Lessons from the Playroom Lisa Dion

Lisa is joined by three remarkable professionals, Jacque Maben, Cara Smith, and Amy Pennington, to uncover the boundless potential of play therapy across various contexts and non-traditional mental health settings. This episode expands the definition of play beyond traditional toys to encompass movement, body experiences, and relational dynamics. 
Meet our guests: Cara Smith, a Certified Child Life Specialist; Amy Pennington, an Occupational Therapist; and Jacque Maben, an Equine/Animal Assisted Therapist. Learn more about them below. In this episode, each guest infuses the principles of play therapy into their unique practices, resulting in a magical fusion of healing modalities.  
Cara enlightens us on integrating play into medical settings, using it as a tool to alleviate stress and anxiety surrounding medical procedures. Amy brings play into the realm of occupational therapy, shedding light on how it aids in sensory processing and skill development. Jacque shares her insights into incorporating animals, particularly horses, into play therapy, emphasizing their authenticity and ability to provide a sense of safety.
Discover how these professionals serve as external regulators, co-regulating with children toward trauma integration across various contexts. Tune in to explore the myriad forms of play and the transformative power it holds in diverse therapeutic practices, witnessing the beautiful unity that emerges when harnessing play therapy principles for healing in any setting. 
 
*Jacque Maben is a Licensed Professional Counselor with certifications in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, and EMDR Training. As the founder of Finding Hiawatha, an Animal Assisted Therapy Ranch, she leads a team of therapists and animal co-therapists in empowering clients to embrace their full potential through the healing connection between humans and animals.
*Cara Smith, MA and Certified Child Life Specialist has over 17 years of experience in child life and academia. She has worked globally, advocating for children's psychosocial needs and fostering resilience. Currently, Cara integrates mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology, and play therapy into her clinical practice, emphasizing the healing power of connection and play in building resilience.
*Amy Pennington is a board certified Occupational Therapist with 15 years of experience in occupational therapy, specializing in pediatric and adult care across educational and medical settings. She integrates sensory-motor intervention principles and Synergetic Play Therapy into her practice. Passionate about child development, Amy supports students with sensory challenges and promotes neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed classrooms in public education.
 

Original Air Date: November 23, 2021
Join Lisa Dion on a soul-searching expedition as she delves into the profound question: why is it so challenging to relinquish control and accept the reality of "what is" in our lives? In this poignant episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa provides invaluable insights and practical guidance for navigating the complexities of surrender, acknowledging that the journey is often fraught with discomfort and pain.
Discover:
The underlying reasons behind the struggle to surrender to life's circumstances. Strategies for maintaining a sense of self while navigating the process of letting go. Techniques for recognizing and addressing unmet expectations and the weight of "shoulds," fostering a sense of safety amidst uncertainty. Approaches for working through resistance and mindfully embracing surrender. Powerful methods for fully integrating the experience of surrender, including a transformative technique. Embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment with Lisa Dion as your guide, as you learn to navigate the transformative terrain of surrender and embrace the inherent wisdom of acceptance.
Podcast Resources: 
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: December 7, 2021
Join us for an insightful journey with our esteemed guest, Marie José Dhaese, a psychotherapist with 50 years of experience, as she shares her profound insights into reconnecting with our sense of self and innate wisdom. As the founder of Holistic Expressive Therapy and the visionary behind a captivating therapeutic "play home," Marie José's work is nothing short of magical.
In this captivating episode, Marie José delves into the concept of each individual harboring an inherent kernel of wisdom that propels them towards their fullest potential. Discover how she meticulously attends to the sensory nuances of indoor and outdoor environments, tailoring sessions to her clients' unique needs through a blend of expressive therapies.
Explore Marie José's distinctive approach to healing, where she:
Addresses clients' physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs comprehensively. Transcends rigid protocols to distinguish between therapy and genuine healing. Facilitates healing holistically, nurturing both the internal and external landscapes. Guides clients to tap into their inner reservoirs of strength and resilience before delving into deeper therapeutic exploration. Unlock the transformative power of Marie José's approach and embark on a journey towards holistic healing and self-discovery.
Podcast Resources: 
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

In this episode, Lisa is joined by special guest Brian Keating, a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Certified Group Psychotherapist. Brian specializes in tele-play therapy and is a contributing author to Advances in Online Therapy: Emergence of a New Paradigm. He's presented on topics including grief, childhood bereavement, and the therapeutic use of the video game Minecraft, which is the focus of this episode. 
Join Lisa and Brian as they demystify the use of video games in therapy, with a particular focus on Minecraft, the most popular and successful video game ever to hit the market. Here are just a few of the key takeaways from this episode: 
Gain insight into Minecraft's therapeutic potential and ways to integrate it into the therapeutic process. Explore transitioning from a "doing" to "being" perspective of Minecraft during therapy. Understand various modes of gameplay and the therapeutic themes they evoke, including how Minecraft is a version of sandtray and art therapy. Learn to communicate gaming's therapeutic benefits to parents and caregivers. Examples of directive interventions and non-directive interventions when playing the game. Understand how video games can support a client with body awareness and how to regulate their nervous system.  Reflect on using Minecraft in one-on-one versus group therapy settings and learn from Brian's experiences (including his mistakes) with video games in therapy. Tune in and discover the transformative potential of incorporating something as seemingly simple as a video game into your therapy sessions. Uncover the therapeutic magic behind Minecraft and how special it is for kids when we speak their language!
*For those not familiar, Minecraft is a sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds made up of blocks. It offers various modes, including Survival mode where players must gather resources, craft tools, and fend off enemies, and Creative mode where players have unlimited resources to build anything they can imagine.
Podcast Resources: 
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 28, 2023
Join Lisa for a crucial conversation addressing a topic often overlooked in the therapy community: the profound impact of trauma exposure on therapists and helpers alike.
As therapists, we find ourselves on the front lines, intimately engaging with trauma exposure day after day, session after session. Despite the ideal of remaining objective observers, the reality is that we are deeply affected by the traumas our clients share. This episode sheds light on the inevitability of experiencing secondary impacts such as compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, or secondary traumatization.
Discover:
How every therapist inevitably experiences a secondary impact when working with clients in trauma, crisis, or challenge. The effects of being impacted by the same traumas as our clients. The occurrence of our own unresolved traumas surfacing in the therapy room. Strategies for reconnecting with ourselves both inside and outside the therapy session, particularly during moments of activation. Listen and take a moment to honor your journey as a therapist. Reflect on the sacrifices you make and explore ways to mitigate the impact of trauma exposure. Embrace the wisdom of learning to be with ourselves through these challenges and cultivate a lifestyle that supports our chosen career path.
You are extraordinary! Much love on your journey 💕
Podcast Resources: 
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: March 14, 2022
Join Lisa and Judy Norman, Certified SPT therapist/supervisor and SPT co-teacher, as they unveil the inception of the Synergetic Education Institute (https://synergeticeducation.com/). 🎉🙌 Years in the making, their journey highlights the profound impact of integrating Synergetic Play Therapy principles into school settings to empower educators, school-based mental health professionals, and educational leaders.
Their success story has garnered recognition from renowned developmental trauma expert Heather Forbes, Founder of Beyond Consequences Institute and author of "Help for Billy", who lauds one of their schools as the pinnacle of trauma-informed education. (...wow, thank you Heather 🙏💕)
In this transformative episode, you'll delve into:
Strategies for play therapists to collaborate effectively with schools Techniques to empower educators by shifting mindsets The 5 developmental stages of an educator's journey in meeting children's needs A redefined perspective on trauma-informed education How to redefine self-care and help teachers develop a deeper relationship within themselves (SPT-style) Practical resources to enrich your practice today! Tune in and explore why Heather Forbes hails Judy and the Synergetic Education Institute's work as pioneering "the most advanced trauma-informed school(s)" she's ever encountered - a testament to creating environments where every student feels that "they matter and are important."
Podcast Resources: 
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.