Special: Regulating the Collective Nervous Systems of Families
Release Date: 11/21/2023
Navigating Challenges in Play Therapy: Insights from Certified Synergetic Play Therapists/Providers
Lessons from the Playroom
Original Air Date: October 26, 2021 In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by three important people in her life - Certified Synergetic Play Therapists/Providers Andrea Davidson (Colorado), Johanna Simmons (Vancouver, British Columbia), and Rachel Freeburg (Oregon). Together, they engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the various challenges that play therapists encounter in their practice. Pause and reflect as they explore strategies for addressing common scenarios such as: Children attempting to care for the therapist. Challenges related to teletherapy sessions, including situations...
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169. Beyond Toys: Play Therapy Across Medical, Occupational, and Animal-Assisted Settings
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Embracing What Is: A Journey of Surrender with Lisa Dion
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Unveiling Innate Wisdom: A Holistic Approach to Healing with Marie José Dhaese
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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168. Demystifying Minecraft in the Therapeutic Space with Brian Keating
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Navigating the Impact of Trauma Exposure: Essential Insights for Therapists
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Empowering Educators & Students: Transforming Education with Judy Norman & the Synergetic Education Institute
Lessons from the Playroom
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 (). 🎉🙌 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",...
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167. Defying Expectations to Embrace Human Potential: Amit Chintan Ramlall’s Journey Beyond the Label of Autism
Lessons from the Playroom
Join Lisa in this inspiring episode as she sits down with Amit Chintan Ramlall and his father, Dr. Kumar Ramlall, for a heartfelt conversation about navigating life with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite facing challenges with independent speech, Amit shares his remarkable journey and how he has embraced his talents and gifts to defy expectations. Drawing from their personal experiences, Lisa, Amit, and Kumar delve into the misconceptions surrounding ASD and the importance of assuming competence in all clients. They explore the journey of self-discovery, highlighting the invaluable...
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Special: Why the Body Never Lies: Attuning to Body Language in Play Therapy
Lessons from the Playroom
Original Air Date: July 29, 2020 Discover the profound language of the body in therapy! In this episode, Lisa delves into the power of attuning to both our own and the child's body language, crucial for fostering co-regulation in therapeutic settings. Gain valuable techniques for staying within your window of tolerance to guide children through their discomfort. Join Lisa to explore the unerring wisdom of the body and learn to deepen your ability to listen and respond effectively to your clients. "The body never lies. The body is always revealing the truth relative to the individual's...
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166. Giving a Voice to Children with PANS/PANDAS with Dr. Montserrat Casado
Lessons from the Playroom
In today’s episode, we delve into one of the most requested topics of the past year. Dr. Montserrat Casado joins Lisa to shed light on PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), offering invaluable insights for supporting children, parents, and therapists. Tune in as Montse and Lisa engage in a captivating conversation, debunking misconceptions about PANS/PANDAS, and offering new ways of understanding and supporting clients and caregivers. Discover Montse's personal journey and...
info_outlineOriginal Air Date: September 13, 2022
If you’ve ever studied with Lisa Dion, you know she loves talking about the nervous system. And in this episode, she’s going to talk about the collective nervous systems within families and how to help support the regulation of the family system.
If you’re just as excited about this topic as Lisa, you’ll definitely want to take notes for this one …
Here’s what you’ll hear …
- How nervous system expressions occur within the context of families;
- How all behavior (even what we term as dysfunctional) is actually functional and has a purpose;
- How the family system is always in balance and how it is always attempting to equilibrate itself;
- How to become the external regulator to help regulate the family nervous system; and
- How to use this information clinically to inform your therapeutic work.
Plus, learn a powerful tip that will help you shift the collective nervous system of the family unit in a most transformative way.
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
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