Send us a text

Happy holidays!!  I’ve decided to take two weeks off to spend the holiday season focusing on my family.

So – I went back into my livestream vault and found this oldie but goodie!

Check out this podcast discussing some interesting information I gleaned from research and what it means for play therapists.

How does being trained to use a specific play therapy model influence clinical decision-making vs clinical decision-making of child/adolescent therapists using play in therapy?

Hmmmmm.  What the heck does that question even mean?

Essentially clinical decision-making involves our expertise and training in a play therapy model and how play therapists engage in the decision-making process to get excellent treatment results for their clients.

Is the clinical decision-making skill level of play therapists who are trained to use specific play therapy models better than child/adolescent therapists not trained who are using play in sessions?

A study by Baker-Ericzen, Jenkins, Park, and Garland (2015) explored the quality of clinical decision-making for child/adolescent therapists who were trained in an evidence-based treatment model (EBT) versus therapists who were not.

This study- Clinical Decision-Making in Community Children’s Mental Health: Using Innovative Methods to Compare Clinicians With and Without Training in Evidence-Based Treatment 👇🏼

Had some interesting results.

I’ll discuss the findings of their study and how it relates to play therapy.  

There are several play therapy models considered to be EBT models, so this study provides some interesting points for child and adolescent therapists to consider when working with children using play.

Join me for this free podcast!

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

🎶 This Week’s Podcast: How Music Helps Kids Heal — A Heartfelt Conversation with Crystal Luk-Worrall

If you’ve ever watched a child hum softly during play…

tap a rhythm while they’re telling a story…

or light up when you mirror the beat they’re creating…

…you already know music has its own kind of magic in the playroom.

This week, we’re going deeper into that magic with a guest whose work is as grounded as it is breathtaking — Crystal Luk-Worrall, a London-based music therapist and service manager who supports adoptive and bereaved families with a trauma-informed, attachment-centered approach.

Crystal is the founder of Clap and Toot (yes, cutest name ever), where she uses musical connection to rebuild safety, trust, and emotional expression. She also works with bereaved families through Shooting Star Children’s Hospice — walking with children and parents through some of the most tender moments imaginable.

And she’s bringing her wisdom straight into our play therapy community.  You’re not gonna want to miss this one.

Here’s what we’ll explore together:

🎵 What Is Music Therapy Really About?

Crystal will demystify what music therapy actually is — how it works, why it works, and what makes it such a powerful therapeutic language for children.

🎵 How Music Supports Trauma, Bereavement, and Adoption Journeys

Crystal will share stories and insights from her work with adoptive and bereaved families — showing how rhythm, sound, and attuned presence help kids process what words can’t reach.

Expect goosebumps. The good kind.

🎵 Simple Ways to Integrate Music into Play Therapy

We’ll wrap things up by connecting the dots with the Therapeutic Powers of Play.

Plus — we’ll share easy, low-pressure ways to bring music into your play therapy sessions (no musical talent required, promise).

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

If you’ve ever wondered how to set up a sand tray during play therapy sessions in a way that feels intentional, grounded, and supportive of your client’s nervous system, this episode is your new BFF.

We’re diving into the essentials — starting with how to introduce the sand tray using child-centered, non-directive prompts and when to lean into thoughtful directive prompts that still honor the client’s process.

Then we’ll get real about boundaries (aka the invisible safety net of every play therapy session). 

You’ll hear the simple sand tray rules I use with kids that protect the relationship, keep the playroom regulated, and prevent chaos like nerf-gun warfare or miniature avalanches.

We’ll also look at how to organize your miniatures so the unconscious can actually grab what it needs — from category-based shelving to keeping everything clean, visible, and intentional.

And of course, we’ll dig into choosing your sand and trays — from why high-quality sand matters for sensory regulation to how the shape and size of your tray changes the experience for your client.

Whether you’re setting up your first sand tray or refreshing your current setup, this episode gives you the practical foundations that help clients go deeper, feel safer, and engage more meaningfully in the sand.

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

If I say play therapy treatment plans, what’s the first thing that pops into your brain?

“Aaaaagh! I hate writing treatment plans! They’re just more paperwork to make insurance happy.”

“Ugh, they’re so complicated and confusing.”

“Treatment plans are pointless. I never use them and they take forever.”

“I get why we need them… but writing them for play therapy clients? Overwhelming.”

If you’re in the mental health world — even in the play therapy realm — you’ve probably thought one of these at least once. Maybe twice. Maybe last week. 😅

Here’s the twist:

 What if I told you treatment plans and treatment planning aren’t the same thing… even though they’re BFFs?

What if I told you treatment planning is the real MVP — the part that actually helps you think clinically — and 👇🏼

👉🏻 a solid play therapy treatment plan has to align with your play therapy theoretical model?

Yeah… I know.

 Your head might be screaming.

 Your eyes might be doing a full Olympic-level backflip.

Totally valid.

But I promise — this episode makes it all make so much more sense.

And because it’s the Thanksgiving holiday season, I pulled this one straight out of the vault.

 It’s an oldie but a goodie, and honestly? It hits even harder the second time around.

In this replay, I’ll walk you through how to turn that frustrating, overwhelming “writing treatment plans” chore into something that actually feels meaningful —

Something that helps you laser-focus on what’s really happening with your clients… so you can help them heal with clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn:
 ✨ Why treatment planning gives your work direction
 ✨ How your play therapy theoretical model shapes what goes into the play therapy treatment plan
 ✨ What makes a play therapy treatment plan purposeful instead of just paperwork

Impossible?

 Stick around. Let’s find out together. 🤓

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

When kids can’t find the words, the sand tray speaks for them in play therapy sessions.

In this week’s podcast episode, we’ll look at how sand tray therapy taps into the implicit memories stored beneath language — 

The attachment patterns, emotional imprints, and unspoken stories that surface symbolically before they ever become verbal.

If you’ve ever felt goosebumps watching a client create a scene that “says everything without saying anything,” this one’s for you.

✨ Let’s nerd out together about how neuroscience helps play therapists understand how healing happens inside that little wooden box filled with sand and miniatures.

Join me and I’ll share how your theoretical lens using neuroscience and attachment theory points the way toward deeper understanding of the power of the sand tray in play therapy. I’ll also discuss three ways using the sand tray in play therapy helps children heal.

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

Sand Tray Therapy vs. Sandplay Therapy: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters for Play Therapists

Ever find yourself wondering, “Wait… am I doing sandplay therapy or sand tray therapy?” 👀

You’re not alone — and it’s way more than a semantics thing.

In this podcast episode, we’re unpacking the fascinating roots and modern applications of both approaches — from Dora Kalff’s Jungian foundations to the integrative, attachment-focused sand tray therapy so many of us use today.

You’ll discover:
 ✨ How your play therapy model shapes what happens in the tray (and why that’s everything).
✨ How to choose when to lead vs. when to follow your client’s symbolic process.
✨ Why holding themes lightly — instead of decoding them like dream symbols — actually deepens healing.

We’ll bridge the theory with the practical, exploring how your lens—whether child-centered, Adlerian, or integrative—guides the way you use this powerful tool for connection and transformation.

Because the real magic isn’t in the sand alone… it’s in how you conceptualize the process through your theoretical heart and nervous system. 💫

🎥 Join me and let’s dig into the art of using the sand tray making process in play therapy with purpose and presence.

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

I love love love using sand tray therapy in family play therapy sessions!

Watching how families approach and complete the activities provides a wealth of information about interaction patterns and how each family member sees the world and their family relationships.

When I use sand tray activities in family play therapy sessions, I like to use activities that allow me to observe interaction patterns.

As play therapists working with children in family systems, we recognize the importance of children experiencing secure attachments with parents as well as developing healthy relationships with siblings.

I would even include helping children to develop healthy relationships with extended family members and family friends who are “family” in a different way.  

Healthy connection and support is vital for all humans, and as play therapists we have an opportunity to help our young clients develop a strong network of support with family and other important people in their lives.

Using sand tray in family play therapy sessions is an awesome way to get a peek inside their family system and circle of support.

Interested in getting some ideas to use sand tray in family play therapy sessions?  Join me for this week's podcast! I’m sharing four of my favorite family play therapy activities using sand tray and tips for using these activities effectively.  

So — If you love using sand tray in play therapy like I do and you’ve been wondering how to use it effectively in family play therapy sessions, then you don’t want to miss this episode!

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

🌪️ Family Play Therapy + Sand Tray = Chaos or Connection?

Ever had a family play therapy session turn into a sand-flinging circus? 🙃 One minute it feels like magic, the next like total mayhem.

The truth is—the sand tray can be one of the most powerful tools for family healing… but only if you know how to guide the process with purpose.

👉 In this week’s episode, I’ll show you how to move from chaos to clarity with 3 practical tips for using sand tray in family play therapy sessions.

✨ Discover how to set the stage so every family member feels included (without power struggles).
 ✨ Learn prompts that turn random sand play into meaningful connection.
 ✨ Find your framework so the sand tray becomes a healing space—not a battlefield.

Don’t miss this chance to level up your family play therapy game—join me live!

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

3 Hidden Mistakes Sabotaging Your Family Play Therapy Sessions

“Let’s invite the parents in…”

Sounds simple, right? 

But if you’ve ever had a family play therapy session dissolve into chaos—or worse, sit in painful silence—you know it’s anything but simple.

Here’s the secret nobody tells you: those messy moments aren’t proof you failed. 

They’re actually your biggest opportunities for healing.

In this week’s podcast, you’ll discover:
 ✨ Why treating family play therapy sessions like “individual therapy with an audience” quietly sabotages progress
 ✨ The real reason things get messy (hint: it’s deeper than parenting styles or planning)
 ✨ How to turn chaos into therapeutic breakthroughs with a clear, confidence-building play therapy framework

Stop white-knuckling your way through family sessions. Start leading them with clarity, purpose, and impact.

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

Send us a text

🚨 The Big Miss in Traditional Play Therapy (And Why It’s Holding Back Progress)

We talk a lot about helping kids heal using play therapy…

But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:

Most traditional play therapy approaches treat the child like they exist in a vacuum.

👀 Reality check:

What kid do you know is paying their own rent, making their own dinner, and handling life without family dynamics shaping them every single day?

Exactly. None.

Families are the ecosystem kids live in. 

Every belief, every meltdown, every bedtime battle—it’s all influenced by the way their family dances together (or doesn’t).

And yet… we often work with kids alone, peeking at the family system through the keyhole of second-hand parent reports.

No wonder some problems keep coming back no matter how many play therapy tools we throw at them.

If you’ve ever wondered – What am I missing? – when progress stalls, you need to be here.

Join me for this free weekly podcast! Because it’s time to stop guessing about the family system and start seeing it for what it really is so your play therapy clients can thrive.

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills