicate in a way that keep them engaged?  Tune in as we explore how to check in with our clients' most important people.

"The word compassion means 'to suffer with' or merge with. This is different than empathy." - Lisa Dion Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are far more common experiences for play therapists than we realize, especially during times of crisis.  And how are they further impacted when play therapists are going through the same crisis, such as the COVID19 pandemic? Tune in to this very important conversation that is essential for all play therapists to hear. 

"It's normal that you're going through waves of dysregulation right now. All 4 threats to the brain are being activated.- Lisa Dion During a crisis, such as the current pandemic, waves of dysregulation can often feel like a daily experience and even the norm. Why? Because our brains are not just perceiving one threat, but four! Tune in as we revisit the 4 threats to the brain and learn the impact they may be having on our nervous system, as well as the key to regulating and coming back to yourself in the midst of all the intensity and chaos.

"At the end of the day, teletherapy is about relationship. It's about the experience of connection." - Lisa Dion Working with children and families virtually can surprisingly cause fatigue for the play therapist. From a difference in non-verbal cues to the way we sit to the lighting in the room, from hydration to whether or not we’re wearing shoes, all sorts of things play a role. Tune in to learn how to make online play therapy synergize with your nervous system. Podcast Links: Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 1 Regulating through the Coronavirus: Part 2

"The vagus nerve has a crucial part in our overall health and well being." - Lisa Dion The vagus nerve is one of the most important nerves in your body. Not only is it vital to regulation, but it plays a role in immunity and helps the body recover faster from damage. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to stimulate this nerve and help keep it (and your body) working as optimally as possible.

"When you're connected to nature, it will inform where you can go in the playroom." - Rose LaPierre, LPC, RPT-S, ACS From the mountains to the trees to the warm summer's breeze, sometimes we just need our Mother Earth. Bringing nature into play therapy provides a wonderful opportunity to further regulate yourself and your client. But you don't always have to be outside to benefit from nature's nurturing tendencies. Join us as we explore the great outdoors once more!

"Whatever the lie a child tells, it's all part of a protective pattern. And protective patterns are never right or wrong." - Lisa Dion While lying often gets a bad rap, everybody lies (yep, even you!). In fact, it has less to do with manipulation and more to do with protection of self. In other words, lying has a purpose. As therapists, it's up to us to recognize the feelings underneath the fib. 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.

"The object of the same is not to win; the object of the same is to experience playing for the sake of playing." - Jen Taylor, LCSW, RPT-S Cooperative Games are growing in popularity, likely because of their ability to cultivate teamwork and appreciation of one another. In the playroom, they're used effectively with siblings and families, reminding each player that it's not about winning; it's about the experience. 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.

"One of the best ways to support foster and adoptive parents is to let them grieve." - Lisa Dion Working with adoptive and foster parents is a rewarding experience, but the lack of education that runs rampant poses a challenge. As therapists, one of the most important things we can do is fill in the gaps while allowing them the space to grieve. 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.

"Presence isn't just about showing up; it's about participating with the fullness of you." - Lisa Dion Much to Barbie's chagrin, you're the most important toy in the playroom. Still, showing up for a session isn't enough: you must be fully present too. But in order to become present with the child, you must first learn how to be present with yourself. 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.

"How can you embrace your own spirituality, what is meaningful to you, to help a child heal?" - Lisa Dion Spirituality in the playroom not only means working with clients and families who may hold different belief systems, but it also means finding your own. For some, this is a higher power; for others, play therapy is their spiritual path. 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.

"Diet is just another partner in crime contributing to the symptoms that show up in the playroom." - Lisa Dion The connection between gut and brain is becoming more widely studied and gaining in increased importance. For children who struggle, this brings up the possibility that what they're eating is feeding underlying dysfunction. Diet might not be the sole answer, but it could play a vital role in finding a solution. Join Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, and Kelly Miller, LCSW, RPT-S, as they explore this intriguing topic. 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.

"Perfectionism is the strategy the child is using to manage their anxiety and fear." - Lisa Dion Perfectionism in the playroom shows up in a variety of ways. But beneath the need to be perfect sits a child's uncertainty about themselves. The key to regulating this fear and anxiety is showing the child how to come back to who they truly 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.

"It's not that children with SPD don't want to regulate; it's that they can't." - Lisa Dion Sensory Processing Disorder is a misunderstood challenge that can show up in the playroom in a variety of ways. Often, recognizing the issue is the first step in helping the client. The second, of course, is showing these children how to regulate. 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.