173. Back to Our Roots: A Deep Dive into Experiential Play Therapy with Nilüfer Devecigil
Release Date: 08/06/2024
Special: Navigating Death & Dying Themes in Play Therapy
Lessons from the Playroom
Original Air Date: June 12, 2021 In this episode, Lisa dives into the sensitive topic of death and dying as it appears in the playroom, offering guidance and practical insights for therapists. She addresses common questions, such as: What role does death & dying play have for children in the therapeutic space? How can we remain grounded and present when a child explores these themes? How do we embrace vulnerability and stay connected to ourselves, even in discomfort, to support the child’s integration? Lisa provides strategies to help therapists approach these experiences with...
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180. Navigating Life’s Transitions: An Empty Nester’s Journey with Lisa Dion
Lessons from the Playroom
In this heartfelt episode, Lisa Dion, founder of Synergetic Play Therapy, steps into the spotlight as she's interviewed by long-time colleague and Certified SPT Supervisor, Polly Douglass. Together, they explore Lisa’s deeply personal experience of transitioning into the “empty nester” phase of life when her daughter left for college. This episode isn’t just for parents—whether you're facing a significant life change, are a therapist supporting others through transitions, or are simply curious about navigating life’s changes, this conversation offers deep insights on how to...
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Special: The Healing Power of Rupture and Repair in Play Therapy
Lessons from the Playroom
Original Air Date: May 2, 2019 "The majority of relationship, any relationship, is rupture. Repair is the remedy." - Lisa Dion In relationships—whether with clients or ourselves—rupture and repair are essential. Mis-attunement isn’t something we can avoid, nor should we. It’s actually a key ingredient in the recipe for building trust. Each moment of rupture and repair forms the bedrock of connection, opening the doors to genuine healing and growth. Rupture, repair, repeat—this rhythm isn’t just something we experience; it’s something we practice. Podcast Resources: ...
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179. Little Lessons Series: Authenticity in the Playroom – Q&A with Lisa
Lessons from the Playroom
Lisa is back with another episode of the Little Lessons Series, where she answers your insightful questions about the complexities of working in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa dives deep into the theme of authenticity and how it plays a critical role in the therapist-client dynamic. Tune in as Lisa responds to 3 thought-provoking listener questions, exploring how to stay genuine and present when navigating imaginative play, emotional congruence, and handling personal questions from clients. In this episode, you'll hear: Carolyn’s question: “When doing imagination play and a client...
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From the Archives: Navigating Boundaries in the Playroom with Lisa Dion
Lessons from the Playroom
Original air date: April 24, 2017 Setting boundaries in the playroom can be a complex process! When to set them? How to set them? Why to set them? Is it important to set them? In this archived episode, Lisa Dion dives deep into these crucial questions, offering new insights on setting boundaries with children in ways you might not have considered before. Join Lisa as she explores: The fundamental reasons for setting boundaries and how they benefit the therapeutic process. How to set boundaries with children effectively and in a manner you may not have tried before. The timing of establishing...
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178. Reconnecting to Our True Nature: A Transformative Conversation with Marie José Dhaese
Lessons from the Playroom
Lisa welcomes back the remarkable Marie José Dhaese, a trailblazer in the field of play therapy and the original creator of expressive play therapies. Building on their previous conversation about Holistic Expressive Play Therapy, Lisa and Marie José dive even deeper into the profound journey of healing, attachment, and reconnecting to one's true nature. With over 50 years of experience as a registered clinical counselor, art therapist, and play therapy supervisor, Marie José shares her deep wisdom and heartfelt reflections on what it takes to create a therapeutic environment where...
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Special: Bringing the Body into Therapy: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Dr. Bonnie Goldstein
Lessons from the Playroom
Original air date: May 24, 2022 In this special episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa Dion welcomes the amazing Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, a faculty member at Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. Dr. Goldstein has uniquely applied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to children, making her a pioneer in this field. Hear the delightful story of how Bonnie and Lisa met at the Australian Childhood Foundation's trauma conference in Melbourne in 2019, instantly connecting over dinner and sparking a meaningful professional relationship. Join Bonnie and Lisa as they discuss how to integrate the...
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177. Little Lessons Series: Navigating the Teenage Terrain - Q&A with Lisa
Lessons from the Playroom
Lisa is back to answer more of your burning questions! And this time, we’re diving deep into the world of teens, one of the most complex and rewarding populations to work with in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa addresses 3 thought-provoking questions submitted by listeners, shedding light on adolescents' nuanced and sometimes perplexing behaviors. Karen asks: "What do you do when a teen doesn’t want to engage or say anything?" Lisa explores multiple angles to approach this challenge and offers insights into how to keep the relational connection alive, even when words are few....
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Special: Co-Regulation in Play Therapy: Supporting Parents and Caregivers with Lisa Dion
Lessons from the Playroom
Original air date: February 28, 2023 We're resharing this episode in which Lisa revisits a frequently asked question: how to support parents and caregivers in regulating themselves and ultimately co-regulating with their child when the child is dysregulated. Offering co-regulatory moments to parents can repattern their nervous systems, empowering them to become their child’s external regulator. Join Lisa as she covers: Recognizing and addressing dysregulation in parents/caregivers during the therapy process. Utilizing the Synergetic Play Therapy concept of “The Set Up” or “Offering”...
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176. Embracing Newcomers: Cultivating Cultural Humility as Therapists with Liliana Baylon
Lessons from the Playroom
In this insightful episode, Lisa welcomes back the incredible Liliana Baylon, a bilingual English and Spanish multicultural therapist and cultural ambassador for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute. Building on their previous conversation about the experiences of immigrants and refugees, Lisa and Liliana delve into the evolving language and understanding around newcomers, which includes migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Liliana, who has over a decade of clinical experience primarily treating LatinX community members, shares her expertise on the complexities newcomers face beyond...
info_outlineIn this special episode, Lisa reconnects with a long-time colleague, Nilüfer Devecigil, who joins her from Turkey. Nilüfer completed her master’s degree in psychology in the US and worked closely with Byron and Carol Norton, the pioneers of Experiential Play Therapy. She’s also the lead teacher for Experiential Play Therapy in Turkey. With extensive experience in attachment parenting and trauma healing, Nilüfer currently practices as a play therapist for young children and an attachment parenting therapist for pregnant women and new mothers.
Listeners, you might not know that Experiential Play Therapy is one of the foundational models that influenced Synergetic Play Therapy. This conversation feels like we’re going back to our roots a bit.
Episode Highlights:
- Lisa and Nilüfer’s Journey: Discover how Lisa and Nilüfer met over 20 years ago, learning Experiential Play Therapy together.
- Foundations of Experiential Play Therapy: Understand the philosophy and humanistic approach championed by Byron and Carol Norton.
- Parent Involvement: Learn how parents are integrally involved in the therapeutic process, making it very relational.
- Unique Aspects of Experiential Play Therapy: Explore what sets this modality apart, including the five stages of the therapeutic process and the use of themes and metaphors in play.
- Active Participation in Play: Lisa shares her appreciation for the unique aspect of experiencing play alongside the child, fully engaging in the roles assigned by the child.
- Healing Through Play: Hear how parents heal alongside their children through this model of play therapy.
- Framework and Personal Focus: Discover how Nilüfer integrates her focus on attachment and relational work within the framework of Experiential Play Therapy.
- Double Awareness in Play Therapy: Learn about the concept of dual or “double awareness” and its significance for both child clients and therapists.
- Therapist’s Own Work: Hear why it’s so important for us as therapists to do our own therapeutic work.
Experience Experiential Play Therapy through numerous examples and stories of how it works with child clients and their parents. Join us for an enlightening conversation that takes us back to the roots of Synergetic Play Therapy and gives a beautiful overview of this impactful therapeutic approach.
If you would like to connect with Nilüfer Devecigil, follow her on her Instagram page here.
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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