Holding Space with Julia

Julia Clark
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Holding Space is about showing up authentically and creating safety in the moments that matter most. From parenting littles to navigating friendships and partnerships, Julia Clark—psychotherapist and play therapist—reframes tantrums, conflicts, and messy feelings as invitations to connect. Each episode explores the building blocks of emotional literacy, co-regulation, and boundaries, while honouring the intergenerational stories we carry within. Blending science with lived wisdom, Holding Space reminds us that growth is playful, healing is possible, and we are all learning together.

  1. Why Play Is the Language of Healing

    18 OCT

    Why Play Is the Language of Healing

    Episode 18 – Why Play Is the Language of Healing In this episode of Holding Space, Julia brings the second series arc to a close—gently weaving together everything we've learned about play as the natural language of healing. From non-directive play and symbolic storytelling to repetition, sand tray work, and the intentional design of the playroom, she reflects on how play allows children (and adults) to process emotion, integrate experience, and build safety from the inside out. This episode is both a summary and a bridge—honoring the wisdom of play while opening the door to the next series: how parents and caregivers can bring these principles into their homes, relationships, and shared nervous systems. Because when we understand play, we understand healing. https://www.clarity.family/

    8 min
  2. Sand Tray Therapy: The Stories Beneath the Surface

    18 OCT

    Sand Tray Therapy: The Stories Beneath the Surface

    Episode 17 – Sand Tray Therapy: The Stories Beneath the Surface In this episode of Holding Space, Julia explores the quiet depth of sand tray therapy—a practice that helps children, teens, and adults give shape to emotions that words can't yet hold. Through real-life examples and gentle neuroscience, she shares how sand and symbol become a bridge between the body and story—offering safety, distance, and expression. You'll learn what happens in a sand tray session, how meaning emerges through micro-shifts, and why silence, pacing, and presence matter more than interpretation. Because sometimes, healing begins not with talking—but with placing one small figure in the sand, and letting the story unfold.

    14 min
  3. A Tour of the Playroom Zones

    18 OCT

    A Tour of the Playroom Zones

    Episode 16 – A Tour of the Playroom Zones In this episode of Holding Space, Julia takes listeners on a guided tour of the playroom—exploring how each zone within a play therapy space is intentionally designed to support regulation, expression, and healing. From the nurturing zone where attachment themes emerge, to the power zone where children safely release big emotions, to the quiet zone where rest and reflection take shape—each area tells a story about what the child needs most. You'll discover how every toy, texture, and corner serves a purpose, and why the most important "toy" in the room is the therapist's regulated, attuned presence. Because in the right environment, play becomes more than activity—it becomes transformation. https://www.clarity.family/

    10 min
  4. When Kids Repeat the Same Game: What Does It Mean?

    18 OCT

    When Kids Repeat the Same Game: What Does It Mean?

    Episode 15 – When Kids Repeat the Same Game: What Does It Mean? In this episode of Holding Space, Julia explores why children repeat the same play themes—building the same tower, hiding the same toy, rescuing the same figure—over and over again. Through real-life examples and gentle reflections, she explains how repetition in play helps children process emotions, integrate experiences, and build mastery. You'll learn how to recognize healthy repetition, when to stay curious, and how to support your child's healing process without rushing it. Because sometimes, the most powerful progress looks like doing the same thing—again and again—with a little more safety each time. https://www.clarity.family/

    9 min
  5. The Power of Symbolic Play (and Why It Matters)

    18 OCT

    The Power of Symbolic Play (and Why It Matters)

    Episode 14 – The Power of Symbolic Play (and Why It Matters) In this episode of Holding Space, Julia explores the heart of how children communicate in therapy—symbolic play. Through stories, neuroscience, and gentle reflection, she reveals how metaphor and imagination allow children to process emotions, trauma, and power safely through play. You'll learn why a dragon, a doll, or a simple block can hold profound meaning, how symbolic play supports nervous system regulation, and how adults can honor this process without rushing to interpret. Because when we understand the language of symbols, we begin to see that play isn't just make-believe—it's how children heal. https://www.clarity.family/

    8 min
  6. What a Play Therapist Is Really Watching For

    18 OCT

    What a Play Therapist Is Really Watching For

    Episode 13 – What a Play Therapist Is Really Watching For In this episode of Holding Space, Julia invites listeners behind the scenes of the playroom to discover what a play therapist is truly paying attention to. Through stories and examples, she explores how themes, patterns, symbols, and energy shifts reveal the unspoken stories children tell through play. You'll learn why a therapist watches how a child plays—not just what they play—and how presence, reflection, and curiosity help transform simple moments into pathways for healing. Because in the language of play, every choice tells a story. https://www.clarity.family/

    9 min
  7. Why Children Don't Need to Talk to Heal

    18 OCT

    Why Children Don't Need to Talk to Heal

    Episode 12 – Why Children Don't Need to Talk to Heal What if healing didn't begin with words? In this episode of Holding Space, Julia explores why children don't need to talk to heal—and how their bodies and play often speak the truths their words cannot. Through real examples and gentle reflections, she explains the neuroscience of regulation, the power of nonverbal expression, and the role of safe, attuned presence in helping children process big emotions. You'll learn how to recognize the language of play, what silence and repetition really mean, and why healing happens not through explanation—but through safety, connection, and being seen. Because sometimes, the most powerful conversations don't use words at all.

    7 min
  8. The Difference Between Play and Therapeutic Play

    18 OCT

    The Difference Between Play and Therapeutic Play

    Episode 11 – The Difference Between Play and Therapeutic Play Play is the natural language of childhood—but not all play is therapeutic. In this episode of Holding Space, Julia explores the subtle yet profound difference between everyday play and therapeutic play. Through real examples and reflections, she reveals how attunement, safety, and curiosity turn ordinary moments of play into opportunities for healing and integration. You'll learn how to notice the emotional stories beneath a child's play, how to reflect without fixing or analyzing, and how to bring the principles of therapeutic play into your home or classroom. Because when play is met with presence and understanding, it becomes more than an activity—it becomes a pathway to healing. https://www.clarity.family/

    9 min
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About

Holding Space is about showing up authentically and creating safety in the moments that matter most. From parenting littles to navigating friendships and partnerships, Julia Clark—psychotherapist and play therapist—reframes tantrums, conflicts, and messy feelings as invitations to connect. Each episode explores the building blocks of emotional literacy, co-regulation, and boundaries, while honouring the intergenerational stories we carry within. Blending science with lived wisdom, Holding Space reminds us that growth is playful, healing is possible, and we are all learning together.

Information

  • Creator
    Julia Clark
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Holding Space with Julia
  • Provider