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PODCAST

Lessons from the Playroom

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute"s "Lessons From the Playroom" Podcasts are a series of recorded podcasts designed to help therapists understand the little lessons that kids teach us that make a big difference in the play therapy process. Our podcast host, Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an innovative and inspiring teacher and pioneer in play therapy. She founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and the creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, a cutting-edge model of play therapy

kids & family mental health

All Episodes

48:58

Play Therapy Across the Lifespan: Nurturing Healing...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2026/01/13

What does play therapy look like beyond childhood? In this episode, Lisa is joined by Tara McDonald and Karen O'Neill of PIP Solutions UK to explore how play therapy can support healing across the lifespan. Together, they discuss how play adapts from infancy through adulthood, the importance of creating safety around play for older clients, and the powerful role of symbolic repair in psychotherapy. This conversation invites clinicians to expand their understanding of play, embrace developmentally

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25:45

Are Your Decisions Coming From Alignment—or Habit?...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2026/01/05

"The dysregulation in our body is information about the congruency of our decisions." – Lisa Dion How do you know if a decision is truly aligned with who you are? In this episode, Lisa explores how our nervous system offers critical information about the congruency of our choices. Moving beyond logic alone, you're invited to integrate left-brain reasoning with right-brain awareness to make decisions that feel grounded, authentic, and whole in this New Year. This episode isn't just about therapy—it's

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22:24

Supporting Gifted Children: Navigating Their Inner...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/12/30

Original Air Date: June 12, 2019 "When it comes to giftedness, one of the most important things to focus on is how these children manage their internal worlds." – Lisa Dion Gifted children are undeniably bright, but their intellectual abilities come with unique emotional and regulatory challenges. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores the nuances of working with gifted children in play therapy, highlighting how self-imposed high standards, perfectionism, and intense inner expectations can lead to

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29:23

Sibling Rivalry: Harnessing Conflict for Growth in...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/12/23

Original Air Date: May 29, 2019 "Every family has both peace and war, dysregulation and regulation, support and challenge." – Lisa Dion Parents often wish for a home without arguments, but sibling rivalry is an inevitable—and often valuable—part of childhood. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how conflicts between siblings can be opportunities for learning, growth, and empowerment. What You'll Learn: Why disagreement is a natural and important part of sibling relationships How conflicts can

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42:53

Villains, Heroes, and the Complexity of Play Therapy...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/12/16

Original Air Date: January 02, 2024 Get ready to embrace the playful—and profound—world of villains in therapy! In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the amazing Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT, RPT-S, as they explore how villain characters can offer clients a unique lens to understand themselves, their struggles, and their identities. Together, they dive into why villains aren't "bad" or diagnosable, how heroes rely on their counterparts, and how children often see reflections of themselves in both

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45:33

Breaking Language Barriers: Using Interpreters in...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/12/09

Original Air Date: November 28, 2023 In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Ludmila (Mila) Golovine, CEO and President of MasterWord Services, to explore a topic rarely addressed in play therapy: working with interpreters. Interpreters play a critical role in helping children heal, but their experience and the challenges they face are often overlooked. Lisa and Mila dive deep into how therapists can collaborate effectively with interpreters to create safe, attuned, and

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33:30

Double Duty: Supporting Twins in Play Therapy (Best Of)

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/12/02

Original Air Date: April 17, 2019 "Twins are master co-regulators but also susceptible to losing themselves. The key is to help them find the 'I' in 'we.'" – Lisa Dion Twins may be nature's "2-for-1 deal," but being a twin—or working with twins—comes with unique challenges that singletons rarely face. In this episode, Lisa Dion (a fraternal twin herself) is joined by Susan Stutzman (mother of identical twins) to explore the joys and complexities of supporting twins in the playroom. What You'll

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23:32

Two Roles, One Room: Balancing Parenthood and Play...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/11/25

Original Air Date: June 28, 2019 "It isn't about being a parent or not. It's about showing up in the playroom and being real." – Lisa Dion Being both a parent and a play therapist comes with unique insights—but it doesn't automatically provide all the answers in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa explores the benefits and challenges of navigating these dual roles, highlighting why every parent—and every child—is different. Tune in to discover: How parenthood can inform your work with children Why

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25:08

Why Negative Self-Talk Isn't the Enemy (Best Of)

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/11/18

Original Air Date: November 7, 2023 Join Lisa Dion as she dives into a topic we all experience—therapists, parents, children—negative self-talk. Despite the countless affirmations we try, negative self-talk refuses to go away. But what if it wasn't meant to? In this perspective-shifting episode, Lisa explores the purpose behind negative self-talk and how it can actually support us. What You'll Learn: How negative self-talk shows up in thoughts like "I should," "I shouldn't," and "I'm not good

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47:32

The Clients We Attract: Mirrors for Therapist Growth...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/11/11

Original Air Date: October 24, 2023 In this captivating episode, Lisa Dion is joined by three incredible colleagues—Michelle Wayman, Mili Shoemaker, and Lisa Walton—from Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Together, they explore a fascinating question: why do therapists attract the clients they do? Have you noticed patterns in your caseload, with clients showing up who reflect similar struggles or challenges? Lisa and her guests dive into how these connections are far from random. Clients

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23:59

Nurturing Your Brain and Your Inspiration as a Play...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/11/04

The brain is a high-maintenance organ—and it thrives on challenge! In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how play therapists can stay energized, inspired, and fulfilled by giving the brain the growth it craves while also giving ourselves permission to be authentically ourselves. "We all have deep within us the desire to pursue something that inspires us. We have a natural desire to evolve and grow." – Lisa Dion Tune in to discover practical ways to honor your brain's need for growth, embrace what

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47:05

Supporting Children Through Suicidal Thoughts:...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/10/28

Original Air Date: October 10, 2023 In this powerful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the incredible Heather Fairlee Denbrough—Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor—to tackle one of the most challenging and important topics in child therapy: supporting children experiencing suicidal ideation or attempts. This conversation is an essential resource for caregivers and professionals alike. Lisa and Heather offer practical

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21:29

Broken Toys and Other Hidden Messages in Play (Best Of)

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/10/21

Original Air Date: September 19, 2019 “Broken toys may be a metaphor for how children see themselves.” – Lisa Dion In this episode, Lisa tackles the “little” questions that often carry big meaning in the playroom. What do you do with broken toys? How should you handle food, lying, or a child wanting to take a toy home? Each situation offers insight into a child’s inner world and an opportunity for connection, growth, and understanding. Tune in as Lisa shares practical strategies and thoughtful

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23:58

Honoring Boundaries as an Act of Self-Love &...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/10/14

Often, when we think about boundaries, we imagine a list of rules and restrictions like: you can’t do this, you can do this, and if you don’t do this, this is going to happen. But this isn’t actually the essence of a boundary and it’s not what the boundary is designed for. Setting boundaries is actually a courageous act that requires self-awareness and self-love. It's about prioritizing your own well-being and honoring your own needs. And by understanding the importance of boundaries, we can

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49:17

Multiculturalism in Play Therapy with Dr. Dee Ray...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/10/07

Original Air Date: July 30, 2023 In this deeply insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Dee Ray, an expert in the field of multicultural play therapy, to discuss an incredibly important and timely topic for every play therapist: Multiculturalism in Play Therapy. If you don’t already own Dee’s book, Multicultural Play Therapy, you’ll definitely want to grab a copy after listening to this conversation—it’s an essential resource for therapists working with children! In this episode, you’ll hear

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20:19

Perfectionism in the Playroom: What’s Really Going On...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/09/30

"Perfectionism is the strategy the child is using to manage their anxiety and fear." – Lisa Dion That child who needs everything just right? Who gets upset when the block tower falls or the drawing isn't “perfect”? There’s more going on than meets the eye. In this episode, Lisa unpacks the deeper truth behind perfectionism in the playroom—and why it’s not just about wanting to do things well. At its core, perfectionism is often a protective strategy, a way for a child to manage inner uncertainty,

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49:02

Understanding and Working with Deaf Children in the...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/09/23

In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa is joined by Gabriel (Gabe) Lomas, an expert in the field of play therapy, to address a topic rarely discussed in the world of therapy: working with deaf children in the playroom. This episode offers a unique and insightful perspective that will deepen your understanding and approach to supporting children who are deaf. In this episode, Gabe shares his expertise on the challenges and nuances of working with deaf children in therapy, helping to shine a light on an

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39:56

In Memory of Carmen Jimenez-Pride – Internal Family...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/09/16

Original Air Date: July 5, 2022 We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Carmen Jimenez-Pride—a fellow SPTer, therapist, healer, and a beautiful example of what it means to live fully, expansively, authentically, and without playing small. Carmen left her mark in countless ways—through her innovative tools, creative resources, powerful trainings, books, advocacy, and her deeply healing presence. She poured her heart into supporting the play therapy community, always pushing the edges of what

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46:45

✨ 200: The Final Chapter—Listening to the Wisdom of...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/09/09

This is both a milestone and a farewell. After years of heartfelt conversations, transformative insights, and connections across the globe, Lessons from the Playroom reaches its 200th—and final—episode (at least for now). To mark this occasion, Lisa is joined by someone who has been part of the podcast from the very beginning: her daughter, Avery Dion. Many listeners will remember Avery’s sweet childhood voice in the podcast jingle—today, at 19 years old, she returns for her third and most profound

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46:37

Helping Kids & Families Navigate Screen Time Balance...

Lessons from the Playroom ·

2025/09/02

Original Air Date: June 22, 2023 We are so excited about this hot topic and our incredible guest—Stacy Jagger! Stacy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), and AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She is the founder and clinical director of Music City Family Therapy and the author of 30 Day Blackout and A Letter from Emma. You may have seen her as a regular guest on “Today in Nashville” or sharing her expertise on child development on local morning

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310 results

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