Next Level Play Therapy: A Podcast for Play Therapy Excellence

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
  • 3.7 (3)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

Join me on Next Level Play Therapy, a podcast for child and adolescent therapists seeking to elevate your play therapy services. Hosted by Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S, at Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training.   Each episode delves into the nuances of play therapy, exploring innovative techniques, evidence-based practices, and practical strategies for providing exceptional therapeutic experiences. These engaging discussions cover a wide range of topics, including building rapport with children, how to make sure you get great outcomes for clients, therapeutic toys and tools and strategies to use in sessions, addressing trauma and attachment issues, engaging parents, promoting emotional regulation, and nurturing resilience for children and their families. Whether you're an experienced therapist looking to refine your skills or a novice clinician venturing into the world of play therapy, the Next Level Play Therapy podcast equips you with the knowledge and insights to enhance your play therapy practice. With interviews featuring experts in play therapy, exploration of best practices, discussion of game-changing principles and strategies, this podcast equips you with the tools to unlock the amazing power of play therapy to transform the lives of children, adolescents, and families. Tune in to Next Level Play Therapy and take a journey towards becoming an exceptional play therapist as we navigate the next level strategies that lead to profound healing and growth for children and their families.

  1. 2d ago

    How to Stop Dreading Your Complex Play Therapy Cases

    Send us Fan Mail Are you dreading that "challenging" case on your schedule?   The client who wreaks your room or doesn’t talk during their play therapy session?  Or the parent session with a parent that seems to avoid you yet calls you frequently between sessions telling you everything that’s not working? As play therapists, we often define a challenging case by the severity of the trauma, the intensity of the behaviors, or the complexity of the family system.  But what if the "challenge" isn't the case itself, but how you make sense of the problem and the clinical framework you're using to navigate it? In this week’s free podcast episode, we are redefining what it means to work with complex cases.  We’ll explore why one play therapist feels overwhelmed while another feels manageable with the exact same client—and how a clear play therapy clinical framework makes all the difference. In this podcast, we cover: Redefining "Challenging": Why complexity doesn’t have to mean chaos.The Power of Getting to the Root of the Problem: Moving beyond the psychosocial assessment form to create a "living map" for every play therapy session.Trusted Framework vs. White-Knuckling: How to stop guessing and start making intentional clinical decisions.Seeing REAL Progress: Learn to identify the stages of healing so you know exactly why you’re choosing specific interventions—whether directive or non-directive. When you can identify why something is happening AND you have a framework guiding your clinical decisions, challenging cases stop being something you dread and start being something you can engage with intentionally.  Don’t let your caseload lead to burnout. It’s time to move from "hoping it works" to knowing why it’s working. Join the Conversation: When you hit a wall with a challenging play therapy case, what is the very first thing you do? Do you seek consultation, dive into research, or take a moment to pray? Let’s be honest in the comments—we’re all in this together! 🔗 CONNECT WITH RENEWING HEARTS PLAY THERAPY TRAINING: 🌐 Website: www.rhplaytherapytraining.com Register for the free webinar - How to Provide Play Therapy Without Second-Guessing Every Clinical Decision, Even With Complex Cases: https://www.rhplaytherapytraining.com/f/ptec-webinar 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

    How to Stop Dreading Your Complex Play Therapy Cases

  2. Aug 13

    5 Ways Community Improves Play Therapy Results, Especially When Clients Wreck Your Playroom

    Send us Fan Mail Stop clinical isolation and help your play therapy clients progress faster.  What does that mean? A classic example of working in isolation and figuring things out on your own is figuring out what do you do when your client “wrecks” your playroom?   Do you set limits?  Do you let them wreck your playroom week after week after week?  Do you refer them to someone else?  Are you a play therapist or RPT feeling the weight of clinical isolation? This episode is for you! When we work alone, a "stuck case" can stay stuck for weeks.   But when you have a community, that same case becomes a collective problem to solve. In this week's podcast episode, we’re moving beyond the struggle to show you what becomes possible for your clients—and your career—when you stop doing this work in isolation. 5 Ways Community Accelerates Client Progress: Unlock Stuck Cases Faster: Peer perspective can shift in minutes what might take you weeks to figure out alone.Regulation & Presence: Having a "backup plan" reduces your clinical anxiety, allowing you to be more present and therapeutic for the child.A Collective Toolkit: Multiply your interventions by tapping into the diverse training and experience of a professional circle.Confident Parent Work: Communicate with clarity and keep parents engaged in the therapeutic process.Clinical Self-Trust: Build the confidence to act on your instincts without the drain of constant second-guessing. Ready to Elevate Your Practice? If you’re tired of the "lonely island" of private practice or being the only kid therapist in the building, join the waitlist for the Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE.  Get the clinical support and fresh ideas you need to thrive: 👉 https://www.rhplaytherapytraining.com/f/ptec-waitlist 💬 COMMUNITY QUESTION: Which of these 5 areas is the missing piece in your practice right now? Let’s talk in the comments! 👇 #PlayTherapy #RegisteredPlayTherapist #ChildTherapy #ClinicalSupport #PlayTherapyInterventions #RPT 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

    5 Ways Community Improves Play Therapy Results, Especially When Clients Wreck Your Playroom

  3. Aug 6

    The Dangerous Lie Every Isolated Play Therapist Believes

    Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like the only play therapist who hasn’t figured it out? You’re not alone—and that thought might be exactly what’s keeping you stuck. In this week’s podcast episode, we’re exposing the "dangerous lie" of play therapy isolation.  When you're the only kid therapist in your building, it's easy to look at social media "wins" and conclude that everyone else has it together while you're struggling.  I’m here to tell you: that feeling isn’t a "you" problem; it’s a structural problem. In this episode, we cover: The Isolated Play Therapist Belief: Why your brain concludes you’re failing when you don’t have a clinical reference point.Challenging Mistaken Beliefs: Why self-doubt and "late-night Googling" are actually nearly universal experiences for play therapists working in isolation.The Power of Community: How connecting with other play therapists (like in Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE) provides immediate relief and clinical clarity.The Critical Mindset Shift: Moving from "I must be broken" to "I just need better support structure."Stop white-knuckling your way through hard play therapy cases. Your clients need the supported, confident version of you. Let's talk about how to find her. GET ON THE WAITLIST: Ready to step out of isolation? Join the waitlist for the Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE, my online membership designed to ensure you never have to do this work alone: 🔗 https://www.rhplaytherapytraining.com/f/ptec-waitlist JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Have you ever had a moment where you connected with another play therapist and felt that instant relief of "oh thank goodness, it's not just me"? Drop it in the comments below! 👇 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

    The Dangerous Lie Every Isolated Play Therapist Believes

  4. Jul 29

    The #1 Mistake Play Therapists Make on Parent Calls

    Send us Fan Mail Getting frantic phone calls from parents about meltdowns, outbursts, and behavior problems is a stressful reality for play therapists.  When a parent says, “My doctor (or therapist) said play therapy isn’t working,” it’s easy to feel the weight of responsibility to fix everything immediately. In this week’s podcast episode, Cathi Spooner of Renewing Hearts Training teaches you how to handle these "dreaded" calls with confidence, even when you don't have all the answers yet.  You’ll learn how to shift from being an "answer-giver" to a "container-holder," building trust and maintaining clinical authority. In this podcast, we cover: Step 1: Regulate First – Why one intentional breath changes your nervous system and the entire tone of the call.Step 2: Validate Before You Explain – The #1 mistake therapists make when parents say therapy isn’t working.Step 3: Honest Uncertainty – How to name what you know (and what you don’t) to actually strengthen a parent's confidence in you. Stop navigating these challenging clinical moments alone.  Learn how to transform stressful phone calls into opportunities for deeper clinical connection. Ready to stop feeling isolated and alone as a play therapist and get access to feedback and support? If you want to move from knowing these steps to executing them with a community of play therapists backing you up, check out the Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE. Something exciting is coming soon—don’t miss out! Join the waitlist for Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE and be the first to know when enrollment opens: https://www.rhplaytherapytraining.com/f/ptec-waitlist Connect with Cathi: www.rhplaytherapytraining.com #PlayTherapy #ChildTherapy #ParentConsultation #TherapistTips #MentalHealthProfessionals #CathiSpooner #RenewingHeartsTraining 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

    The #1 Mistake Play Therapists Make on Parent Calls

  5. Jul 16

    More Years of Experience Won't Fix What's Actually Making You Doubt Yourself as a Play Therapist

    Send us Fan Mail I want to talk about something that a lot of play therapists are silently betting their entire career on — the idea that *more time and more experience* is what's going to eventually make them feel confident and capable in the play therapy room. That one day they'll hit some magic number of years and the self-doubt will just... disappear.  The second-guessing will stop.  The anxiety before parent calls will go away.  They'll finally feel like they know what they're doing. And I want to lovingly, respectfully push back on that — because I think that belief is keeping a lot of really talented play therapists stuck for longer than they need to be. During this week’s podcast episode, I want to talk about what we silently say in our minds and don’t dare talk about it for fear of judgment and rejection. This week I want to talk about what are the beliefs and behaviors feeding the self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and second-guessing clinical decisions keeping amazing play therapists from achieving confidence. If you’ve secretly thought experience is the only reason you’re lacking confidence as a play therapist, 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

    More Years of Experience Won't Fix What's Actually Making You Doubt Yourself as a Play Therapist

  6. Jul 9

    5 Signs You’re a Play Therapist Struggling with Clinical Isolation

    Send us Fan Mail Do you find yourself replaying play therapy sessions on your drive home, wondering if you made the right clinical decision? You aren't alone. In this free weekly podcast episode, we’re diving into the 5 signs you’re second-guessing yourself as a play therapist and why clinical isolation might be your biggest hurdle.  Being the only play therapist in your building can be incredibly lonely.  When you don't have a peer group who speaks the language of sand trays and metaphors, it’s easy for "reflective thinking" to turn into an "anxious loop." Today, we walk through the clinical signs of self-doubt and how to shift from isolation to confidence. What You’ll Learn: Sign 1: The difference between healthy reflection and the "anxious loop."Sign 2: Why you dread parent phone calls (it’s not why you think!).Sign 3: Why Google isn't a substitute for a play therapy community.Sign 4: Addressing the "Am I actually helping?" doubt.Sign 5: The "Blank Phone List" – identifying your clinical support system.How to move from isolation to clinical confidence. Join the Podcast (or watch the replay) If you’re tired of carrying the full clinical burden alone, it’s time to find your people. ✨ Join the Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE Waitlist here: https://www.rhplaytherapytraining.com/f/ptec-waitlist Connect with Cathi Spooner - Renewing Hearts Training: www.rhplaytherapytraining.com #PlayTherapy #ChildTherapy #TherapistSelfCare #ClinicalSupervision #MentalHealthProfessionals 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

    5 Signs You’re a Play Therapist Struggling with Clinical Isolation

  7. Jul 2

    Why Play Therapists Shouldn't Work Alone: Overcoming Clinical Isolation

    Send us Fan Mail Are you the only play therapist in your agency? Or perhaps you're in private practice and feel like you're navigating complex cases entirely on your own? Many play therapists accept isolation as "just the reality" of the field.  We push through, hoping that with enough time and experience, we’ll eventually "figure it out."  But here is the honest truth: Clinical isolation is a liability—for you and your clients. In this free weekly podcast, we’re breaking down why the "solo endeavor" mindset is holding you back and how connecting with a play therapy community is the key to better clinical results and reduced burnout. In this episode, we discuss: The Structure of Isolation: Why graduate programs and agencies often leave play therapists without the specific support they need.The Clinical Cost: How second-guessing your decisions and processing complex issues, like trauma, in a vacuum slows down client progress.The Mindset Shift: Moving from "I can handle this" to "I need a community that speaks play therapy."Clinical Confidence: How having a "backup plan" and a peer network improves the quality of your work in the playroom. Stop second-guessing your clinical decisions and start building the support network you deserve. Your clients (and your personal life) will thank you. Connect with Cathi & Renewing Hearts Training: www.rhplaytherapytraining.com #PlayTherapy #ChildTherapy #PlayTherapistSupport #ClinicalIsolation #TherapistBurnout #RenewingHeartsTraining 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

    Why Play Therapists Shouldn't Work Alone: Overcoming Clinical Isolation

  8. Jun 25

    The Isolated Play Therapist Syndrome: Why You’re Feeling Burned Out

    Send us Fan Mail If you're a play therapist — especially in your first few years — and you're the only one in your agency or you're in private practice figuring this out by yourself, this is for you. You went into this work because you genuinely believe in the power of play therapy to heal kids. You're passionate about this.  You're not here because it was easy — you're here because it matters to you And the reality is that you’re probably the only “kid therapist” in your agency or maybe you’re in private practice in an office surrounded by adult therapists asking you to keep the noise down in your office because it’s distracting their sessions. In today’s free podcast episode we’re talking about what’s not being talked about out loud 👇 the cost of trying to be a play therapist without a strong community to support you and the impact this has on your clinical decision-making (and if we’re being honest - your own emotional well-being). We’re discussing The Isolated Play Therapist Syndrome. What it is and why it’s keeping your clients from making progress and leaving you feeling overwhelmed, second-guessing your clinical decisions, and wondering if you’re good enough. If you’re feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and frustrated as a play therapist, 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

    The Isolated Play Therapist Syndrome: Why You’re Feeling Burned Out
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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
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About

Join me on Next Level Play Therapy, a podcast for child and adolescent therapists seeking to elevate your play therapy services. Hosted by Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S, at Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training.   Each episode delves into the nuances of play therapy, exploring innovative techniques, evidence-based practices, and practical strategies for providing exceptional therapeutic experiences. These engaging discussions cover a wide range of topics, including building rapport with children, how to make sure you get great outcomes for clients, therapeutic toys and tools and strategies to use in sessions, addressing trauma and attachment issues, engaging parents, promoting emotional regulation, and nurturing resilience for children and their families. Whether you're an experienced therapist looking to refine your skills or a novice clinician venturing into the world of play therapy, the Next Level Play Therapy podcast equips you with the knowledge and insights to enhance your play therapy practice. With interviews featuring experts in play therapy, exploration of best practices, discussion of game-changing principles and strategies, this podcast equips you with the tools to unlock the amazing power of play therapy to transform the lives of children, adolescents, and families. Tune in to Next Level Play Therapy and take a journey towards becoming an exceptional play therapist as we navigate the next level strategies that lead to profound healing and growth for children and their families.

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