188. The Power of Poetry in Play Therapy with Hannah Young
Release Date: 03/11/2025
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"Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs." – Hannah Young
In this episode, Lisa sits down with Hannah Young, an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor, and child-parent relationship practitioner, for a deeply moving conversation about the role of poetry in play therapy. Hannah shares how poetry can serve as a bridge between a child’s inner world and therapeutic processing—offering a powerful way to witness, contain, and reflect their experiences.
With her unique blend of clinical expertise and personal storytelling, Hannah invites us to reimagine the role of language in the playroom—not just as a form of communication, but as a gift of presence, attunement, and deep connection.
Together, Lisa and Hannah explore:
✨ Poetry as a therapeutic tool – How writing and reflecting through poetry can deepen attunement and support self-regulation for both therapists and children.
✨ Capturing the unsaid – Using poetry to put words to children’s experiences, especially in moments of struggle, transition, or emotional overwhelm.
✨ Bringing case notes to life – How therapists can transform their clinical reflections into mindful, compassionate narratives.
✨ Offering poetry back to the child – Ethical considerations, creative approaches, and the profound impact of witnessing a child’s experience through poetry.
✨ The rhythm of healing – Understanding how poetry mirrors the tempo and flow of the therapeutic relationship.
And this episode takes an unexpected turn as Lisa is brought to tears for the first time on the podcast, moved by the depth and beauty of Hannah’s words. In a moment of profound resonance, Lisa experiences firsthand the power of poetry to touch the heart, validate emotions, and create space for healing.
Join Lisa and Hannah for this heartfelt and illuminating episode, and discover how to integrate poetry into your practice in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and transformative. ✨🔗
Podcast Resources:
- Learn more about Hannah’s work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
- 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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