Lessons from the Playroom

"It is a sparkling thing when I encounter realness of another person… When this happens, I leap to meet it." – Carl Rogers
Carl Rogers is one of the most influential—and often misunderstood—figures in psychology. In this episode, Lisa returns to Rogers' own words and teachings to explore what he was truly inviting clinicians to embody.
Through a nervous-system-informed lens, this conversation highlights how authenticity, presence, and self-acceptance create the conditions for felt safety and relational connection. Lisa explores why Rogers' emphasis on "realness" isn't just philosophical—it's deeply regulatory, shaping how clients experience safety, attunement, and healing in the therapeutic relationship.
Some of what emerges may challenge what you thought you knew about Rogers and deepen how you understand the embodied foundations of effective therapy.
Original Air Date: April 3, 2019
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.

What does play therapy look like beyond childhood?
In this episode, Lisa is joined by Tara McDonald and Karen O'Neill of PIP Solutions UK to explore how play therapy can support healing across the lifespan. Together, they discuss how play adapts from infancy through adulthood, the importance of creating safety around play for older clients, and the powerful role of symbolic repair in psychotherapy.
This conversation invites clinicians to expand their understanding of play, embrace developmentally responsive approaches, and recognize the healing potential of play at any age.
✨ Tara and Karen will also be hosting Lisa for a 3-day in-person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program in October 2026 in Solihull, UK. https://pipsolutions.co.uk/courses/an-introduction-to-synergetic-play-therapy/
Original Air Date: February 20, 2024
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.

"The dysregulation in our body is information about the congruency of our decisions." – Lisa Dion
How do you know if a decision is truly aligned with who you are?
In this episode, Lisa explores how our nervous system offers critical information about the congruency of our choices. Moving beyond logic alone, you're invited to integrate left-brain reasoning with right-brain awareness to make decisions that feel grounded, authentic, and whole in this New Year.
This episode isn't just about therapy—it's about learning how to plan, reflect, and choose in ways that honor both the mind and the body. Lisa unpacks how to recognize when a decision is aligned, why discomfort doesn't automatically mean something is wrong, and how releasing the idea of "good" or "bad" decisions can open the door to greater clarity and self-trust.
Original Air Date: January 5, 2021
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: June 12, 2019
"When it comes to giftedness, one of the most important things to focus on is how these children manage their internal worlds." – Lisa Dion
Gifted children are undeniably bright, but their intellectual abilities come with unique emotional and regulatory challenges. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores the nuances of working with gifted children in play therapy, highlighting how self-imposed high standards, perfectionism, and intense inner expectations can lead to boredom, frustration, or anxiety.
What You'll Learn:
How gifted children differ from highly intelligent children in their emotional and regulatory needs
The impact of self-imposed standards on their emotional well-being
Strategies to help gifted children navigate and manage their internal worlds
Practical ways to support creativity, curiosity, and self-regulation in the playroom
Tune in for insights and practical approaches to help gifted children thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually, while honoring their unique inner experiences.
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

Original Air Date: May 29, 2019
"Every family has both peace and war, dysregulation and regulation, support and challenge." – Lisa Dion
Parents often wish for a home without arguments, but sibling rivalry is an inevitable—and often valuable—part of childhood. In this episode, Lisa Dion explores how conflicts between siblings can be opportunities for learning, growth, and empowerment.
What You'll Learn:
Why disagreement is a natural and important part of sibling relationships
How conflicts can foster emotional regulation, problem-solving, and resilience
Strategies to support children in navigating sibling dynamics without taking sides
Ways to help families embrace both harmony and healthy conflict as part of a balanced household
Tune in to gain insight into the sibling dynamic and learn how to turn inevitable conflicts into meaningful opportunities for development and connection.
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