Lessons from the Playroom

"It's not that children with SPD don't want to regulate; it's that they can't." - Lisa Dion Sensory Processing Disorder is a misunderstood challenge that can show up in the playroom in a variety of ways. Often, recognizing the issue is the first step in helping the client. The second, of course, is showing these children how to regulate. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synerg...

"A child's failure to notice a lack of hygiene is often a sign that they're disconnected from their bodies." - Lisa Dion Little kids aren't known for hygiene and inside the playroom is no different. However, a noticeable lack of hygiene may be the sign of something bigger. A child regressing in emotional age or reliving past trauma may engage in unsanitary behavior. When this happens, it's importa...

"Broken toys may be a metaphor for how children see themselves." - Lisa Dion Little kids come with little issues, issues that might grow big if we are unsure how to handle them. In this podcast, Lisa discusses the commonly asked "little questions." Tune in as she explores what to do with broken toys, having food in the playroom, lying in the playroom, and what to do when a child tries to take a to...

"We all have deep within us the desire to pursue something that inspires us. We have a natural desire to evolve and grow" - Lisa Dion The brain is a high maintenance organ, one that wants a challenge! In order to stay passionate in our careers as play therapists, we must give the brain the growth it craves. But we must give ourselves permission too – the permission to be ourselves and pursue what...

"Grief elicits different emotions. It's important to provide space for a child's experiences while looking at how we handle loss ourselves." - Lisa Dion When grief or loss occurs, we are culturally predisposed to expect sadness. But in and out of the playroom, children may feel a myriad of emotions ranging from heartache to happiness to suppression. How can we meet children where they are and give...

"Music makes a connection without having to say anything." - Kate Shannon, CBMT Music plays an important therapeutic role, in the playroom and in life. It creates its own expression and its own language, allowing those who hear it to feel and react deeply. Take note: music matters. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to supp...

"One of the best ways to reduce medical trauma is by making the unknown known. Children need information and lots of it." - Lisa Dion Medical trauma is prevalent in the majority of children who have undergone medical procedures or experienced chronic and acute conditions. This shows up in the playroom in a variety of ways, including those that can lead the therapist to jump to conclusions. Listen...

"It's isn't about being a parent or not. It's about showing up in the playroom and being real." - Lisa Dion Being a parent and a play therapist has both benefits and drawbacks. While parenthood can offer added insight, having kids doesn't translate into having all the answers inside the playroom. Why? Because like children, no two parents are exactly alike. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Ther...

"When it comes to giftedness, one of the most important things to focus on is how these children manage their internal worlds." - Lisa Dion Gifted children are unquestionably bright, but the gifted child isn't the same as the intelligent child. Often the difference lies not only in intellectual needs but also the ability to regulate. Giftedness typically comes packaged with self-imposed standards...

"Every family has both peace and war, dysregulation and regulation, support and challenge." - Lisa Dion Parents often want their children to get along, a family environment void of argument. But the sibling dynamic is one in which disagreement is unavoidable. This isn't always a bad thing - conflict leads to empowerment and growth. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic P...

"When mom and dad are in the room the power to heal can become greater. Then the relationship between the child and parent becomes your client." - Lisa Dion Parents in the playroom can give even the most seasoned play therapists pause, leaving them feeling insecure and watched. But moms and dads are part of the healing package. Relying on the power of parents only enhances the power of play. Podca...

"The majority of relationship, any relationship is rupture. Repair is the remedy." - Lisa Dion Rupture, repair, repeat - it's a recipe for relationship. Whether that relationship is with your client or with yourself, mis-attunement is an unavoidable but necessary occurrence. It provides the foundation of trust, opening the doors to true healing. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institut...

"Twins are master co-regulators but also susceptible to losing themselves. The key is to help them find the 'I' in 'we.'" - Lisa Dion Twins may be nature's 2-for-1 deal, but being a twin (or having twins) comes with unique challenges not always experienced by singletons. From separation anxiety to individuality, join Lisa Dion (who is a fraternal twin) and Susan Stutzman (a mother of identical twi...

It is a sparkling thing when I encounter realness of another person. It's so obvious when a person is not hiding behind a façade but is speaking from deep within themselves. When this happens, I leap to meet it. I want to encounter this real person." - Carl Rogers Carl Rogers is one of the most influential psychologists in history, but he's also one of the most misunderstood. Above all, he advocat...

"Play therapy is about the child. It's not about navigating the conflict between feuding parents." - Lisa Dion Divorce is often painted as a traumatizing experience, but what it looks like through the perspective of a child varies greatly. Working with high-conflict divorce requires recognizing this deviation. It also requires a neutrality and a focus on what matters most: healing the child. Podca...

"Emotional flooding is inevitable; it's part of relationship. It's not about shame, but connection, providing a platform upon which real repair can flourish." - Lisa Dion Emotional flooding is part of therapy: it occurs in all play therapy paradigms. Looking at it not through a lens of shame but with a focus on connection turns it from an enemy into an ally. In fact, emotional flooding - because o...

"If you have a child who is not playing, honor that child and meet them where they are." - Lisa Dion A playroom without play can cause confusion. But there are many reasons a child may leave the toy box shut. Sometimes, it's a reflection of anxiety or tied to a younger emotional age. Other times, this issue isn't one at all: discovering the play requires setting aside our preconceived notions abou...

"If the things that are not challenging for them are promoted and highlighted, that gets to be their story, not the disability." - Lisa Dion Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is often misunderstood, with diagnoses that vary by country. In this podcast, Lisa is joined by special guest Natascha Lawrence as they work to break down the confusion surrounding FASD while exploring the ways to most effectiv...

"Games are platforms to help kids process their emotions. Sometimes peek-a-boo and hide-and-go-seek are just about wanting to be seen. " - Lisa Dion Child's play is serious business and Peek-a-Boo and Hide-and-Go-Seek are no exceptions. But these games, like so many, act as a platform for the emotions a child is processing at any given time. At their heart, they may be most about wanting to be see...

"Art isn't about interpreting a drawing. It's about being with and attuning to the child in the process of creation." - Lisa Dion Art in the playroom can be a challenge, especially for therapists who believe they are artistically limited. But art provides a necessary and informative outlet for children. It's not the final product that's important; it's the process that counts. Being present and at...

"Children will bring in whatever they need to bring in. There is no type of play that is better or worse." - Lisa Dion Recreating a movie can sometimes take the place of imaginative play. When this happens in the playroom, it provides clues to the underlying problem and challenges. The key is learning to flip the "script" towards integration. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute S...

"Don't be fooled by the smile. Underneath there may be a lot of pain waiting to come out." - Lisa Dion People-pleasing in the playroom happens, and not just with children; therapists get caught in people-pleasing too! This ever-so-familiar coping strategy is often covering up challenges a child or therapist may not yet be able to face. Recognizing why this happens and what to do when it happens is...

"Trust that both you and the child will be okay." - Lisa Dion Early termination happens for a handful of reasons. Sometimes, we can't change this. But shifting our perspective helps us look at terminations through another view, trusting ourselves and the child in the process. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support yo...

"The bop bags, like every other toy, will become what the child needs to be." - Lisa Dion Bop bags in the playroom are a controversial toy. But do they promote aggression and anger? Or can they be used to promote integration, self-awareness, and regulation? The answer: it depends on how you use them. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FRE...

"No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." - Lisa Dion Teachers and play therapists make a powerful pair, but this starts with an initial conference. How can clinicians assure this meeting goes well, putting themselves in a position where they're viewed as an ally rather than a threat? Success involves nine elements and lots of validation. Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Pl...