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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes346Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyHealth & FitnessMental Health

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Lessons from the Playroom

Latest Episodes

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 men... more

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 mon... more

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... more

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

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Recent Guests

Ana Gómez
Founder and director of the IAEA Institute, EMDR expert
IAEA Institute, EMDR Association
Episode: Dissociation Reimagined: Honoring the Inner World of Therapist and Child (Best of)
Jill Hosey
Registered social worker and psychotherapist specializing in trauma
ISSTD (as trainer/consultant)
Episode: Dissociation Reimagined: Honoring the Inner World of Therapist and Child (Best of)
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)
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)
Cara Smith
Certified Child Life Specialist
Independent/World-wide practice
Episode: Beyond Toys: Play Therapy Across Medical, Occupational, and Animal-Assisted Settings (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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dissociation Reimagined: Honoring the Inner World of Therapist and Child (Best of)
Q: So as you were editing these 60 chapters, what pieces expanded your understanding the most or shifted your perspective on dissociation?
The editors describe how exposure to dozens of chapters revealed multiple pathways to dissociative coping, highlighting that there isn't a single path. This broadened view emphasizes considering child-specific contexts, attachment histories, and the body's role in dissociation, ultimately enriching clinical empathy and flexibility.
When the Body Remembers: Psychosensory Healing, Play Therapy & the Wisdom Within (Best of)
Q: How does the relationship between body and mind shape the therapy with a child who has experienced trauma?
Therapy succeeds when there is a four-way connection among the child, parent, clinician, and environment, all attuned to body signals. This embodied collaboration helps the child feel seen, safe, and ready to re-contextualize traumatic memories within a supportive relational frame.
When the Body Remembers: Psychosensory Healing, Play Therapy & the Wisdom Within (Best of)
Q: What is the central idea behind psychosensory interventions within play therapy?
The central idea is to treat the body as a primary locus of healing, using sensory and body-based strategies to support regulation, then gradually integrating emotional processing as the nervous system settles. Curiosity and embodied presence from the clinician guide the process rather than a rigid assessment.
Introducing Family Constellation Work: A Systemic Lens for Play Therapists (Best of)
Q: How do you practically bring this lens into a playroom session with a child when parents may not be available?
The conversation covers using the child's play to reveal the three orders, observing how symptoms correlate with systemic positions, and using the child's experience as a catalyst for a broader family exploration when possible; even in the absence of parents, changing the child's internal alignment can influence the system, and therapists are encouraged to stay curious and adaptable.
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.

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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How many episodes of Lessons from the Playroom are there?

Lessons from the Playroom launched 10 years ago and published 346 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. Ana Gómez
2. Jill Hosey
3. Catherine Denham
4. Alicia Denham
5. Mili Shoemaker
6. Hannah Young
7. Georgie Wissen Vincent
8. Polly Douglass

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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