In this heartfelt and most inspiring episode, Lisa sits down with Catherine and Alicia Denham—the visionary clinical duo behind Mama Owls Minis, Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisors with over 40 years of combined experience. Together, they explore the messy, meaningful, and magical journey of creativity in play therapy, inviting listeners to reconnect with their inner artist and trust their instincts.

This episode dives deep into how therapists can embrace creativity—not as a quest to be “good at art,” but as a powerful process of authentic expression, moment-to-moment attunement, and healing. From hand-sculpted sand tray minis to a teenage client’s request for a tornado miniature, the conversation is packed with stories, reflections, and practical wisdom that illuminate how creativity invites us to break free from rigid protocols and create what truly fits what the child needs.

You’ll hear:

• How Alicia transformed from doodling to crafting stunning therapeutic figures
• Why Catherine treasures her first “wonky” sculpture as a symbol of imperfection embraced
• The creative origins of Synergetic Play Therapy and the tension between formal training and intuitive innovation
• Insights on parenting as a creative act—like turning a living room into a sensory playground
• How neurodivergent experiences shaped their unique approach to therapy and creativity
• Powerful stories of trust, flexibility, and letting go of control in therapy sessions and life
• An invitation to therapists to give themselves permission to explore and create what is needed despite self-doubt or fear of rejection

Whether you’re dreaming of crafting something new for your clients or simply seeking encouragement to trust your own creative voice, this episode offers inspiration and gentle permission to embrace the imperfect, beautiful process of authentic play and healing.

🎧 Tune in and reconnect with your creative self—your clients and children will thank you.

How does ableism show up in the playroom, and what can we do to create a more inclusive therapeutic space? In this powerful episode, Marshall Lyles (LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S, EMDRIA Approved Consultant) joins Lisa Dion to explore the often unspoken realities of ableism and disablism in play therapy.

Marshall, a leading voice in attachment trauma and sandtray therapy, brings invaluable insights into how therapists can become more aware of the biases and systemic structures that impact neurodivergent and disabled clients.

🔹 Uncover how ableism—both personal and institutional—has shaped the field of play therapy
🔹 Learn how to critically assess your playroom and therapeutic practices to ensure inclusivity
🔹 Explore ways to repair ruptures when unintentional harm occurs
🔹 Discover how to fully celebrate and honor the uniqueness of every client
🔹 Gain tools to reflect on your own biases and create a more welcoming therapeutic space

This is an invitation to deepen your awareness, challenge assumptions, and cultivate a play therapy practice that truly embraces all minds and bodies.

🌟 Tune in to transform your approach and foster a more inclusive, empowering space for your clients!

Original Air Date: July 18, 2023

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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
• Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Lisa is back with the final episode of the Little Lessons Series, wrapping up this heartfelt Q&A journey by answering your powerful questions including how to navigate moments when connection feels disrupted—whether by a child’s shutdown, caregiver dynamics, or those uncomfortable "I don't know what to do" feelings that arise in the therapy process.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Tracy’s question: “What do you do when a child goes into shutdown mode?”
Lisa explains how to recognize the signs of a shutdown, why it happens from a nervous system perspective, and how to stay attuned while supporting a child’s regulation and reconnection—without pushing or forcing engagement.

Megan’s question: “How do you handle it when a caregiver says their child is manipulative or controlling?”
Lisa dives into the layers behind these labels, offering a reframe that helps caregivers understand what’s actually happening beneath the behavior. She shares strategies to shift the conversation from blame to curiosity and co-regulation.

Tammy’s question: “What do you do when you feel stuck and like you're not doing enough to help the child?”
Lisa gets real about therapist self-doubt, exploring how these moments are often mirrors of the therapeutic process itself. She offers guidance on how to stay regulated, connected, and grounded in presence—even when the answers aren’t immediately clear.

Join Lisa for a heartfelt and informative conversation filled with neuroscience, compassion, and real-world wisdom to help you stay present in the messy and beautiful moments of play therapy.

Have you explored the power of mandalas in play therapy? In this episode, Lisa Dion sits down with Tracy Turner-Bumberry (LPC, RPT-S™) to uncover the transformative magic of mandalas—an incredible yet often unexplored tool in clinical practice.

Tracy, a Certified AutPlay Trainer, Animal-Assisted Play Therapist, and DBT Therapist, shares how mandalas can create a safe, expressive, and healing space for children and families.

🔹 Discover what mandalas are and their deep multicultural roots
🔹 Learn how "circle art" and "circle play" can demystify mandalas for therapy
🔹 Explore practical applications, from templates to Tracy’s Wellness Mandala practice
🔹 Find out how to adapt mandalas for neurodivergent clients and create a safe space
🔹 Understand the dos and don’ts of using mandalas in therapy—why a child-led, non-interpretative approach matters
🔹 Learn direct and non-directive ways to integrate mandalas into therapy with individuals and families
🔹 Discover how music, color, and the idea of impermanence enrich the mandala experience

Tracy also dives into the "safe circle", a concept that helps children feel seen, heard, and emotionally supported.

🌟 Tune in to learn how mandalas can bring introspection, self-regulation, and healing into your play therapy sessions!

Original Air Date: December 19, 2023

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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
• Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, answering your insightful questions about navigating the complexities of the playroom. Today’s episode focuses on how to handle those challenging moments in therapy where uncertainty, emotional flooding, and parents’ concerns come into play.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Chrissy’s question: “What do you do when a child can’t decide on what to play with or doesn’t even play after coming for weeks?”
Lisa breaks down how to navigate moments of hesitation, offering insights on how to remain present and supportive without rushing to fix the situation. She also discusses how emotional age and developmental stage impact engagement in play.

Sally’s question: “What do you do when the parent tells you they don’t want their child to play with aggressive toys or engage in aggressive play, like war play?”
Lisa explores the importance of understanding the parent’s concerns and how to guide the conversation to help them see how aggressive play can be therapeutic and necessary for the child’s emotional expression and processing.

Carolyn’s question: “How do you respond when a child says ‘I love you’ or asks if you’ll move in with them or be their mother?”
Lisa offers valuable advice on how to respond authentically to these deeply emotional moments, explaining how to navigate the child’s need for connection while maintaining professional boundaries and emotional safety.

Join Lisa for a candid and thought-provoking conversation, as she offers practical strategies to help you stay grounded and authentic when facing common and challenging scenarios in the playroom.

🎧 Have a question you'd like Lisa to explore in an upcoming episode? Email your question to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com or send in an audio clip. Your curiosity fuels this podcast—and the entire play therapy community grows because of it.

How do our perspectives shape who we are and how we connect with others—both in the playroom and in life? In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa Dion sits down with Dr. Rachel Altvater (Psy.D., RPT-S™), an award-winning leader in play therapy, to explore the profound impact of perspective on our personal and professional lives.

🔹 Discover the inspiration behind Rachel’s new book, Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities
🔹 Unpack how we form perspectives about ourselves, others, and the world around us
🔹 Learn why perspective awareness is crucial for therapists and caregivers
🔹 Explore powerful self-reflection questions to expand your understanding of your own perspectives
🔹 Gain insights into how your perspectives may be shaping your interactions with clients

Rachel also shares a heartfelt message on the ripple effects of healing and connection, reminding us that the more aligned we are with ourselves, the greater impact we have on the world.

🌟 Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will shift the way you see yourself, your clients, and the world around you!

Original Air Date: May 9, 2023

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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
• Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

Why is attunement the heart of the therapeutic relationship? In this episode, Lisa Dion explores why simply following a script or checklist in play therapy isn’t enough—true transformation happens when we deeply attune to our clients (and ourselves).

🔹 Discover what attunement is—and what it’s not
🔹 Uncover the biggest barriers to attunement in the playroom
🔹 Learn how to create an experience where clients feel emotionally and energetically met
🔹 Gain insights on explaining the felt-sense of attunement to parents and caregivers

Lisa also shares a powerful moment from a play therapy training, illustrating how attunement can reveal critical insights that might otherwise be missed. Whether you're a therapist or a parent, this conversation will deepen your ability to connect, co-regulate, and create meaningful therapeutic exchanges.

🌟 Tune in to transform your sessions and foster deeper, more authentic client connections!

Original Air Date: May 23, 2023

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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
• Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

In this insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the incredible Robyn Gobbel, MSW, to talk about a topic that has never been covered before on this podcast but is crucial for clinicians working with kids: teaching children about the brain.

Robyn, a true brain enthusiast, has a new book out titled Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors: Brain-Body-Sensory Strategies that Really Work! This powerful resource blends relational neuroscience with practical tools and applications, making it the ultimate guide for parents who want to understand and transform their children's challenging behaviors into safety and connection. After listening to this episode, you’ll want to grab a copy of Robyn’s book—you’ll be hooked!

This episode is packed with fun and engaging insights on how we, as clinicians, can introduce kids to their brains and how this can empower them to understand themselves in a deeper way.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

🧠 Understanding the brain’s impact on behavior—Why it’s essential for us and the kids we work with to understand how the brain drives behaviors.

💫 How Robyn’s own journey with the brain—She shares how learning about the brain changed her life and relationships in profound ways.

🎨 Strategies for teaching the brain to kids—Learn how to introduce kids to their brain using visual aids, and the concept of the Watchdog and Possum pathways to explain brain functions.

🤗 The Owl pathway for safety and connection—How to use this concept to explain the brain’s need for safety, presence, and connection.

🤯 Understanding baffling behaviors—How kids’ challenging behaviors are often rooted in their longing for safety and connection.

👐 Involving caregivers—How to guide caregivers in understanding and recognizing their children’s behaviors from a neurological perspective to improve their relationship and responses. This episode will inspire curiosity in your work, support you in understanding children’s behaviors with compassion, and equip you to help caregivers gain a deeper understanding of their child(ren)'s behavior.

🎧 Listen to this enlightening episode and start teaching kids about their brains today!

Original Air Date: September 26, 2023.

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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
• Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute