Pondering Play and Therapy Podcast

Podcast Episode Description: This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Marshall Lyles, an expert in using sand tray therapy to support children, adults, and families. Marshall shares his insightful experience on how this powerful therapy helps individuals explore their early experiences and better understand their present situations. We ponder the importance of approaching sand tray therapy wit...

In this episode of 'Pondering Play and Therapy,' Philippa and Julie dive into the critical role of play within school environments. They discuss the decline in playtime availability over the years across primary, secondary, and nursery schools. They explore how therapists can collaborate with schools to support children's learning and well-being through play. The conversation highli...

Podcast Description: This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Colby Pearce, who shares his wealth of experience working with care-experienced families. Colby dives deep into the importance of attachment, emphasising that connection and consistency are the most crucial aspects. He also discusses the programs he's developed to support professionals in providing care that fosters resilienc...

In this episode of Pondering Play and Therapy, hosts Julie and Philippa explore how poverty affects children's ability to engage in play. They discuss the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the definition of poverty, and the statistics concerning child poverty in the UK. They highlight the various barriers that impoverished families face, such as limited access to resources...

Welcome to this week's episode of Pondering Play and Therapy. Claire, a clinical service lead for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), joins the podcast to discuss childhood mental health, CBT, and the different services that can be accessed through CAMHS. Claire also discusses the different types of services and interventions that are offered, including inpatient, clinic, and...

In this week’s episode, hosts Philippa and Julie ponder the playful traditions that shape who we are—past and present. From cherished family games like cribbage and Rummy to the joyful, sometimes complex dance of blending new traditions in modern families, they explore how play weaves connection, identity, and belonging across generations.   Through personal stories, thoughtful metaphors, and refl...

Podcast Episode Description: In this insightful episode, we sit down with Mandy Jones, a skilled therapist, based in Chicago, who shares her expertise on the transformative power of play in therapy. Mandy discusses her unique approach, combining sand tray work and Theraplay, to help children and adults process and understand their trauma. She explains how these therapeutic techniques foster emotio...

In this episode of 'Pondering Play and Therapy,' hosts Julie and Philippa discuss the significant reduction of play spaces for children and teenagers within communities affected by poverty and deprivation. Reflecting on changes over the past 10-15 years, they explore how budget cuts and austerity measures have led to the loss of essential community resources like parks, youth clubs, and...

Welcome to Pondering Play and Therapy , the podcast where we ponder the worlds of play, passion, and personal growth. In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Tilly and her mum, Sarah, to explore Tilly’s inspiring journey as an international cheerleading athlete. At just 14 years old, Tilly became the youngest member of an international cheerleading team, and today, she’s sharing the...

Podcast Description: This week, we are pondering the fascinating world of play—specifically, can play be learned? Over the past few weeks and months of recording, we've been reflecting on how play happens with children, babies and adults. We’ll start by looking at the early stages of life—how even before birth, the unborn child begins to interact with the world around them. From there, we&apo...

It was an honour to interview Dr Mayers and hear about her journey to becoming a clinical psychologist. She talked about her experience of play and the importance of having toys, books and figures in psychology to support her aspirations. She gave a beautiful insight into her childhood growing up in the west midlands, in a big family and how she and her siblings continue the traditions of play. Dr...

Podcast Episode Description: In this week’s episode, Philippa and Julie ponder the role that everyday things can play in fostering connection and playfulness within families. They explore how simple, daily moments can create meaningful rituals, promote connection, and offer a playful approach to life. Sharing personal stories from their own families, they discuss how incorporating playfulness into...

In today's episode, Philippa interviews Vicki, the founder of Little City, which is a mobile role-play centre for little people. She shares her love of Sylvanian families and how she wanted to move away from corporate life and spend more time with her children and family. Vicki shares the excitement that little people get from role-playing real-life experiences, and how this develops connecti...

Welcome to this week’s episode of Pondering Play and Therapy, where Julie and Philippa think about an important and often difficult topic—child-to-parent violence. In today’s episode, we explore the complex relationship between a child’s anger, rage, and violence, and how these behaviors can fit into the broader context of their development. While it’s normal for children to experience intense emo...

Philippa's guest for this episode is Venny, who shares her experience as a foster carer and how important play is when fostering. She also has stepchildren, birth children, and a huge amount of, grandchildren, at least two football teams worth of grandchildren, along with, her husband, Brian, and they've been foster carers for 13 years. She shares how she has noticed the huge role play h...

In this week’s episode, part two of our Rupture and Repair series, we ponder how play and playfulness can be a key role in the process of repair. We explore why rupture and repair are essential, not just for child development, but also for building strong relationships. The ability to repair is something that starts with adults modeling the process, as children need to experience and understand it...

 This week our guest is Hilary Kennedy. She is a leading developer of video interaction guidance called VIG in the UK, an educational psychologist and an honorary research associate at the University College of London. She has co-edited 2 books.  Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) is an intervention which builds positive relationships through filming and feedback sessions. It is a strengths-based, b...

 This week, we are exploring how play relates to the concepts of rupture and repair within relationships, particularly focusing on the bond between an adult and a child. When we refer to rupture, we mean a moment of disconnection in the relationship, which can manifest differently depending on the child's age, whether they are a baby or a toddler. We will also discuss the distinction between...

This week, we will ponder the feelings of guilt experienced by parents, caregivers, grandparents, and adults. A listener's question about the lack of joy some parents feel when it comes to playing with their children, whether they do not have the time to play, or whether they feel unable to engage in play at all prompted this topic. This guilt can be quite significant. In a previous episode,...

Julie and Philippa ponder when the play becomes frightening. They consider the role of rough-and-tumble play, how it can be part of childhood, and when it becomes frightening for children and young people.  With technology ever present in our daily lives we ponder video games and how they can be frightening. Ending the episode pondering word play and the attunement and development that is required...

Julie and Philippa ponder when play doesn't appear to be within the expected typical development. Considering neurodiversity and their experience of working with children and families. Pondering why play might appear to be delayed or is delayed, thinking about how we can be alongside a child in play and how we communicate, especially non-verbally.  Philippa does have a little rant.  Send us F...

This week Julie and Philippa ponder when children and young people ‘regress’ in play, thinking about how this can ‘fill in early life gaps’. Pondering how important a playful nappy change can be to a baby and toddler. How unpredictable, inconsistent parenting can impact a child or young person and how they have a sense of the rhythm of life and how can play support the development of this. Ponderi...

In this episode, Julie and Philippa ponder how pets and animals can at times help children, young people and adults. Whether this is in everyday life, therapy or their own homes. While also acknowledging that pets and animals can be unpredictable and even scary.  They think about how this unpredictability can in itself be therapeutic and validating. Sharing their own experiences of pets and how th...

Julie and Philippa ponder can play help us find our way back to safety if we are feeling unsafe. Do we need to be safe to play? They ponder relational, physical and psychological safety in play. They wander their way through play and safety in the therapy room, in families, with toddlers, adolescents and older people.  Send us Fan Mail  Instagram, Facebook, | Linktree

This is the very first episode of Pondering Play and Therapy. Julie and Philippa share their journey to creating this first episode, their hopes for the podcast and their (hopefully) listeners.  Julie and Philippa have approached this adventure playfully but very differently, one with caution, the other highly excited but with a shared love of all things play and playfulness.  Send us Fan Mail  In...