Original air date: April 24, 2017

Setting boundaries in the playroom can be a complex process! When to set them? How to set them? Why to set them? Is it important to set them? In this archived episode, Lisa Dion dives deep into these crucial questions, offering new insights on setting boundaries with children in ways you might not have considered before.

Join Lisa as she explores:

• The fundamental reasons for setting boundaries and how they benefit the therapeutic process.
• How to set boundaries with children effectively and in a manner you may not have tried before.
• The timing of establishing boundaries in the playroom (hint: it may not be when you think).
• Strategies for setting boundaries in ways that do not disrupt play or induce shame.
• Practical advice and real-life examples to refine your boundary-setting skills.
• How to handle ruptures in the therapeutic relationship when boundaries are set, including strategies for repair and reconnection.

Revisit this crucial topic to gain valuable insights into supporting your clients' therapeutic journeys, navigating boundaries, and fostering a sense of safety in your play therapy sessions.

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

* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

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 children can reconnect to themselves and thrive.

In this episode, you will explore:

• The metaphor of the "white dot": Discover how this symbol represents our core essence or true nature, and why nurturing this inner light is central to healing.
• Attachment and true nature: Understand how early attachment experiences shape a child’s development, and how caregivers and therapists can reflect the child’s true self back to them.
• The role of trauma in disconnection: Learn how attachment disruptions and trauma sever a child’s connection to their true self, and how therapy can help repair these ruptures.
• The therapist’s own journey: Hear how Marie José emphasizes the importance of therapists being on an ongoing journey of self-discovery and healing, and how this inner work allows them to hold space for others.
• Creating an environment for transformation: Explore the significance of designing therapeutic spaces that invite safety, creativity, and how nature and expressive therapies play a vital role in transformation.
• The importance of closure in therapy: Discover why creating a clear beginning, middle, and end in therapy sessions is essential for healing, and how a lack of closure can impact therapeutic outcomes.
• Navigating the complexities of healing: Gain insight into the delicate balance therapists must maintain between structure and spontaneity, allowing children to explore, express, and reconnect with their true selves at their own pace.
• Tending to your own "dot": Lisa and Marie José discuss the ethical imperative for therapists to engage in self-care, self-reflection, and self-compassion to remain present and attuned to their clients’ needs.

Join Lisa and Marie José for a thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation that will inspire therapists to reflect on their own journey, deepen their connection to their clients, and create spaces where true healing can unfold. This episode is filled with wisdom for those seeking to support children on their path to self-discovery and resilience.

As mentioned in the podcast, explore Marie José’s play sanctuary for children here: 💛 https://youtu.be/Lb20F3jF2nA?si=HSKWeTLQcrwlDtQn

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

* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original air date: May 24, 2022

In this special episode of Lessons from the Playroom, Lisa Dion welcomes the amazing Dr. Bonnie Goldstein, a faculty member at Pat Ogden’s Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. Dr. Goldstein has uniquely applied Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to children, making her a pioneer in this field.

Hear the delightful story of how Bonnie and Lisa met at the Australian Childhood Foundation's trauma conference in Melbourne in 2019, instantly connecting over dinner and sparking a meaningful professional relationship.

Join Bonnie and Lisa as they discuss how to integrate the body into therapy practice to empower child clients, covering:

• Utilizing your own sense of self in client work through embedded relational mindfulness techniques.
• Understanding how the body influences the mind and combining mindfulness and body awareness to shift a client's narrative.
• Incorporating collaborative curiosity in therapeutic work with children.
• Techniques for helping clients reconnect with their bodies after trauma, including the "choo-choo train" activity.
• Reading the client's story through the aliveness of the body.
• Attuning to your own body to better attune to your client's body, recognizing the therapist's body as the most important "toy" in the room.

You'll also hear numerous client stories illustrating how to incorporate sensorimotor work into your practice and get introduced to Bonnie's unique co-therapist who assists in her sessions.

About Dr. Bonnie Goldstein: Dr. Goldstein is dedicated to fostering and healing relationships through attachment theory, somatic and mindful awareness, and group psychotherapy. She is the founder/director of the Lifespan Psychological Center and a faculty member at the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. With several publications to her name, she is currently co-authoring a book on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy with Children with Pat Ogden, soon to be published by Norton Publishing.

Tune in for an inspiring episode filled with practical insights and heartwarming stories that highlight the transformative power of sensorimotor psychotherapy in play therapy.

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

* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.