184. Vision, Momentum, & Mastering the Business of Therapy with Lisa and Jen Taylor
Release Date: 01/14/2025
193. Unleashing your Creativity: A Conversation with Mama Owls Minis
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Special: Ableism & Disablism in the Playroom: A Conversation with Marshall Lyles
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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192. The Final Little Lessons Series: What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed in the Playroom
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Special: Mandalas in Play Therapy: A Transformative Tool for Healing with Tracy Turner-Bumberry
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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191. Little Lessons Series: Addressing Hesitation, Aggressive Play, and Emotional Boundaries in Play Therapy
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Special: Exploring Perspective with Dr. Rachel Altvater: How We See Ourselves, Others & the World
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Special: The Power of Attunement in Play Therapy: Deepening Connection with Clients & Caregivers
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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Special: How to Teach Kids & Caregivers About the Brain with Robyn Gobbel
Lessons from the Playroom
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...
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190. When the Aggressor is You: Therapist Activation in the Playroom with Mili Shoemaker
Lessons from the Playroom
"Every part of us, even the ones we've been taught to reject, holds the potential for growth and healing." – Mili Shoemaker Aggression in the playroom is a familiar topic—but what happens when it’s not coming from the child, but from within us as therapists? This is a conversation we rarely hear in the play therapy world, yet it’s a reality many therapists silently grapple with. In this eye-opening episode, Lisa sits down with Mili Shoemaker, a seasoned play therapist, Synergetic Play Therapy trainer, and clinical supervisor, to explore what it means when therapists feel their...
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Special: Demystifying Dissociation in Play Therapy: A Conversation with Annie Monaco
Lessons from the Playroom
Original Air Date: July 4, 2023 In this groundbreaking episode, Lisa is joined by the brilliant Annie Monaco to tackle a topic that’s rarely discussed but essential to our work as play therapists: dissociation. With her extensive experience in EMDR Therapy, attachment, and dissociation in children, Annie brings invaluable insights to help therapists deepen their understanding of this complex phenomenon. Here’s what you’ll learn: A practical, usable definition of dissociation and how it shows up in client sessions; How dissociation reflects a child’s inner struggles and manifests in...
info_outline"Your fear will always be the ceiling of your innovation." – Lisa Dion
In this special post New Year’s episode, Lisa is joined by Jen Taylor, therapist, educator, and mastermind behind Jen Taylor Productions. Together, they kick off the first month of 2025 with an inspiring conversation about goal-setting, vision, and how therapists can master the business side of their practice to create greater impact.
Lisa and Jen dive into:
- The psychology of setting congruent goals that align with your values and what inspires you the most.
- Why “fantasy goals” often fail and how to replace them with actionable, meaningful ones.
- The critical difference between resolutions and sustainable visions for growth.
- How to manage fear and navigate challenges as a therapist and entrepreneur.
- A behind-the-scenes look at Lisa’s Business of Therapy course, which blends strategic planning with emotional and psychological insights to help therapists succeed.
This episode will leave you inspired and ready to tackle this coming year with a clear vision and renewed energy. Whether you’re looking to build your private practice, expand your offerings, or simply align your goals with what inspires you, this conversation offers practical tools and heartfelt wisdom.
Resources Mentioned:
The Business of Therapy Course: https://learn.synergeticplaytherapy.com/business-of-therapy/
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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