Back to Our Roots: A Deep Dive into Experiential Play Therapy with Nilüfer Devecigil (Best of)
Release Date: 04/14/2026
Wounded Healers in the Playroom: How Attachment Histories Shape Our Work (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
What happens when therapists bring their own attachment histories into the playroom—consciously or not? In this deeply validating and insightful conversation, Lisa welcomes back Dr. Clair Mellenthin—renowned play therapist, author, and professor—to unpack her groundbreaking dissertation research and explore how a therapist’s personal story shapes their clinical work, especially within family-based play therapy. Together, they explore: Why many play therapists are drawn to the work as “wounded healers” Research that debunks the myth of needing to be fully healed to help others How...
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Why the Playroom Must Evolve: Embracing Digital Play Therapy & AI with Jessica Stone (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired July 29, 2025 In this powerful follow-up episode, Lisa reunites with psychologist, author, and digital play therapy pioneer Dr. Jessica Stone to explore the ever-evolving intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and mental health. Together, they dive into why the playroom must evolve—offering a grounded, nonjudgmental look at how digital tools and AI are showing up in children's lives and what that means for us as therapists. Together they explore: Is digital play therapy the same as virtual play therapy? How do you ethically use tools like ChatGPT,...
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Dissociation Reimagined: Honoring the Inner World of Therapist and Child (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired July 15, 2025 In this powerful and deeply human episode, Lisa is joined by two internationally recognized leaders in the field of complex trauma and dissociation—Ana Gómez and Jill Hosey—for a heartfelt conversation about their monumental new release: The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children. More than just a book discussion, this episode offers a reverence-based reframe of dissociation—not as pathology, but as a brilliant, adaptive survival strategy used by children navigating overwhelming experiences. Ana and Jill share their personal insights...
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When the Body Remembers: Psychosensory Healing, Play Therapy & the Wisdom Within (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired June 1, 2025 She’s back—and the energy in the room just elevated. In one of the most moving and illuminating episodes to date, Lisa Dion reunites with internationally renowned occupational therapist, author, and teacher Kim Barthel—one of the most beloved guests in the podcast’s history. Together, they take us deep into the world of psycho-sensory interventions, a term Kim coined decades ago during a pivotal moment that forever changed her clinical approach. Through a powerful real-life case study, this conversation explores how the body holds the story of trauma, how...
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Introducing Family Constellation Work: A Systemic Lens for Play Therapists (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired June 17, 2025 🎙️ She’s back! In her fourth appearance, Lisa welcomes the deeply loved and returning guest Mili Sarmiento Shoemaker—bilingual therapist, teacher, and Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor and Trainer—to introduce a brand-new topic to the podcast: Family Constellation Work. Rooted in systemic and ancestral wisdom, this conversation explores how children’s symptoms often reflect unresolved family dynamics, not just their own inner world. Together, Mili and Lisa unpack key principles from Family Constellation theory—including the Orders of...
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The Final Little Lessons Series: What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed in the Playroom (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired May 20, 2025 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...
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Unleashing your Creativity: A Conversation with Mama Owls Minis (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired June 3, 2025 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...
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Little Lessons Series: Addressing Hesitation, Aggressive Play, and Emotional Boundaries (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired May 6, 2025 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...
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When the Aggressor is You: Therapist Activation in the Playroom with Mili Shoemaker (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired April 8, 2025 "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...
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Navigating ADHD Through Play Therapy – A Dual Perspective with Tony Vallance (Best of)
Lessons from the Playroom
Originally aired March 25, 2025 “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.” – Lisa Dion In this episode, Lisa sits down with Tony Vallance from the Building Better Brains Clinic for a conversation about supporting children with ADHD through play therapy. ADHD is often misunderstood, but with the right tools and understanding, play therapists can help children tap into their strengths while navigating the challenges they face. This conversation also explores ADHD from...
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.
*Original Air Date: August 6, 2024
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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