By Lisa Dion
4.9
118118 ratings
The podcast currently has 250 episodes available.
Original Air Date: June 12, 2021
In this episode, Lisa dives into the sensitive topic of death and dying as it appears in the playroom, offering guidance and practical insights for therapists. She addresses common questions, such as:
Lisa provides strategies to help therapists approach these experiences with compassion, presence, and openness.
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In this heartfelt episode, Lisa Dion, founder of Synergetic Play Therapy, steps into the spotlight as she's interviewed by long-time colleague and Certified SPT Supervisor, Polly Douglass. Together, they explore Lisa’s deeply personal experience of transitioning into the “empty nester” phase of life when her daughter left for college.
This episode isn’t just for parents—whether you're facing a significant life change, are a therapist supporting others through transitions, or are simply curious about navigating life’s changes, this conversation offers deep insights on how to move through them with intention and grace.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Join Lisa and Polly for an intimate, thoughtful conversation that will resonate with anyone moving through the unknowns of change—whether you’re an empty nester or simply navigating life’s evolving journey.
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Original Air Date: May 2, 2019
"The majority of relationship, any relationship, is rupture. Repair is the remedy." - Lisa Dion
In relationships—whether with clients or ourselves—rupture and repair are essential. Mis-attunement isn’t something we can avoid, nor should we. It’s actually a key ingredient in the recipe for building trust. Each moment of rupture and repair forms the bedrock of connection, opening the doors to genuine healing and growth.
Rupture, repair, repeat—this rhythm isn’t just something we experience; it’s something we practice.
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Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, where she answers your insightful questions about the complexities of working in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa dives deep into the theme of authenticity and how it plays a critical role in the therapist-client dynamic.
Tune in as Lisa responds to 3 thought-provoking listener questions, exploring how to stay genuine and present when navigating imaginative play, emotional congruence, and handling personal questions from clients.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Carolyn’s question: “When doing imagination play and a client assigns you a role, how do you play that role? I'm often asked to be a child and the client is the adult. I find I respond as the "child" in ways that either surprise my client or I'm given the exact lines and actions to portray. My version of the authentic child when I'm improvising without lines isn't always what the client expects, nor is it always the ideal example because I usually play what I would have felt/said/done as a child and wait for guidance from my client. Hmmm?”
Lisa breaks down how to stay in the moment and respond from a place of genuineness and presence while allowing the child to lead.
An anonymous listener asks: Please elaborate on the statement you (Lisa) made: "I have never seen a child damaged because the therapist was real. However, I have seen children who never deeply connected to their therapist and didn't go as deep as they could have gone because their therapist was too scared to share and express their authentic experience congruently."
Lisa discusses how emotional congruence builds trust and safety, and why being authentic helps children connect more deeply in therapy.
Patricia’s question: “How do you handle personal questions from a child in session?”
Lisa explains how to navigate personal inquiries while staying attuned to the therapeutic goals and the child’s unique needs.
Join Lisa for a rich, reflective conversation that offers practical insights for therapists looking to deepen their authenticity and connection in the playroom.
*We love hearing from you! Have a question or scenario for Lisa to discuss? Send your questions to [email protected] or submit an audio clip. Your questions inspire meaningful growth and learning for all of us.
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* 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 24, 2017
Setting boundaries in the playroom can be a complex process! When to set them? How to set them? Why to set them? Is it important to set them? In this archived episode, Lisa Dion dives deep into these crucial questions, offering new insights on setting boundaries with children in ways you might not have considered before.
Join Lisa as she explores:
Revisit this crucial topic to gain valuable insights into supporting your clients' therapeutic journeys, navigating boundaries, and fostering a sense of safety in your play therapy sessions.
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Lisa welcomes back the remarkable Marie José Dhaese, a trailblazer in the field of play therapy and the original creator of expressive play therapies. Building on their previous conversation about Holistic Expressive Play Therapy, Lisa and Marie José dive even deeper into the profound journey of healing, attachment, and reconnecting to one's true nature. With over 50 years of experience as a registered clinical counselor, art therapist, and play therapy supervisor, Marie José shares her deep wisdom and heartfelt reflections on what it takes to create a therapeutic environment where children can reconnect to themselves and thrive.
In this episode, you will explore:
Join Lisa and Marie José for a thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation that will inspire therapists to reflect on their own journey, deepen their connection to their clients, and create spaces where true healing can unfold. This episode is filled with wisdom for those seeking to support children on their path to self-discovery and resilience.
As mentioned in the podcast, explore Marie José’s play sanctuary for children here: 💛 https://youtu.be/Lb20F3jF2nA?si=HSKWeTLQcrwlDtQn
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Original air date: May 24, 2022
In this special episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa Dion welcomes the amazing Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, a faculty member at Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. Dr. Goldstein has uniquely applied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to children, making her a pioneer in this field.
Hear the delightful story of how Bonnie and Lisa met at the Australian Childhood Foundation's trauma conference in Melbourne in 2019, instantly connecting over dinner and sparking a meaningful professional relationship.
Join Bonnie and Lisa as they discuss how to integrate the body into therapy practice to empower child clients, covering:
You'll also hear numerous client stories illustrating how to incorporate sensorimotor work into your practice and get introduced to Bonnie's unique co-therapist who assists in her sessions.
About Dr. Bonnie Goldstein: Dr. Goldstein is dedicated to fostering and healing relationships through attachment theory, somatic and mindful awareness, and group psychotherapy. She is the founder/director of the Lifespan Psychological Center and a faculty member at the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. With several publications to her name, she is currently co-authoring a book on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Children with Pat Ogden, soon to be published by Norton Publishing.
Tune in for an inspiring episode filled with practical insights and heartwarming stories that highlight the transformative power of sensorimotor psychotherapy in play therapy.
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Lisa is back to answer more of your burning questions! And this time, we’re diving deep into the world of teens, one of the most complex and rewarding populations to work with in the playroom.
In this episode, Lisa addresses 3 thought-provoking questions submitted by listeners, shedding light on adolescents' nuanced and sometimes perplexing behaviors.
Karen asks: "What do you do when a teen doesn’t want to engage or say anything?"
Lisa explores multiple angles to approach this challenge and offers insights into how to keep the relational connection alive, even when words are few.
Sorina wonders: "How do you handle it when tweens repeatedly ask when the session can be done or if they can be done with therapy (parent wants them in therapy)?"
Lisa explores how to respond to these moments and how to create a space that aligns with a teen's unique needs and interests, even when those interests clash with their parents’.
Mary asks: "What do you say when a 17-year-old autistic teen is showing you their video game. You don’t understand something and you ask them a question. Their response is, 'That is the dumbest question anyone could ever ask'?"
Lisa shares how to handle these tricky situations and turn them into opportunities for deeper understanding and connection, using key concepts from Synergetic Play Therapy.
Join us for a rich discussion filled with insights, strategies, and reminders on how to connect with and support teens in a meaningful way.
*We appreciate your questions and encourage you to keep them coming! If you have a question or a scenario you’d like Lisa to discuss, email us at [email protected], or better yet, send an audio clip of your question. Your questions help us all grow and learn together in this beautiful journey of play therapy.
Podcast Resources:
* 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 28, 2023
We're resharing this episode in which Lisa revisits a frequently asked question: how to support parents and caregivers in regulating themselves and ultimately co-regulating with their child when the child is dysregulated. Offering co-regulatory moments to parents can repattern their nervous systems, empowering them to become their child’s external regulator.
Join Lisa as she covers:
Consider this important question with Lisa: Are we willing to do what we can to create new templates for parents and caregivers, and based on our therapeutic approach, how might we do that? This episode is essential for therapists seeking to enhance their work with families by fostering co-regulation and deeper connections.
Podcast Resources:
* 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 insightful episode, Lisa welcomes back the incredible Liliana Baylon, a bilingual English and Spanish multicultural therapist and cultural ambassador for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. Building on their previous conversation about the experiences of immigrants and refugees, Lisa and Liliana delve into the evolving language and understanding around newcomers, which includes migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Liliana, who has over a decade of clinical experience primarily treating LatinX community members, shares her expertise on the complexities newcomers face beyond migration trauma, such as post-migration trauma, acculturation stress, and assimilation challenges. They discuss the misconceptions and biases that therapists might hold, the multi-faceted traumas newcomers endure, and the importance of creating a culturally aware and curious therapeutic environment.
In this episode, you will learn about:
Join Lisa and Liliana for a heartfelt and educational conversation that will deepen your understanding and enhance your therapeutic practice with newcomers. Don’t miss out on Liliana’s wisdom and practical advice for creating a supportive and culturally aware therapeutic environment.
“Beyond simple labels, such as Latina or Immigrant, our individual and collective identities encompass a range of experiences, aptitudes, and viewpoints that add to a complex and nuanced understanding of our shared humanity” - Liliana Baylon
Find Liliana’s powerful TedEx talk about her personal experiences of assimilation and cultural identity on her website at lilianabaylon.com.
Podcast Resources:
* 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 podcast currently has 250 episodes available.
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