Lessons from the Playroom

• Multiculturalism in Play Therapy with Dr. Dee Ray (Best Of)

  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 Dr. Ray’s wisdom on how to integrate multiculturalism into your play therapy practice to connect more deeply with your clients from diverse backgrounds. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🌎 What multicultural play therapy is—and what it means to be a culturally-inclusive play therapist. 🤝 Cultural humility—How cultural humility is the cornerstone of creating cultural opportunity in therapy. ⛔ Barriers and fears—Identifying and addressing barriers that prevent us from fully connecting with ourselves and our child clients. 🔨 Repairing ruptures—What to do when a rupture occurs in the therapeutic relationship and how to use cultural humility and cultural comfort to bring about cultural opportunity. 👨‍👩‍👧 Working with families—How to develop a more multicultural orientation when working within the family system and with parents/caregivers. 📚 Multicultural playroom—What research says about creating a multicultural playroom and how to incorporate multiculturalism into your play therapy room. This episode is a must-listen for all clinicians, especially those working with children from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Ray offers practical insights and advice on how we can be more culturally aware and inclusive in our work as play therapists. Don’t miss this important conversation that will inspire you to bring multiculturalism more consciously into your practice and to create an environment where all children feel seen, understood, and valued. 🌟 Listen now and share this episode with anyone who could benefit from learning about multiculturalism in play therapy. Additional Resources:   💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities 📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives 🔗 Follow us on Instagram 🔗 Find us on Facebook

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• Perfectionism in the Playroom: What’s Really Going On Beneath the Surface? (Best Of)

  "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, fear, and anxiety. You’ll learn how to recognize the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways perfectionism shows up in your sessions, and most importantly, how to help children return to themselves—to a place of safety, self-trust, and inner regulation. This episode is a beautiful reminder: we don’t have to “fix” perfectionism—we just have to meet it with presence. Original Air Date: November 22, 2019

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• Understanding and Working with Deaf Children in the Playroom | Gabriel Lomas (Best Of)

  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 often misunderstood and overlooked aspect of play therapy. In this episode, you'll hear: 🔍 Understanding deaf children—Why deaf children are often misunderstood and how to address these misunderstandings in the therapeutic space. 💬 Challenges of being deaf—The emotional and developmental challenges deaf children face, especially in the parent-child relationship. 🗣️ Effective communication—Why it's crucial to speak to deaf children in a language that makes sense to them and how this influences the therapeutic relationship. 🎲 The role of play therapy—How play therapy can bridge the gap, helping deaf children explore perceptions of themselves and their world. 🤝 Joining the world of a deaf child—How to offer deaf children a felt sense of being understood, seen, and validated during play therapy sessions. 🔊 Advocacy for deaf children—What therapists, educators, and caregivers need to be aware of when advocating for deaf children’s needs in therapy and beyond. This episode will provide you with deep insights into the lived experiences of deaf children and how to be a more effective and compassionate therapist, parent, or educator for them. Gabe shares real-life case examples from his own experiences in child welfare and play therapy, and he even reveals what he believes to be the superpowers of deaf children—a powerful ending you won’t want to miss! 🌟 Listen to this episode and gain a profound understanding of how to support and advocate for deaf children in your practice and beyond. Additional Resources:   💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities 📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives 🔗 Follow us on Instagram 🔗 Find us on Facebook

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• In Memory of Carmen Jimenez-Pride – Internal Family Systems in the Playroom (Best of)

  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 was possible with boldness, brilliance, and compassion. Her clients, colleagues, supervisees, trainees, and all who knew her were profoundly touched by her gifts. We hold them—and her loved ones—in our thoughts during this time. In her honor, we are resharing this powerful and inspiring conversation between Lisa and Carmen on integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) into the playroom. Like Carmen’s work, this episode continues to expand hearts and inspire play therapists around the world. 🌿💜 In this conversation, you’ll hear Carmen and Lisa explore: What IFS looks like in the playroom and with child clients How to help clients build a relationship with all their parts (exiles, protectors, firefighters) How to support children in fully embracing who they are and the experiences that shaped them Ways to share IFS work with parents/caregivers and help them understand their own parts How to recognize our own therapist parts and how they might show up in sessions One of the biggest lies play therapists often tell themselves—and why it impacts our wellbeing And as a bonus, you’ll get to hear a funny story about how Carmen didn’t want to be a therapist at first … and the journey that eventually brought her here (thank goodness it did!). 🌿 Carmen, thank you for everything you gave. Your legacy lives on in the many marks you’ve made on this world. 💜

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• ✨ 200: The Final Chapter—Listening to the Wisdom of the Body (with Avery Dion) ✨

  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 conversation with Lisa. Together, they explore what it truly means that the body keeps the score. Avery courageously shares her lived experience with chronic Lyme disease and the surprising ways her body has become both messenger and teacher. From pain and symptoms that point toward hidden truths, to the psychology of autoimmune illness and the role of self-compassion, Lisa and Avery dive into the raw, real, and deeply human ways the body holds memory, emotion, and wisdom. Together, they explore: How the body holds memory, emotion, and unfinished stories Avery’s journey with chronic Lyme disease and the wisdom it revealed The connection between autoimmune illness and self-criticism Why pain and symptoms can be seen as protectors and messengers What it means to find neutrality and balance in life’s highs and lows An invitation for listeners to pause, tune into their bodies, and welcome symptoms as guides toward authenticity Recorded in the intimacy of their own space, this episode is as tender as it is inspiring. It is not only about Avery’s healing, but also about the ways her journey has shaped Lisa as a therapist, teacher, and mother. As Lisa closes this chapter of Lessons from the Playroom, she extends deep gratitude to every listener who has been part of this journey. While the podcast itself is wrapping up, the library of 200 episodes remains—an ongoing resource and companion for therapists, parents, and seekers of wisdom both inside and outside the playroom. 💜 Thank you for listening, sharing, and growing alongside us. May these lessons continue to guide and inspire you for years to come.  

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