Next Level Play Therapy: A Podcast for Play Therapy Excellence
Next Level Play Therapy is a podcast for child and adolescent therapists who want to elevate their play therapy services. Hosted by Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S, of Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training, each episode explores innovative techniques, evidence-based practices, and practical strategies for effective sessions. Topics include building rapport with children, improving client outcomes, selecting therapeutic toys and tools, addressing trauma and attachment, engaging parents, and promoting emotional regulation and resilience. The show is designed for both experienced therapists refining their skills and novice clinicians entering the field, with expert interviews and discussions of best practices.
Episodes
Explosive Emotions in Kids: A Brain-Based Approach for Play Therapists
Send us Fan MailFree Podcast Training for Play Therapists: How the Brain Constructs "Explosive" Emotions in KidsJoin Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training with Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S podcast as we go beyond simple redirection strategies to explore how the brain actually constructs emotional experiences in dysregulated children and why it matters for play therapists.If you're a c
Stop Guessing: 3 Keys to Decode Behavior in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when your 6-year-old client is kicking things in the lobby or a 7-year-old starts using cursing in a family session?If you've ever felt like your play therapy questions are falling flat or a client’s behavior is spiraling out of control, you aren't alone. After 30+ years as a child and adolescent psychotherapist, I’ve learned that these moments aren’t failu
Stop Processing Your Hardest Play Therapy Sessions Alone
Send us Fan MailHave you ever finished a challenging play therapy session, watched the child walk out the door, and then just sat there — processing everything alone with no one who truly understands what happened in that room?If that feels familiar, this free weekly podcast episode is for you.Most play therapists think of community — a membership, a consultation group, a peer network — as emotion
Stop Guessing: 3 Indicators Play Therapy is Working
Send us Fan MailTired of feeling like you’re just "playing" without a clear way to track progress in play therapy?As play therapists, we often hear the same question from parents: "How is my child actually doing?" And maybe you’re struggling to answer that question yourself, let alone explain it to parents.If you find yourself unsure how to tell if your clients are progressing
How to Stop Dreading Your Complex Play Therapy Cases
Send us Fan MailAre you dreading that "challenging" case on your schedule? The client who wreaks your room or doesn’t talk during their play therapy session? Or the parent session with a parent that seems to avoid you yet calls you frequently between sessions telling you everything that’s not working?As play therapists, we often define a challenging case by the severity of the trauma,
5 Ways Community Improves Play Therapy Results, Especially When Clients Wreck Your Playroom
Send us Fan MailStop clinical isolation and help your play therapy clients progress faster. What does that mean?A classic example of working in isolation and figuring things out on your own is figuring out what do you do when your client “wrecks” your playroom? Do you set limits? Do you let them wreck your playroom week after week after week? Do you refer them to someone else? Are you a play t
The Dangerous Lie Every Isolated Play Therapist Believes
Send us Fan MailDo you ever feel like the only play therapist who hasn’t figured it out? You’re not alone—and that thought might be exactly what’s keeping you stuck.In this week’s podcast episode, we’re exposing the "dangerous lie" of play therapy isolation. When you're the only kid therapist in your building, it's easy to look at social media "wins" and conclude that
The #1 Mistake Play Therapists Make on Parent Calls
Send us Fan MailGetting frantic phone calls from parents about meltdowns, outbursts, and behavior problems is a stressful reality for play therapists. When a parent says, “My doctor (or therapist) said play therapy isn’t working,” it’s easy to feel the weight of responsibility to fix everything immediately.In this week’s podcast episode, Cathi Spooner of Renewing Hearts Training teaches you how to
More Years of Experience Won't Fix What's Actually Making You Doubt Yourself as a Play Therapist
Send us Fan MailI want to talk about something that a lot of play therapists are silently betting their entire career on — the idea that *more time and more experience* is what's going to eventually make them feel confident and capable in the play therapy room.That one day they'll hit some magic number of years and the self-doubt will just... disappear. The second-guessing will stop. The
5 Signs You’re a Play Therapist Struggling with Clinical Isolation
Send us Fan MailDo you find yourself replaying play therapy sessions on your drive home, wondering if you made the right clinical decision? You aren't alone.In this free weekly podcast episode, we’re diving into the 5 signs you’re second-guessing yourself as a play therapist and why clinical isolation might be your biggest hurdle. Being the only play therapist in your building can be incredib
Why Play Therapists Shouldn't Work Alone: Overcoming Clinical Isolation
Send us Fan MailAre you the only play therapist in your agency? Or perhaps you're in private practice and feel like you're navigating complex cases entirely on your own?Many play therapists accept isolation as "just the reality" of the field. We push through, hoping that with enough time and experience, we’ll eventually "figure it out." But here is the honest truth: C
The Isolated Play Therapist Syndrome: Why You’re Feeling Burned Out
Send us Fan MailIf you're a play therapist — especially in your first few years — and you're the only one in your agency or you're in private practice figuring this out by yourself, this is for you.You went into this work because you genuinely believe in the power of play therapy to heal kids. You're passionate about this. You're not here because it was easy — you're
Jungian Play Therapy 101: Symbols, Archetypes & Clinical Ideas
Send us Fan MailWhat is Jungian Analytic Play Therapy, and how does it actually work in the playroom? In this podcast, we dive deep into the symbolic world of Jungian theory with guest Jared Andes, LCSW, RPT-S. We explore how Jungian Analytical Play Therapy uses archetypes and other concepts to facilitate healing, and we compare this model to other popular play therapy approaches.Join us for an in
The Trauma Roadmap: Using Neuroscience & Attachment in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailAre you tired of leaving your play therapy sessions wondering if you’re actually helping or just "playing"?You’ve invested in the play therapy training, you’ve gathered the strategies, and you have a playroom full of tools. But if you’re like many play therapists, having more information has only led to more confusion. When you’re in the middle of a play therapy session w
Is Trauma Really Stored in the Body? New Science for Play Therapists
Send us Fan MailIs trauma actually "stored" in our organs, or have we been looking at it all wrong?For years, play therapists have repeated the mantra that "trauma is stored in the body," but a groundbreaking 2026 peer-reviewed article is challenging this foundational belief. If you’ve ever felt like the "storage" explanation didn't quite click, this episode is f
Beyond Labeling: Why Emotional Granularity is the Key to Resilience in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailHelping children and teens identify and label their emotions is a core therapeutic goal in play therapy, but simply naming a feeling isn't enough. In fact, an overfocus on "feeling good" can sometimes hinder the healing process. To build true resilience, we need to help clients move from basic affect to high emotional granularity.In this free weekly podcast, we dive
The Missing Piece: How to Include Parents in Play Therapy for Children with Trauma
Send us Fan MailUsing play therapy with traumatized children and teens is complex, and many play therapists find themselves asking: "Where do the parents fit in?"“What do I do if my client is in foster care? How do I include parents?”Too often, parents or caregivers are left out of the process or integrated without a clear plan. This can lead to missed healing opportunities or accidenta
Play Therapy Case Conceptualization: Trauma, Attachment & Behavior
Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever left a play therapy session thinking… “I see the behaviors—but what’s actually driving them?”You’re not alone. And more importantly—you’re not supposed to stay stuck there.In this podcast episode, we break down how to use case conceptualization in play therapy through a neuroscience and attachment lens so you can finally understand what’s at the root of a child’s beh
Polyvagal Theory Is Being Challenged… What Play Therapists Need to Know
Send us Fan MailIs Polyvagal Theory still valid? And what does the latest scientific debate mean for your play therapy practice?Polyvagal Theory (PVT), developed by Stephen Porges, has become one of the most widely used frameworks in trauma-informed therapy. But recent critiques from neuroscientists and researchers are challenging key assumptions about the vagus nerve, autonomic nervous system hie
Sand Tray Therapy: Should You Interpret a Child’s Play? (3 Things to Consider)
Send us Fan MailYou just know what your client’s sand tray means… but should you say it?In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest clinical dilemmas in play therapy: 👉 Do you share your interpretation of a child’s sand tray scene—or hold it?If you’ve ever felt that pull—the moment where everything clicks and you want to connect the dots for your client—this conversation is for you.Because he
Virtual Play Therapy Explained: Tools, Tips & Platforms for Play Therapists
Send us Fan MailVirtual play therapy isn’t the future anymore… it’s already here.But let’s be real for a second—Most platforms weren’t built for play therapists.They weren’t designed to engage children using play therapeutically. For expressive play. For the kind of symbolic, relational work you do every single day.So what happens when a platform is built with play therapists in mind?That’s exactl
Sand Tray Therapy: How to Identify Themes in a Play Therapy Session
Send us Fan MailHow do you identify themes in sand tray therapy sessions?One of the most important skills for play therapists is learning how to recognize themes in play therapy, especially when working with sand tray therapy. Themes reveal the deeper emotional experiences children are trying to process through symbolic play.In this week’s free weekly podcast episode, you’ll learn how to identify
Play Therapy Assessment Explained: How to Know If Your Play Therapy Sessions Are Working
Send us Fan MailYou can have the most beautiful playroom… the best toys… even strong rapport…But if you’re not assessing what’s actually happening beneath the play, you might be missing the very thing your client needs most.In this episode of Next Level Play Therapy, we’re breaking down one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) skills in play therapy: assessment—and why it directly impacts yo
Case Conceptualization in Play Therapy: Why You Feel Stuck (and How to Fix It)
Send us Fan MailAre you feeling stuck in your play therapy sessions… unsure what to do next or why your play therapy interventions aren’t working?You might be missing the most important step in the entire play therapy treatment process: case conceptualization in play therapy.In this episode, you’ll learn what case conceptualization actually is (without the grad school confusion) and how it becomes
How to Use Attachment-Based Sand Tray Therapy with Teens
Send us Fan MailWhat do you do after you’ve identified the symptoms in a struggling teen?Failing grades. Emotional withdrawal. “I don’t care.”High-conflict divorce. Estrangement from a parent. Identity confusion.It’s one thing to recognize the patterns.It’s another to know how to turn that understanding into a clear, effective plan to help your teen clients heal.In this week’s podcast episode, I w
Play Therapy with Adolescents: Why Teen Symptoms Are Easy to Misread
Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when a 16-year-old walks into your office, shrugs, and says, “I don’t care”?Low motivation. Failing grades. Emotional shutdown. Estrangement from a parent after divorce. On the surface, it can look like depression, defiance, or typical teen apathy.But what if those symptoms are telling a much more layered story?In this free livestream episode, I’m walking you through
Sand Tray Therapy with Teens: How to Use It Effectively in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailCan you really use sand tray therapy with adolescents?Absolutely—and when you understand how to adapt it developmentally, sand tray becomes one of the most powerful expressive arts tools to use with teens.In this podcast episode, I’m diving into how to use sand tray with teens in a way that respects their autonomy, supports emotional regulation, and deepens therapeutic insight. If
How to Use Poetry with Teens in Play Therapy for Self-Expression
Send us Fan MailThis week I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to help teens access the therapeutic powers of play using poetry.Yes - poetry!If you’re rolling your eyes and remembering your high school English class feeling tortured by reading poetry, then rest assured - this is not your high school English class version of poetry.Poetry is an expressive arts modality that allows clients to use wor
Best Strategies to Use Play Therapy with Teens
Send us Fan MailPlay therapy isn’t for adolescents. It’s just for little kids.There’s a misbelief in the mental health community that play therapy is only for little kids.Maybe you’ve wondered that yourself.Play therapy can be an amazing way to help adolescents engage in healing and in a way that meets their developmental needs.Rather than asking IF play therapy works for adolescents –Ask –HOW is
Can Play Therapy Work with Teens?
Send us Fan MailEver sit across from a teen in session, clock ticking, silence screaming… and your nervous system quietly panicking?Yeah. This episode is for that moment.In this week’s podcast, we’re naming the thing no one warned you about in grad school: why play therapists feel stuck with teens—and why it’s not because you’re doing it wrong.Here’s the hard truth (said with love): 👉 Trying harde
What’s the Difference Between Play Therapy and Using Play in Therapy?
Send us Fan MailHappy International Play Therapy Week! 🎉What is play therapy—and how is it different from simply using games and activities in therapy sessions?This is a common and critical question for mental health professionals working with children. While games, art, and activities are often part of therapy, play therapy is a distinct, evidence-based clinical approach grounded in child develop
How to Increase Play Therapy Impact & Reduce Burnout
Send us Fan MailMore Impact. Less Burnout. isn’t a cute slogan. It’s a line in the sand.Because here’s the truth most play therapists won’t say out loud:Burnout doesn’t come from caring too much.It comes from doing this work alone.In this week’s free livestream episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on why being part of a strategic play therapy community isn’t optional if you want sustainable imp
How to Get Better Results in Play Therapy Without Doing More
Send us Fan MailWhat if better results in play therapy didn’t come from more play therapy activities, more games, or more play therapy training — but from clearer thinking?In this week’s free livestream episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the real secret sauce: case conceptualization.Because if you don’t know what’s driving the behavior, how do you decide what to do in play therapy sessions w
How Does Consultation Improve Play Therapist Growth?
Send us Fan MailIf you’re a mental health professional, including play therapy, we’ve all heard this said and probably even said it ourselves:consultation is a clinical and ethical part of providing effective play therapy (and therapy in general).Truthfully – I have mixed feelings about this statement.From a clinical and ethical standpoint, consultation is an important part of providing quality me
If Being a Play Therapist Feels Lonely, This Is for You
Send us Fan MailA New Year Is a Chance to Stop Doing Play Therapy Alone.A new year begins… and for many play therapists, your caseloads are already full.Same questions about what you should be doing in play therapy sessions to “get it right.”Same feeling of wishing there was someone who truly understood your play therapy work so you could share ideas and support.If you ended last year feeling tire
How to Use AutPlay Therapy with Neurodivergent Kids
Send us Fan MailHelping Neurodivergent Kids Thrive in the Playroom: A Conversation with Dr. Robert Jason GrantEvery month inside Play Therapy Academy and the Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE, I hear the same heart-wide-open question:“What’s the best way to support neurodivergent kids in play therapy so they can truly thrive?”And honestly? Same. It’s a big, beautiful question — and the kind of questio
What is Case Conceptualization in Play Therapy?
Send us Fan Mail🎁 Pulled from the Vault: An Oldie but GoodieI’m officially taking a break this holiday season — slowing down, soaking up family time, and sipping something warm by the tree. ✨But I didn’t want to leave you hanging! So I dug into the vault and pulled out one of the most-loved livestream episodes I’ve ever done. And honestly? It’s still 🔥 relevant today.Over the last 15+ years of sup
What Are Best Practices in Play Therapy for Clinical Decision-Making?
Send us Fan MailHappy holidays!! I’ve decided to take two weeks off to spend the holiday season focusing on my family.So – I went back into my livestream vault and found this oldie but goodie!Check out this podcast discussing some interesting information I gleaned from research and what it means for play therapists.How does being trained to use a specific play therapy model influence clinical dec
Music Therapy for Healing Trauma & Grief in Play Therapy
Send us Fan Mail🎶 This Week’s Podcast: How Music Helps Kids Heal — A Heartfelt Conversation with Crystal Luk-WorrallIf you’ve ever watched a child hum softly during play…tap a rhythm while they’re telling a story…or light up when you mirror the beat they’re creating……you already know music has its own kind of magic in the playroom.This week, we’re going deeper into that magic with a guest whose wo
Basic Skills Using Sand Tray Effectively in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailIf you’ve ever wondered how to set up a sand tray during play therapy sessions in a way that feels intentional, grounded, and supportive of your client’s nervous system, this episode is your new BFF.We’re diving into the essentials — starting with how to introduce the sand tray using child-centered, non-directive prompts and when to lean into thoughtful directive prompts that still
How to Write Meaningful Play Therapy Treatment Plans
Send us Fan MailIf I say play therapy treatment plans, what’s the first thing that pops into your brain?“Aaaaagh! I hate writing treatment plans! They’re just more paperwork to make insurance happy.”“Ugh, they’re so complicated and confusing.”“Treatment plans are pointless. I never use them and they take forever.”“I get why we need them… but writing them for play therapy clients? Overwhelming.”If
How Does the Sand Tray Help Clients in Play Therapy?
Send us Fan MailWhen kids can’t find the words, the sand tray speaks for them in play therapy sessions.In this week’s podcast episode, we’ll look at how sand tray therapy taps into the implicit memories stored beneath language — The attachment patterns, emotional imprints, and unspoken stories that surface symbolically before they ever become verbal.If you’ve ever felt goosebumps watching a client
How to Use Sand Tray in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailSand Tray Therapy vs. Sandplay Therapy: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters for Play TherapistsEver find yourself wondering, “Wait… am I doing sandplay therapy or sand tray therapy?” 👀You’re not alone — and it’s way more than a semantics thing.In this podcast episode, we’re unpacking the fascinating roots and modern applications of both approaches — from Dora Kalff’s Jungian f
4 Sand Tray Activities for Family Play Therapy Sessions
Send us Fan MailI love love love using sand tray therapy in family play therapy sessions!Watching how families approach and complete the activities provides a wealth of information about interaction patterns and how each family member sees the world and their family relationships.When I use sand tray activities in family play therapy sessions, I like to use activities that allow me to observe inte
How to Use Sand Tray in Family Play Therapy Sessions?
Send us Fan Mail🌪️ Family Play Therapy + Sand Tray = Chaos or Connection?Ever had a family play therapy session turn into a sand-flinging circus? 🙃 One minute it feels like magic, the next like total mayhem.The truth is—the sand tray can be one of the most powerful tools for family healing… but only if you know how to guide the process with purpose.👉 In this week’s episode, I’ll show you how to mo
3 Common Mistakes Using Family Play Therapy (And What to Do Instead)
Send us Fan Mail3 Hidden Mistakes Sabotaging Your Family Play Therapy Sessions“Let’s invite the parents in…”Sounds simple, right? But if you’ve ever had a family play therapy session dissolve into chaos—or worse, sit in painful silence—you know it’s anything but simple.Here’s the secret nobody tells you: those messy moments aren’t proof you failed. They’re actually your biggest opportunities for h
Why Parent Updates Alone Can’t Fix Stalled Play Therapy Progress
Send us Fan Mail🚨 The Big Miss in Traditional Play Therapy (And Why It’s Holding Back Progress)We talk a lot about helping kids heal using play therapy…But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:Most traditional play therapy approaches treat the child like they exist in a vacuum.👀 Reality check:What kid do you know is paying their own rent, making their own dinner, and handling life without
Play Therapy with Parents | 5 Essential Tips for Family Play Therapy Sessions
Send us Fan Mail🚨 5 Signs You Might Be Accidentally Sabotaging Your Play Therapy Progress (and What to Do Instead)If you’re a play therapist who’s tired of getting those frantic mid-week parent calls, texts, or emails saying “nothing is working”—even though you see real progress in the playroom—this week’s free livestream is for you.Here’s the hard truth: sometimes our best play therapy efforts fa
Is Individual Play Therapy Better Than Family Play Therapy?
Send us Fan MailThe norm in play therapy, and the mental health profession in general, is to meet with a child or teen every week for individual counseling sessions and meet with parents as an adjunct to treatment.This format has been around for decades and is the approach taught in most universities. I’ve always been a believer that this isn’t the best way to help children heal.Don’t get me wron
What to Do If Play Therapy Progress is Stalled
Send us Fan MailIf you’re a play therapist – either a newbie, got some experience under your belt, or full on seasoned play therapist – this is bound to happen more than once.To be honest I’ve had this happen so many times, I’ve lost count.You get frantic phone calls, emails, or texts between sessions telling you all the “bad” things your client is doing at home or school.You can hear the concern
Should Parents Participate in Play Therapy Sessions?
Send us Fan MailHow many of you have had this happen with play therapy clients (raise your virtual hand in the Comments) –You greet your client in the waiting room and your client looks at you with an eager face and asks, “Can my mom/dad come with us?” 🙄 Or …When you meet with parents for the first time and they ask you why you only meet with their child. Why don’t they get to join the sessions?
How Do Play Therapists Decide When to Include Parents in Play Therapy Sessions?
Send us Fan MailHave you ever had this happen with a play therapy client?You greet your young client in the lobby and your client asks – “Can my mom/dad come with us today?”Or maybe you’re talking with a parent who asks you what you do in their child’s play therapy sessions and why do you only work with their child? Why aren’t they (parents) allowed in the play therapy session?What do you say as
What Are the Top Mistakes Play Therapists Make Working with Parents?
Send us Fan MailRaise your virtual hand and shout YES! if you never make mistakes and you are the perfect play therapist who does everything right all the time.Do you hear those crickets? 🦗🦗🦗The sound of silent voices, well, except for the crickets. 😂That’s because no one is perfect. The good news is that we don’t need to be perfect.If you have been doubting yourself and thinking about all the w
How to Conceptualize the Role of Parents in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailWhat’s one of the biggest struggles play therapists say causes them to feel anxious, incompetent, frustrated, and generally overwhelmed on a regular basis?If you guessed working with parents – winner, winner, chicken dinner!It’s one of the most common challenges I hear from play therapists.Do any of these sound familiar?“I can’t get parents to schedule a parent only session with me
How To Talk to Parents About Difficult Issues in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailWhen I talk with play therapists about reasons they avoid having difficult conversations with parents/caregivers, here's the most common worry they tell me 👇“What if I say something and they pull their kid from play therapy?”It can feel awful when parents terminate play therapy before real change can happen.We feel like giant failures and then start listing all the ways we fai
What is Best Practice in Play Therapy Clinical Decision-Making
Send us Fan MailHow does being trained to use a specific play therapy model influence clinical decision-making vs clinical decision-making of child/adolescent therapists using play in therapy? Hmmmmm. What the heck does that question even mean? Essentially clinical decision-making involves our expertise and training in a play therapy model and how play therapists engage in the decision-making pro
How to Work with Resistance in Play Therapy: 4 Approaches for Reluctant Clients
Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when you keep getting frantic phone calls from caregivers between play therapy sessions telling you all the things going wrong with their child?You feel the weight of these phone calls and the pressure to make everything better- quickly.You’ve tried many times to get these caregivers to schedule an appointment with you but there’s always a reason they can’t meet with
How to Avoid Burnout and Create Meaningful Change in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailHave you ever thought to yourself when it’s just you and you’ve had a hard day - “I wish I had someone to help me process what just happened in that play therapy session.”If you’re like most play therapists that I’ve met, you’re probably the only one in your agency or group that works with kids and uses play therapy (or is aspiring to learn play therapy).Being a play therapist can
Why Collecting More Play Therapy Activities Is Keeping You Stuck (And What Actually Creates Client Breakthroughs)"
Send us Fan MailIf you’re a play therapist - Do you find yourself doing any of these? 👇 🙄 Constantly searching for new activities online 🙄 Have folders full of saved play therapy interventions 🙄 Still feeling uncertain about client progress 🙄 Wondering why 'perfect' activities aren't creating lasting changeIf you're like most play therapists I know, you probably have folders o
How To Tell If Clients Are Just Playing in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailIs this just a flower… or a window into healing using play therapy?How do you know if your client is ‘just playing’ or doing deep therapeutic work in play therapy sessions?Ever stared at a child’s drawing of a flower and thought: “Is this meaningful… or are we just passing time?”You’re not alone.As play therapists, we’re trained to honor the child’s process—but let’s be real:There
What Are the Benefits of Play Therapy with Traumatized Kids?
Send us Fan MailHave you ever thought to yourself - I have no idea how play therapy actually helps my traumatized client heal?Then I’ve got good news for you!✨ This week’s livestream episode is focused on the hidden healing power of play therapy for traumatized children.What if a pile of toys, a safe room, and a listening heart could help rewire a child’s nervous system?In this week’s free livestr
Is There a Best Approach for Play Therapy with Traumatized Kids?
Send us Fan MailThere is no such thing as the best approach for play therapy with traumatized kids.What????!!!! 😱Searching for the ONE approach that will heal ALL your traumatized clients and is BETTER THAN all the play therapy models existing today is an exercise in frustration, overwhelm, and exhaustion. I know what you’re thinking 👇If that’s the case, then how do you help your traumatized cli
How to Use Play Therapy Interventions to Get Great Results in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailEver felt like your playroom is bursting with supplies… You’ve got the latest toy, fidget, slime, sand tray miniature, art supplies …But you still leave sessions wondering what to do next?Or maybe you've bought that activity you saw on Instagram… only to realize it doesn't really fit how you work? (Been there … done that)You’re not alone.Today we’re breaking down the secr
How to Make Progress in Play Therapy When You’re Feeling Stuck
Send us Fan MailHave you ever felt like your client doesn’t seem to be making progress and you’ve tried everything to get back on track?You looked through all your play therapy activity books and resources to find an activity that will work.You looked on Pinterest and scoured the internet for ideas.You tried implementing ideas from the recent training you attended with limited success.You tried ta
How to Tell If Play Therapy Is Working by These 5 Signs
Send us Fan MailWe’re diving into a question that lives rent-free in the minds of even the most seasoned play therapists:“Is this actually working?”If you’ve ever left a session wondering if you’re making a difference… or if your client just built a Lego spaceship and peace’d out… you’re so not alone.This week we’re going to explore the real signs that play therapy is working—even when you can’t a
5 Mistakes Every Play Therapist Makes (And How to Grow from Them)
Send us Fan MailHave you ever had the sinking feeling after a session and thought you blew it bad?If that’s ever been you… welcome to the club. And guess what? You’re in exactly the right place.This week we’re diving into something that might make you wince and exhale a huge sigh of relief at the same time.We’re talking about the honest, human, messy mistakes play therapists make—and what we can a
How Do You Create a Sacred Space in Play Therapy for Healing?
Send us Fan MailWhen I first heard the term “wounded healer” I wasn’t sure it was a good thing.I pictured in my head some of the people I’ve come across in the mental health community who caused me to be concerned about their ability to be stable and support clients effectively.To be honest, even saying that outside my head (and written down here) sounds really judgy. 🙄Afterall, I’ve overcome a l
What Does It Mean to Create a Sacred Space for Children in Play Therapy?
Send us Fan MailWe often hear the notion of the play therapy process and the need to hold a sacred space for healing in play therapy.But, what the heck does that mean?Can play therapists provide a space for healing with a lens of spirituality? Are we allowed to talk about it?The notion of spirituality and religion are often considered the same thing, but I don’t think they are. I think spiritual
Tips to Recognize Themes in Play Therapy with Traumatized Children
Send us Fan MailRecognizing themes in play therapy sessions is an important part of being a play therapist because it influences how you make sense of what your client is communicating and what you do in sessions.I remember when I was learning how to use play therapy early in my career and hearing about the importance of recognizing themes in play therapy sessions.It felt like an impossible task -
3 Favorite Play Therapy Activities to Use with Traumatized Children & Teens
Send us Fan MailLet’s get creative! Play therapy activity ideas to help traumatized children and teens healIf you’re a play therapist or child/adolescent therapist, then you’re probably always thinking about play therapy activities to use with your clients.I’ve never met a play therapist who didn’t love learning new play therapy activities.We’re like moths drawn to light when it comes to finding
Tips for Maximizing Results Using Play Therapy to Heal Trauma
Send us Fan MailLearning more play therapy activities isn’t enough to help children heal.If you talk to the experts in the field of any mental health discipline, you’ll likely get very different answers about what is the most effective way to help clients heal from trauma.This is true in play therapy as well.There are a few things that are true across most play therapy models when working with tra
How to Use an Integrative Play Therapy Model with Traumatized Children & Teens
Send us Fan MailWhat’s the best approach to using play therapy with traumatized children and teens?If you’re a play therapist or child/adolescent mental health professional, then you probably have clients on your caseload who have experienced trauma.The thing about experiencing trauma is that it’s unique to each child and adolescent.While there are definitely similar issues to address at the heart
What’s the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Adolescent Suicidality?
Send us Fan MailIs there a connection between suicide ideation in adolescence for children who have experienced trauma?We know from the research that trauma has a significant negative impact on children that can contribute to mental health issues into adolescence and adulthood.So, it would make sense that trauma would have a profound impact on adolescents if left unhealed. To get a little technic
5 Components to Create a Safe Space for Healing Trauma in Play Therapy
Send us Fan MailThe last several years of neuroscience research has shown mental health professionals how to better understand the role of autonomic nervous system and interpersonal neurobiology.It’s provided a wealth of information to understand the importance of creating a safe healing space for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.Children cannot establish a connection with play
Play Therapy with Children & Teens Experiencing Eating Problems
Send us Fan MailHave you ever had a client present to your office and you were kind of stumped about what to do?Me too. I’ve totally been there.The thing that helped me to make sure I was doing my best to help my client was having a good network of colleagues and mentors to share their knowledge and resources.That’s exactly why I’m soooooooooo excited about my guest this week - Leah Evans, LPC,
Does Case Conceptualization Matter in Play Therapy?
Send us Fan MailI’ve heard it said by mental health professionals and play therapists that case conceptualization doesn’t really matter when you’re working with clients.When I dig a little deeper about their reasons, the response that I get is that play therapy and counseling is intuitive and it’s about building a strong relationship with clients.When I challenge them a little, most of the time th
What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy?
Send us Fan MailBoost Parental Involvement in Play Therapy with Attachment & Neuroscience StrategiesIf you’re a play therapist or child/adolescent therapist, then you know children exist within the context of a family and parental involvement in the treatment process is important.But do you view parents as the therapeutic agents of change for their child?As the therapeutic agent of change for
How Play Therapists Can Avoid Burnout
Send us Fan MailAs play therapists, we are often the ones who sit with stories of pain, loss, and struggle—walking alongside our clients during their toughest moments. But let’s face it: hearing these stories day after day can take its toll on even the most seasoned therapists. How do we keep our hearts open and our spirits strong while "holding hard things"?✨ One of my favorite concepts
Want to Be Part of a Play Therapy Community?
Send us Fan MailAre you part of a play therapy community?Are you the only play therapist in your agency?One of the things I hear ALL the time from members of my Play Therapy Academy program is how much they LOVE our community of support and amazing play therapists. (I love it too!)When someone is having a rough week and feeling like a big failure or just super frustrated with a hard case, the grou
How to Develop Culturally-Informed Play Therapy Case Conceptualization
Send us Fan MailHow good are you at identifying the role of culture in the problems your clients are experiencing?Have you considered the resiliency factors of your clients’ culture and how that can influence better play therapy outcomes?Play therapists work with children and their families from diverse cultural backgrounds.Using cultural competence with case conceptualization is essential to make
