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Lessons from the Playroom

Lessons from the Playroom

By: Lisa Dion
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About this listen

 The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute’s “Lessons From the Playroom” podcast is a series of audio and video recordings heard in over 100 countries. Every other week, Lisa shares her wisdom or is joined by special guests to explore some of the little lessons kids teach us that make a big difference in the play therapy process and offer ways to transform both you and the clients that you work with. Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an international teacher, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, co-founder of the Synergetic Education Institute, creator of the Business of Therapy and host of the Lessons from the Playroom podcast. She is the author of Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity and is the 2015 recipient of the Association for Play Therapy’s Professional Education and Training Award of Excellence.© 2015...2022 Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Two Roles, One Room: Balancing Parenthood and Play Therapy (Best Of)

    Two Roles, One Room: Balancing Parenthood and Play Therapy (Best Of)
    Nov 25 2025

    Original Air Date: June 28, 2019

    "It isn't about being a parent or not. It's about showing up in the playroom and being real." – Lisa Dion

    Being both a parent and a play therapist comes with unique insights—but it doesn't automatically provide all the answers in the playroom. In this episode, Lisa explores the benefits and challenges of navigating these dual roles, highlighting why every parent—and every child—is different.

    Tune in to discover:

    • How parenthood can inform your work with children
    • Why having children doesn't equal having all the answers in therapy
    • Ways to show up authentically in the playroom, regardless of your parenting experience

    This episode is a thoughtful exploration of balancing personal and professional perspectives, helping therapists connect more deeply with the children they serve.

    Additional Resources:

    💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

    📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

    ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

    🔗 Follow us on Instagram

    🔗 Find us on Facebook
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • Why Negative Self-Talk Isn't the Enemy (Best Of)

    Why Negative Self-Talk Isn't the Enemy (Best Of)
    Nov 18 2025

    Original Air Date: November 7, 2023

    Join Lisa Dion as she dives into a topic we all experience—therapists, parents, children—negative self-talk. Despite the countless affirmations we try, negative self-talk refuses to go away. But what if it wasn't meant to?

    In this perspective-shifting episode, Lisa explores the purpose behind negative self-talk and how it can actually support us.

    What You'll Learn:

    • How negative self-talk shows up in thoughts like "I should," "I shouldn't," and "I'm not good enough"
    • Why positive affirmations alone often don't work
    • The surprising function of negative self-talk and what it's really trying to do
    • The neuroscience behind it as a homeostatic mechanism in the mind
    • Shifts in understanding depression and the role of negative self-talk
    • Strategies to honor yourself while working with your inner critic
    • How negative self-talk can become an ally in your journey toward authenticity

    Tune in to gain a new perspective on your inner dialogue and discover how understanding negative self-talk can help you navigate life with wisdom, self-compassion, and authenticity. 💕

    Additional Resources:

    💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

    📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

    ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

    🔗 Follow us on Instagram

    🔗 Find us on Facebook
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • The Clients We Attract: Mirrors for Therapist Growth (Best Of)

    The Clients We Attract: Mirrors for Therapist Growth (Best Of)
    Nov 11 2025

    Original Air Date: October 24, 2023

    In this captivating episode, Lisa Dion is joined by three incredible colleagues—Michelle Wayman, Mili Shoemaker, and Lisa Walton—from Argentina, Australia, and the United States. Together, they explore a fascinating question: why do therapists attract the clients they do?

    Have you noticed patterns in your caseload, with clients showing up who reflect similar struggles or challenges? Lisa and her guests dive into how these connections are far from random. Clients often act as mirrors, reflecting parts of our own experiences and guiding us toward self-discovery and growth.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode:

    • Why the clients who enter our therapy spaces are not random and what they reveal about our own journeys
    • How clients serve as teachers, mirroring experiences we might be avoiding or haven't yet integrated
    • Why countertransference can be embraced as a tool for deeper understanding and connection
    • How awareness of these patterns can transform your practice, infusing it with curiosity, self-awareness, and deeper opportunities for co-regulation and healing

    This episode is a heartfelt reminder that clients are more than recipients of therapy—they are guides and mirrors helping us illuminate where we need to grow, heal, and show up more fully. Tune in to explore how understanding these connections can enrich both your professional practice and personal journey. 💕

    Additional Resources:

    💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities

    📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy

    ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives

    🔗 Follow us on Instagram

    🔗 Find us on Facebook
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
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