🎙️ Episode 2 — Tech, Play, & Presence: A Conversation with Dr. Rachel Altvater

In this episode of Playful Beginnings, we sit down with Dr. Rachel Altvater, licensed psychologist, registered play therapist supervisor, and leading voice on the integration of technology in child therapy.

Dr. Altvater brings her signature clarity and compassion to a conversation about how modern therapists can thoughtfully incorporate technology into their work without losing the heart of play therapy. From virtual sandtrays to avatar-based interventions, we explore what’s possible when digital tools are used intentionally—and how therapists can still show up with presence and attunement in virtual spaces.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

• The ethical and clinical considerations of using tech in play therapy
• How to preserve core CCPT principles in a digital environment
• Strategies for building connection and co-regulation online
• How to manage screen fatigue—for both kids and therapists
• The difference between digitally replacing and digitally enhancing the therapeutic process

Whether you're navigating telehealth, supporting digitally immersed children, or simply curious about how to hold space across a screen, this episode will ground you in what matters most: relationship, presence, and play.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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