Supporting Children Through Suicidal Thoughts: Insights for Caregivers and Therapists (Best Of)
Release Date: 10/28/2025
Creating Affirming Play Therapy Spaces for Transgender & Gender-Diverse Children with Jennifer Shivey (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Original air date: June 24, 2024 In this episode Lisa welcomes Jennifer Shivey, a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor with a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ children and their families. Jennifer, who has personal experience as the mother of a transgender child, shares her journey and how it transformed her approach to creating safe and affirming play therapy spaces. You’ll gain practical insights on inclusive practices, the importance of understanding evolving language around gender diversity, and how to support both children and...
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Vision, Momentum, & Mastering the Business of Therapy with Lisa and Jen Taylor (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
"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...
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Little Lessons Series: Authenticity in the Playroom – Q&A with Lisa (Best of)
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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Back to Our Roots: A Deep Dive into Experiential Play Therapy with Nilüfer Devecigil (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
In 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...
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Reconnecting to Our True Nature: A Transformative Conversation with Marie José Dhaese (Best of)
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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Beyond Labels: Cultivating Cultural Humility as Therapists with Liliana Baylon (Best of)
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...
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Crisis Play Therapy: Insights from Isabella Cassina & Claudio Mochi (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
In this special episode, Lisa is joined by two extraordinary guests, Isabella Cassina and Claudio Mochi, pioneers using play therapy in international crisis intervention. As co-founders of the INA International Academy for Play Therapy Studies and Psychosocial Projects in Switzerland, Isabella and Claudio have dedicated their careers to supporting children and families in some of the most challenging environments around the world. Isabella, Director of Project Management, and Claudio, Director of the Academy, bring decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the table. They have worked...
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Supporting Child Survivors of Sex Trafficking with Alejandro Castro Croy (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
In this especially important episode, we shine a spotlight on the harrowing issue of child sex trafficking and explore how we can support the young survivors of this modern-day slave trade. Join Lisa for a deeply insightful conversation with Alejandro (Alex) Castro Croy, a bilingual, bicultural Trauma and Addiction Counselor, and the owner/Lead Clinician of Transcending Consulting Group in Denver, Colorado. Alex brings his extensive experience from training law enforcement professionals and collaborating with the FBI on Crimes Against Children to the discussion. Together, they delve into the...
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Demystifying Minecraft in the Therapeutic Space with Brian Keating (Best of)
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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The Mind-Body Blueprint: How Body Symptoms Are Connected to Our Mental Health (Best Of)
Lessons from the Playroom
In this episode, Lisa sits down with Dave Hompes, renowned author, nutritionist, and functional medicine practitioner, to explore the fascinating connection between the mind and body. Together, they dive into how mental health and physical symptoms are intertwined—looking at everything from nutrition and genetics to environmental influences and the stories people tell about their bodies. Dave shares insights from cases involving epilepsy, Autism Spectrum, Tourette syndrome, and more, helping therapists recognize subtle clues that point to mind-body correlations. This conversation invites...
info_outlineOriginal Air Date: October 10, 2023
In this powerful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the incredible Heather Fairlee Denbrough—Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Supervisor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor—to tackle one of the most challenging and important topics in child therapy: supporting children experiencing suicidal ideation or attempts.
This conversation is an essential resource for caregivers and professionals alike. Lisa and Heather offer practical guidance, hope, and strategies to help children navigate these overwhelming experiences safely and compassionately.
What You’ll Learn:
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How to recognize subtle signs of suicidal thoughts in children
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Creating a safe, nonjudgmental space for children to share their feelings
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Using play as a tool for children to explore and shift their stories
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Developing safety plans with children and caregivers, identifying triggers and red flags
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Facilitating open conversations about suicidal ideation with children and families
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Prioritizing therapist self-care and maintaining emotional safety in difficult sessions
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Accessing support networks and resources for challenging situations
Join Lisa and Heather for this crucial conversation that emphasizes empathy, connection, and compassion when supporting children through some of life’s most difficult moments. ❤️
Note: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice.
Additional Resources:
📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy
✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives