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Lessons from the Playroom

Lisa Dion
Play Therapy
Synergetic Play Therapy
Mental Health
Child Development
Trauma
Parenting
Therapy
Emotional Regulation
Therapeutic Techniques
Co-Regulation
Child Therapy
Neurodiversity
Authenticity
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Boundaries
Attachment Theory
Gut Health
Therapeutic Relationship
Child Sex Trafficking
Bibliotherapy

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute's "Lessons From the Playroom" Podcasts are a series of recorded podcasts designed to help therapists understand the little lessons that kids teach us that make a big difference in the play therapy process. Our podcast host, Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an innovative and inspiring teacher and pioneer in play therapy. She founder and President of the Synergetic Pla... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes343Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyHealth & FitnessMental Health

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Artwork for Lessons from the Playroom

Latest Episodes

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 intro... more

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... more

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-Supervisor... more

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 i... more

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Recent Guests

Catherine Denham
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor; co-founder of Mama Owl Minis
Mama Owl Minis
Episode: Unleashing your Creativity: A Conversation with Mama Owls Minis (Best of)
Alicia Denham
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor; co-founder of Mama Owl Minis
Mama Owl Minis
Episode: Unleashing your Creativity: A Conversation with Mama Owls Minis (Best of)
Mili Shoemaker
Therapist, consultant, and trainer
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Episode: When the Aggressor is You: Therapist Activation in the Playroom with Mili Shoemaker (Best of)
Hannah Young
Accredited play therapist based in England; clinical supervisor and therapist in educational and private practice
England-based play therapy practice
Episode: The Power of Poetry in Play Therapy: A Conversation with Hannah Young (Best of)
Natascha Lawrence
registered clinical counselor supervisor; BC registered play therapist; EMDR practitioner; founder of the FASD Institute
FASD Institute
Episode: Unveiling Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) Through a Play Therapy Lens (Best of)
Georgie Wissen Vincent
Nationally recognized play therapy expert; co-founder of the Play Strong Institute
Play Strong Institute
Episode: The Way of Play: A New Approach to Connection in Play Therapy with Georgie Wissen Vincent (Best of)
Polly Douglass
Synergetic Play Therapy supervisor and advisor to the Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Episode: Navigating Life's Transitions: An Empty Nester's Journey with Lisa (Best of)
Marie José Dhaese
Expressive Play Therapy expert; Center for Expressive Therapy
Center for Expressive Therapy, Vancouver Island
Episode: Reconnecting to Our True Nature: A Transformative Conversation with Marie José Dhaese (Best of)
Liliana Baylon
Bilingual English and Spanish and multicultural therapist; cultural ambassador for the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
Episode: Beyond Labels: Cultivating Cultural Humility as Therapists with Liliana Baylon (Best of)

Host

Lisa Dion
Host of Lessons from the Playroom and founder of Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, a leading figure in integrating neuroscience with play-based therapy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 239 ratings
  • Amazing Advocacy and Knowledge for the Play Therapy Field

    This is exactly the kind of play therapy podcast we need in this emerging field! Incredible resource. One star lost due to the low sound quality - please consider changing your mic or editing software, it’s really out of balance and hard to listen to when the interviewer and interviewee are at different volumes. I would listen and recommend this every week, if you fixed the sound issues!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    koojo56
    Australia2 years ago
  • Thank you!

    Lisa I don’t know how you do it but you always release a episode that I really need to hear!!! Such a great podcast series <3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MegDelB
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Bite-sized chunks of deeply important and informative therapeutic goodness

    I love this podcast. As a new intern I’m constantly learning, questioning myself, wondering if I’m ok, what can I do better, what do I do well, what can I do with this kid or that kid… and so in and so on. This podcast offers me that and so much more. Plus, as an intern I simply can’t afford every cool training in the book, so this helps augment my education without dipping into the grocery budget! I love that it’s not hour(s) long and I can listen while driving to work or doing a quick clean on... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lilstephs1
    United States4 years ago
  • Truly wonderful

    This show is so helpful and grounding. I listen to it before i start my sessions to ‘get in the zone’ thanks Lisa!!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sunny dispositions
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Wishing all Play Therapy training was this good

    The content is so rich and timely. I never fail

    To learn something new I could implement immediately into my practice. I don’t know how Lisa Dion got to be so smart about children and how to best work with them. I only wish all play therapy education was at this high level.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    been threre
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality guest mix and thoughtful discussion around diverse therapeutic approaches
Clinically rich, practical guidance for play therapists and supervisors
A must-listen for professionals wanting actionable tools you can use in sessions
Safe, compassionate, and trauma-informed approach that translates theory into practice

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#249
Ireland/Kids & Family

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Final Little Lessons Series: What to Do When You're Overwhelmed in the Playroom (Best of)
Q: Fiona asks about working with children in an intensive format and how to structure such sessions.
Describe intensives as multiple, shorter or longer sessions over a condensed period, tailored to the child and family needs, which can maintain momentum, reduce fatigue, and potentially shorten overall time to progress.
The Final Little Lessons Series: What to Do When You're Overwhelmed in the Playroom (Best of)
Q: Valentina Rose asks how to tell parents or caregivers when they are part of the problem and how to work with them.
Explain the brain's sensitivity to 'shoulds' and approach parents with empathy, focusing on their goals and pain points, offering support to reduce defensiveness, and educating them about the parent-child dynamic to foster cooperation and co-regulation.
The Final Little Lessons Series: What to Do When You're Overwhelmed in the Playroom (Best of)
Q: Jasmine asks how to respond when a child or teen is purposely trying to break things.
The host suggests reframing the behavior as possibly non-personal and instead as information about the child's experience, using curiosity to understand what the behavior is communicating, while simultaneously setting boundaries and using repair when needed.
Unveiling Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) Through a Play Therapy Lens (Best of)
Q: What should parents and schools understand about FASD to better support children and youth?
Parents and educators should view FASD through a non-judgmental lens, recognize long-term support needs, communicate openly about the diagnosis, and implement accommodations that address sensory, memory, and processing challenges.
Unveiling Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) Through a Play Therapy Lens (Best of)
Q: What is the iceberg framework and why is looking below the surface critical in FASD work?
The iceberg analogy helps explain that most of a child's needs lie below the surface: sensory processing, memory encoding, executive function, and trauma history. Addressing these deeper layers through a sustained, sensitive approach improves outcomes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lessons from the Playroom

What is Lessons from the Playroom about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, therapy-focused series that centers on play-based approaches to child mental health, weaving in neurodevelopment, attachment, trauma, and family systems. Episodes frequently feature clinicians, researchers, and educators sharing concrete techniques—from co-regulation and narrative therapy to bibliotherapy and animal-assisted modalities—along with real-world case stories, ethical considerations, and strategies for working with diverse populations (FASD, gender-diverse youth, Aboriginal communities, and beyond). The show often emphasizes moving beyond labels to support resilient, connected children and families, with a strong interest in bridging neuroscience and everyday practice. Listeners can expect actionable tools, thoughtfu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Lessons from the Playroom?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lessons from the Playroom:

1. Play Therapy Podcast: A Master-Class in Child-Centered Play Therapy
2. The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}
3. Trauma Rewired
4. Therapist Uncensored Podcast
5. ADHD Experts Podcast

How many episodes of Lessons from the Playroom are there?

Lessons from the Playroom launched 10 years ago and published 343 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Lessons from the Playroom?

Recent guests on Lessons from the Playroom include:

1. Catherine Denham
2. Alicia Denham
3. Mili Shoemaker
4. Hannah Young
5. Natascha Lawrence
6. Georgie Wissen Vincent
7. Polly Douglass
8. Marie José Dhaese

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