“Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs.” – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Tony Vallance from the Building Better Brains Clinic for a conversation about supporting children with ADHD through play therapy. ADHD is often misunderstood, but with the right tools and understanding, play therapists can help children tap into their strengths while navigating the challenges they face.

This conversation also explores ADHD from a dual perspective—not only through the experiences of the children we work with but also by reflecting on how therapists who identify as neurodivergent or have ADHD/ADD engage with their clients. How do we navigate the "mirrors" or parts of ourselves we see reflected in the children we serve?

Together, Lisa and Tony dive into:

• What Play Therapists Need to Know About ADHD: Tony explains the core characteristics of ADHD and how play therapy can help children manage the unique challenges of ADHD.
• Creating ADHD-Friendly Play Spaces: Practical tips on designing sensory-friendly, ADHD-conscious therapeutic environments that foster emotional regulation and focus.
• The ADHD Brain and Its Impact on Behavior: Insights into how ADHD affects cognitive functioning and behavior, and how play therapy helps children build strategies for resilience.
• Supporting Caregivers and Challenging Stigma: The importance of empowering parents and caregivers, and how to combat the societal stigma placed on children with ADHD.
• Integrating ADHD Strategies into Play Therapy: Practical strategies for play therapists to create more inclusive and effective therapy sessions.

This episode will help therapists reflect on their own experiences, both as professionals and as individuals who may share similar neurodivergent traits with their clients. Tony’s wealth of knowledge and lived-experiences provide valuable guidance for clinicians and caregivers alike.

Tune in to explore the many perspectives on ADHD in play therapy and learn how to adjust your approach to make your practice more inclusive and supportive of neurodivergent children. 🌟

Podcast Resources: 

• Find Tony at www.buildingbetterbrains.com.au
• Learn more about Hannah’s work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
• 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 19, 2022

In this playful and insightful episode, Lisa is joined by Certified Synergetic Play Therapists Andrea Davidson, Johanna Simmons, and Rachel Freeburg for a lively discussion on the beauty and power of messes in the playroom. From spilled paint to sensory chaos, they dive into the therapeutic opportunities that arise when we embrace the mess.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• How to explain and normalize messy play to parents and caregivers, helping them see its value;
• Turning messes into teachable moments for boundaries, containment, and personal growth;
• Supporting children in expressing themselves and meeting sensory needs through messy play;
• Deciding when (and when not) to have a child clean up based on their treatment goals;
• Tools and strategies for therapists to stay within their window of tolerance when messiness gets overwhelming; and
• How to understand and approach messes through the lens of nervous system regulation and dysregulation.

🎧 Tune in to transform how you see messes in the playroom and discover practical tips for integrating messy play into your practice with confidence and ease. Let’s get messy! 🎨✨

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.

"Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs." – Hannah Young

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Hannah Young, an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor, and child-parent relationship practitioner, for a deeply moving conversation about the role of poetry in play therapy. Hannah shares how poetry can serve as a bridge between a child’s inner world and therapeutic processing—offering a powerful way to witness, contain, and reflect their experiences. 

With her unique blend of clinical expertise and personal storytelling, Hannah invites us to reimagine the role of language in the playroom—not just as a form of communication, but as a gift of presence, attunement, and deep connection.

Together, Lisa and Hannah explore:

✨ Poetry as a therapeutic tool – How writing and reflecting through poetry can deepen attunement and support self-regulation for both therapists and children. ✨ Capturing the unsaid – Using poetry to put words to children’s experiences, especially in moments of struggle, transition, or emotional overwhelm. ✨ Bringing case notes to life – How therapists can transform their clinical reflections into mindful, compassionate narratives. ✨ Offering poetry back to the child – Ethical considerations, creative approaches, and the profound impact of witnessing a child’s experience through poetry. ✨ The rhythm of healing – Understanding how poetry mirrors the tempo and flow of the therapeutic relationship.

And this episode takes an unexpected turn as Lisa is brought to tears for the first time on the podcast, moved by the depth and beauty of Hannah’s words. In a moment of profound resonance, Lisa experiences firsthand the power of poetry to touch the heart, validate emotions, and create space for healing.

Join Lisa and Hannah for this heartfelt and illuminating episode, and discover how to integrate poetry into your practice in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and transformative. ✨🔗

Podcast Resources: 

• Learn more about Hannah’s work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
• 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 18, 2023

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa welcomes Ann Beckley-Forest for a deep dive into working with children and families navigating adoption, foster care, or placement experiences. With her extensive expertise in EMDR Therapy and play therapy, Ann shares insights that will expand your understanding of attachment trauma and offer practical approaches to support this unique population.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What attachment trauma or attachment wounding is (hint: it’s about “the important good things that didn’t happen”);
• How adoptee-led movements are reshaping language, perspectives, and practices around adoption, honoring all parts of the adoption triad;
• The impact of a child’s trauma history on the collective nervous system of adoptive/foster families;
• Why unprocessed trauma persists in childhood and how therapists can address it effectively in sessions;
• Reparative treatment approaches that prioritize attuned experiences over cognitive processes.

Whether you’re new to this work or seeking to deepen your understanding, this conversation will provide valuable insights and actionable ideas for supporting children with complex placement histories.

🎧 Start or continue your learning journey with Ann and Lisa today, and discover how you can make a profound difference in the lives of these children and 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.

"We all walk around in our little cultural bubble, and sometimes, without realizing it, that bubble shapes how we show up in the playroom." – Dr. Carmen Cubillo

In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa sits down with Dr. Carmen Cubillo, a clinical psychologist, Registered Play Therapist, and cultural advocate based in Australia, for an essential conversation about culture—our own, our clients’, and how both shape the therapeutic relationship.

Together, Lisa and Carmen dive into:

✨ The therapist’s cultural lens: How our personal cultural background influences the way we show up in the playroom and why it’s crucial to reflect on it. ✨ Layers of cultural curiosity: Beyond heritage, how systemic and societal influences shape our clients' experiences and why we must stay open and adaptable. ✨ Cultural safety in therapy: What it means to be a culturally safe therapist and how unconscious biases can create barriers to connection. ✨ The importance of rupture and repair: Why acknowledging cultural missteps—rather than avoiding them—deepens trust and strengthens relationships. ✨ Connecting to the land: How understanding the cultural history of where you live can ground your practice and help you become more attuned to the experiences of the children and families you work with.

This episode is an invitation to lean into cultural awareness, embrace the discomfort of learning, and grow into more attuned and connected therapists. With Carmen’s wisdom, vulnerability, and deep experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and expand your perspective.

💡 Join Lisa and Carmen for this transformative discussion and take your cultural curiosity to the next level.

🔗 Resources Mentioned: Learn more about Dr. Carmen Kubio and her work in culturally responsive play therapy.

🎧 Tune in, reflect, and lean on in. 💜

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 11, 2022

In this exciting episode, Lisa is joined by the extraordinary Terry Kottman, founder of Adlerian Play Therapy, to explore the heart and soul of this impactful therapeutic approach. Known for her fun, engaging style and groundbreaking contributions to play therapy, Terry shares her wisdom, humor, and deep insights into how therapists can elevate their practice.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to bring more of yourself into your sessions to create authentic connections;
• Tips for custom-designing sessions to meet the unique needs of each client;
• Ways to deepen your client’s self-awareness (… and what it means to “spit in the client’s soup”);
• Strategies for navigating therapeutic work when the process doesn’t follow clear-cut phases; and
• Insights into attuning not only to your client but to their entire treatment process—an advanced “meta-attunement” approach.

🎧 Tune in to be inspired by Terry’s brilliance, practical advice, and her ability to re-energize your passion for play therapy. Prepare to feel jazzed about your work and ready to embrace new possibilities in your sessions! ✨

Podcast Resources: 

• Synergetic Play Therapy Institute: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/
• Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/
• FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/free-resources/ 
• Aggression in Play Therapy: https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/books/

* 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.

“So much of our healing lies in our ability to come home to ourselves.” – Lisa Dion

In this episode, Lisa is joined by Mili Shoemaker, a Synergetic Play Therapy supervisor trainer, long-time consultant, and dear friend. Together, they dive into one of the most foundational concepts in Synergetic Play Therapy: attachment to self.

Join Lisa and Mili as they explore:

• How attachment to self differs from traditional attachment theories.
• Why moments of mindful awareness are key to healing and integration.
• The connection between attachment styles, perception, and self-regulation.
• Practical ways therapists can foster attachment to self within themselves and their clients.
• Personal stories and reflections on the profound impact of this concept in therapy and beyond.

Lisa also shares actionable insights, including a reflective exercise to observe and strengthen your connection to self throughout your week.

Whether you’re a therapist, a parent, or someone curious about deepening your self-awareness, this episode is packed with transformative insights.

Grab a notebook, and tune in to learn why attachment to self is not only the cornerstone of healing but also the foundation for developing secure relationships with others.

Resources mentioned: 👉 The Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Course – https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-signature-programs/

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 14, 2023

In this episode, Lisa is joined by the trailblazing Dr. Risë VanFleet for an inspiring conversation about Filial Therapy—a transformative model where parents and caregivers play a central role in their child’s therapeutic journey.

Dr. VanFleet shares her incredible expertise in this psychoeducational approach, offering insights into how Filial Therapy strengthens the parent-child relationship and enhances therapy outcomes.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The fascinating history of Filial Therapy and the theoretical foundations that drive its success;
• Why Filial Therapy is a psychoeducational model, not a medical one;
• The 7 essential components that make Filial Therapy both elegant and effective;
• How parents and caregivers become the primary change agents for their child;
• Ways to integrate Filial Therapy with other therapeutic approaches for even greater impact.

🎧 Tune in to hear how this empowering model can deepen the therapeutic process and learn practical tools to bring Filial Therapy into your practice. Dr. VanFleet’s inspiring journey into the field of play therapy adds a personal touch to this enriching discussion!

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.

“Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs.” – Natascha Lawrence

In this episode, Lisa reconnects with Natascha Lawrence, a Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor, EMDR Practitioner, and founder of the FASD Institute, for an essential conversation about supporting children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) through play therapy. This is Part 2 of their dialogue, revisiting a topic that rarely gets the attention it deserves in the field of play therapy.

Together, Lisa and Natascha dive into:

• What play therapists need to know about FASD: A holistic understanding of FASD as a whole-body diagnosis and its implications for therapeutic practice.
• Creating neurodivergent-friendly play spaces: Practical steps to make playrooms sensory-safe and accessible for children with FASD and other neurodiverse conditions.
• The FASD iceberg analogy: Understanding the layers beneath the surface and how they influence behavior, communication, and regulation.
• Challenging the stigma: Reframing the narrative for children with FASD and their families, starting with compassion and respect.
• Supporting caregivers: Why empowering parents and destigmatizing FASD is vital for meaningful therapeutic outcomes.

With Natascha’s blend of professional expertise and personal insights as a parent of a child with FASD, this conversation provides invaluable tools and perspectives for therapists and caregivers alike.

Join Lisa and Natascha for this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, and discover how to make your play therapy practice more inclusive, effective, and empowering for children with FASD. 🌟

Podcast Resources: 

• Learn more about Natascha’s work and the FASD Institute: www.fasdinstitute.com
• 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: May 11, 2021

Separation anxiety is a common challenge in the therapy room—whether it’s the child hesitant to leave their caregiver or the parent struggling to step away. In this episode, Lisa unpacks the nuances of separation anxiety and provides actionable tools for therapists to navigate this tender dynamic.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What separation anxiety is, its potential causes, and how to differentiate between normal developmental behavior and when additional support is needed;
• Creative and playful rituals that foster co-regulation between the child and parent/caregiver;
• Strategies to help children cultivate an internal sense of safety;
• Effective interventions for managing separation anxiety in the playroom, including how to support children in expanding their window of tolerance for transitions and separations.

🎧 Tune in for practical insights, playful tools, and a deeper understanding of how to support children and their families through the challenges of separation anxiety in therapy.

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.