Supporting Children Through Suicidal Thoughts: Insights for Caregivers and Therapists (Best Of)
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 guidance, hope, and strategies to help children navigate these overwhelming experiences safely and compassionately. What You'll Learn: How to recognize subtle signs of suicidal thoughts in children Creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for children to share their feelings Using play as a tool for children to explore and shift their stories Developing safety plans with children and caregivers, identifying triggers and red flags Facilitating open conversations about suicidal ideation with children and families Prioritizing therapist self-care and maintaining emotional safety in difficult sessions Accessing support networks and resources for challenging situations Join Lisa and Heather for this crucial conversation that emphasizes empathy, connection, and compassion when supporting children through some of life's most difficult moments. ❤️ Note: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. 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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Broken Toys and Other Hidden Messages in Play (Best Of)
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 reflections to turn everyday playroom moments into meaningful learning experiences. 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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Honoring Boundaries as an Act of Self-Love & Worthiness (Best Of)
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 navigate relationships and maintain our connection to ourselves. Join Lisa in this episode where you're invited to embrace a more flexible approach to boundaries … but we get it - even the words "flexible" and "boundary" may seem contradictory to you right now. Here's what you'll learn: Why boundaries are flexible and can change from moment to moment; How setting boundaries is about taking responsibility for ourselves, not controlling others; How to recognize the clues (in our bodies) that tell us when it's time to set a boundary; Why nervous system work is essential for boundary work; Different ways to set boundaries, such as redirecting, being honest, or removing oneself from the situation; Why rejection often makes setting boundaries challenging (... and when we don't set a boundary, how it's a form of self-rejection); Why sometimes perceived deal breakers aren't actually deal breakers; and How to translate this more relational-boundary setting into our work as clinicians. Tune in to this episode and discover how honoring your boundaries not only allows for connection and maintains relationships, but is a deep act of self-love and acknowledgement of your own worthiness. ✨ 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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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
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 that bridges the gap between neuroscience and psychology. Lisa teaches and supervises all over the world, helping transform the lives of thousands of therapists and children. With these podcasts, she'll teach you practical ways to transform both you and the child clients you work with. These inspiring educational lessons are sure to leave you feeling more confident and excited for your next session!
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