Here's my conversation with Dr. Robert Jason Grant as he shares about AutPlay Therapy. Robert Jason Grant is a licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Play Therapy and is the creator of AutPlay Therapy.

To learn more, visit:

AutPlay Handbook

www.autplaytherapy.com
AutPlay Therapy FB page and group
AutPlay Therapy YouTube Channel

www.playtherapycommunity.com

Christine Mark-Griffin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. My conversation with Christine was super exciting, I hope you find it exciting as well. Don't forget to visit Christine's website and show her some love! https://www.sparkallwellness.com/


Here's Marshall's website https://www.marshalllyles.com/

Irma is with us today to share her experience with brainspotting.  I met Irma at Dr. Karen Fried's Oaklander Model's training.

Interested in networking with other Therapists in the Play Therapy Community? Here’s our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Ready to take your EMDR practice to the next level? Join the EMDR Learning Community https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Here's the video I mentioned with the Polar Bear https://youtu.be/lHVNUDPMeSY

Melissa LaVigne shares a personal story of an accident her daughter experienced stumbling down the stairs, and how Play Therapy helped her process that trauma and heal from the incident.

Want to learn more about Melissa? Here's her website https://www.melissalavignelcsw.com/ and her books can be found on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-LaVigne-LCSW-RPT/e/B08C9W285R%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Interested in socializing with other Therapists in the Play Therapy Community? Here’s our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Ready to take your EMDR practice to the next level? Join the EMDR Learning Community https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Today I'm so excited to share my conversation with Debbie Korn, Michael Baldwin, and Rotam Brayer with you. If you'd like to learn more about Michael and Debbie's book, you can go to https://www.everymemorydeservesrespect.com/, and there's a free preview for you to read on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Every-Memory-Deserves-Respect-Therapy/dp/1523511427

Interested in socializing with other Therapists in the Play Therapy Community? Here’s our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Ready to take your EMDR practice to the next level? Join the EMDR Learning Community https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Check out the Beyond Healing Community https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual 

Ronda and Jacob join me to discuss their unique handcrafted play therapy doll designed for children who have a difficult time expressing their feelings. If you’d like to learn more about the ALLMEE doll, you should browse Ronda and Jacob’s website for more information: https://playtherapytrainingresources.com/all-mee-therapeutic-doll/

Interested in socializing with other Therapists in the Play Therapy Community? Here’s our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Ready to take your EMDR practice to the next level? Join the EMDR Learning Community https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Check out the Beyond Healing Community https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual 

In this week’s episode I wanted to talk to everyone directly. I recently enjoyed another birthday, and felt I should share some of the lessons I’ve learned overtime as a Play Therapist.

I explain 3 basic practices, applicable not only in our work, but also in our daily lives as human beings.

When was the last time you had a chance to reflect on your life? Maybe today’s episode can help you to refresh and reorient yourself in preparation for the wonderful experiences we all have ahead of us.

Interested in socializing with other Therapists in the Play Therapy Community? Here’s our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Ready to take your EMDR practice to the next level? Join the EMDR Learning Community https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Check out the Beyond Healing Community https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual 

Join me in conversation with Nicole Looney. I recently met Nicole at an EMDR Advanced training with Dr. Dobo.  We hit if off right away.  She’s so passionate about what she does.  Her work ethic, skill level, experience, insight, and pure BRILLIANCE is incredible.  In this episode, she shares her bucket metaphor with us.  I love the way she describes how we can help our clients manage their stress levels.  This is just one of the many, many things she does well.  To learn more from her, visit: https://www.starcounselingserv.com/meet-nicole-looney

Join us in our facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Join our EMDR Learning Community at https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Join the Beyond Healing Community at https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual 

Join me in conversation about with Bridger Falkenstien and Caleb Boston as we chat about the Polyvagal Theory.  I met these guy through the Notice That podcast at Beyond Healing. I first met Bridger, then quickly met Caleb (his “twin flame”).  They are super passionate about anything and everything related to the Polyvagal Theory. They have such great energy together and are SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE with it comes to the nervous system and about a gazillion other things. 

To learn more, visit:

https://theevidencebasedtherapist.com

https://emdr-podcast.com

https://connectbeyondhealing.com/our-team/486-2/ 

Join us in our facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Join our EMDR Learning Community at https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Join the Beyond Healing Community at https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual 

Join me in conversation with Ann Beckley-Forest as we discuss what it’s like to be a beginner in the world of Play Therapy.  The path from being a beginner in the field to the felt sense of competence and confidence can be rather challenging for some. There’s so much to learn!  Play Therapy is a robust approach to child therapy and it’s at the core of Ann’s work. Ann is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in the Buffalo area, and has focused on interventions with children and adolescents throughout her career. She is an author, registered play therapy supervisor and approved provider of play therapy education, as well as an EMDR trainer and consultant. Her specialties include intervention with very young children, as well as problems of attachment and work with adolescent and adult survivors of trauma.

To Learn more from Ann, check out her trainings at https://www.annbeckleyforest.com/current-trainings

More resources can be found at:

Play Therapy Community www.playtherapycommunity.com 

Join us in our facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Join our EMDR Learning Community at https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Join the Beyond Healing Community at https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual 

Schedule with Jackie https://playtherapycommunity.as.me/schedule.php

Join me in conversation with Dr. Becki Welsh.  Becki is a dear friend of mine that I met through one of my 8 Phases of EMDR with Children and Adolescents trainings.  We’ve been connected ever since.  Her knowledge and skillset when it comes to helping children and families is immeasurable.  In this episode of the podcast, she shares with us all about her 316 Parenting model.  It’s fascinating!  One of the best, if not THE BEST, parent supports that I’ve ever learned about!  

To learn more, visit:

https://www.316counselingcenter.org/about-1

http://www.playtherapycommunity.com

https://playtherapycommunity.com/training/ 

Join us in our facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Join our EMDR Learning Community at https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Join the Beyond Healing Community at https://beyondhealingcommunity.com/share/fHxpN42T3SaHAAh9?utm_source=manual

Join me in conversation with Bridger from Beyond Healing.  He teaches us about the importance of case conceptualization and how it can really support the work we do to support our clients.  Bridger has such a community mindset in every way.  He operates from a Polyvagal Informed perspective and it shows on his emphasis on SAFETY AND CONNECTION.  Beyond Healing has a training coming up in Gainsville Florida that I plan on attending.  I'm so super excited.  Here are some links to learn more:

Join me in conversation with Ryan Uner. I met him at the 2nd Annual Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summit.  His story is pretty inspirational.  He is a grad student at University of Central Florida

https://playtherapycommunity.teachable.com/courses/

https://playtherapycommunity.com/

www.playtherapycommunity.com 

https://robyngobbel.com/about/#toggle-id-2

This episode is sponsored by the World Association for Sand Therapy Professionals.  Visit:

https://worldsandtherapy.com/about-us/

Join me in conversation with Jen Taylor, Lisa Dion and Clair Mellenthin as we discusss their Anchoring in the Storm event in California to help manage stress and navigate the autonomic nervous system.

This episode was sparked by the release of the book EMDR with Children in the Play Therapy Room by Ann Beckley-Forest and Annie Monaco.  They are responsible for educating child therapists all over the world on how to deliver EMDR therapy to children and teens through the integration of Play Therapy.  In this episode, prepare to be inspired by a conversation with Ann and Annie, as well as Lisa Dion, the creator of Synergetic Play Therapy.  Their passion for helping children heal from trauma through Play Therapy and EMDR is unbelievably beautiful. 

Visit more information on their work and training information, be sure to visit www.synergeticplaytherapy.com and https://www.anniemonaco.com/trainings/emdr-trainings

In this episode, Marshall Lyles shares his passion for helping his clients heal from trauma through Expressive Arts.  When I reached out to Marshall to invite him on the podcast, I requested a conversation focusing on his use of poetry with his clients.  In this episode, you’ll notice that we cover much more than poetry.  Marshall is highly trained and well versed in so many healing traumas and approaches that it was difficult to limit our conversation.  I’m excited for you to experience our conversation about how he used expressive arts to heal trauma.  He is an EMDRIA approved consultant and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, among many other credentials that speak to his capacity to treat trauma.  Be sure to visit www.marshalllyles.com

www.therapistsworkshop.com to learn more about him and to see his beautiful expressive arts studio.

In this episode of Play Therapy Community podcast, Dr. Jessica Stone shares all about the healing power of Virtual Sandtray Therapy.  She is the brilliant creator of the Virtual Sandtray App used by an increasing number of clinicians around the globe. Development of the Virtual Sandtray app intentionally included the main tenets of Sandtray Therapy to preserve its profound therapeutic healing power.  You can find more about Dr. Stone, the Virtual Sandtray Therapy application, and her professional trainings at: www.jessicastonephd.com

www.sandtrayplay.com

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Play-Therapy-Jessica-Stone/dp/0367001926/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/virtual-sandtray/id916460128

https://www.facebook.com/VirtualSandtray

https://www.facebook.com/digitalplaytherapy/

In this episode, Clair Mellenthin guides us through the important pieces of parent consultation.  She highlights the importance of meeting parents with compassion and connection through support.  Through this approach, client’s tend to meet their treatment goals in a more thorough, faster way.  Clair offers support and coaching to parents and clinicians.  You can find more of what she has to offer at these links to her website, https://clairmellenthin.com/online-courses-for-professional/#professional and https://clairmellenthin.com/online-learning-for-parents/ 

In this Episode, Jackie Flynn, EMDRIA approved consultant and a registered play therapist talks about EMDR therapy with kids. EMDR Therapy has 8 phases: 1. History Talking, 2. Preparation, 3. Assessment, 4. Desensitization, 5. Reprocessing, 6. Body Scan, 7. Closure, 8. Reevaluation.

Since children are not miniature adults, it's important to work with children in developmentally appropriate ways. Play Therapy techniques can be integrated into all 8 of the phases to support children's developing brains. Be sure to check out www.jackieflynnconsulting.com if you are an EMDR trained therapist in search of advanced training to teach you how to adapt your work to fit the needs of your child and teen clients.  

 At the time of this recording I at a hotel in LaGrange Kentucky with the board members of Kentucky Association for Play Therapy.  I am so inspired by their passion for Play, dedication to helping others, and pure kindness for humanity.  If you'd like to learn more about them visit http://kyapt.org/

If you'd like to learn more about Play Therapy visit https://www.a4pt.org/?

Visit www.playtherapycommunity.com for more of Jackie Flynn

In this episode, Jamie shares with us some basic information about Sandtray Therapy.  

She discusses the importance of formalized training and warns against offering sandtray therapy to your clients if you have not received adequate training.

Sandtray is a powerful tool that can open up and heal some painful issues that require specialized training to ensure client emotional safety.  

Jamie Lynn Langley, LCSW, RPT-S has been a practicing child, family and play therapist in Tennessee for almost 30 years. For most of that time she worked in community mental health before going into private practice in late 2016. Jamie is also an adjunct professor for two universities in Tennessee (Middle TN State University and Lipscomb University). She co-founded and serves as the President of the Tennessee branch of the Association for Play Therapy and is a charter member of the Children & Nature Network founded by RIchard Louv. Jamie specializes in working with children and their families who have undergone trauma, loss, divorce, disruption and other adverse conditions and brings in nature as part of healing practice whenever possible. A former Cub Scout leader for 15 years, she especially enjoys her personal and family time in nature, especially at the beach and the breathtaking Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

Jamie Lynn Langley, LCSW, RPT-S

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor

President, TN Association for Play Therapy

Adjunct Faculty, MTSU Dept. of Social Work and

Lipscomb University Dept. of Psychology, Counseling and Family Science

Board Member, World Assoc of Sand Therapy Professionals

In this episode, Sarah Wayland shares with us a bit about the developing brain and the differing aspects of those with an autism spectrum disorder.  

She shares personal stories about the importance of the child relationship and how fluctuations in the parents’ emotional regulation can effect the child.  

Sarah discusses how children with an autism spectrum disorder often struggle with social situations and how we can support them through parent consultation and working directly with the child themselves.

Sarah Wayland is a certified RDI™ Consultant, parent coach, and Special Needs Care Navigator at the company she founded, Guiding Exceptional Parents. She helps parents of children with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and other brain-based differences learn how to confidently and effectively help their children at home, at school, and in the community. As an RDI™ consultant, Dr. Wayland works with parents of kids who have trouble connecting with others to show them how to teach their children the essential skills that make relationships work. By learning about everyone in the family and collaborating with them, she helps families develop customized strategies that work.

Dr. Wayland got her B.A. from Rice University, her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Brandeis University, and had two postdoctoral fellowships - one at Northeastern University and another at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She has worked as a software designer, and as a researcher, but her most valuable training came from parenting her two boys, both exceptional. You can learn more at www.guidingexceptionalparents.com.

In this episode, Althea Simpson shares with us about how she uses food to support her clients in session when necessary.  

She explains that some clients may have experienced the trauma of neglect and being without food in their past which can feel extremely dysregulating to clients.  

When we use food in session, we help our clients to feel nurtured and cared about. 

Althea Simpson is the founder of Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions and Unicorn Life Play Therapy Training. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. Additionally, Althea has a B.S. in Business Management; MBA in Marketing: and MSW in Organizational Leadership. Althea’s passion for helping individuals go from “Hurt to Healed” aided in her decision to return to George Mason University to complete requirements to become a Clinical Social Worker and specialize in trauma recovery. Althea’s experience in the fields of business and mental health spans 20 years. Althea is pursuing her PhD in Business Psychology Consulting at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Althea Simpson, LCSW, LICSW, CCTP, SAP, CAMS-II, RPT-S, CSOTP Resident

Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions, PLLC

Website: www.brighter-day.net

Symposium Website: www.blackplaytherapy.com

In this episode, Samantha Willis shares with us about the painful experiences that our LGBTQ youth often go through alone.  She stressed the importance of acceptance and compassion.  

She mentions the benefits of displaying symbols, such as a rainbow, that communicate a message that she is a safe person to authentically share with.  

She recommends that therapists connect with other therapists in their area to maximize benefits for clients in search of a therapist that can support their unique needs. 

Samantha earned a Master’s of Education in Counseling and Guidance with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health from the University of Montevallo. She also earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology and Social Work with a Minor in Philosophy and Religion from the University of Montevallo. Samantha is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Alabama, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and Registered Play Therapist. Samantha has a certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She utilizes peer-reviewed and evidence-based therapeutic techniques in her practice such as play therapy, sand tray therapy, and art therapy. Samantha is a Body-Brain sand tray specialist and uses the techniques with all ages.

Samantha works primarily with clients who have experienced trauma, experience dissociative symptoms, are in the LGBTQ+ community, or are transgender. Samantha is currently a student at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) studying Gender Studies and is currently writing her thesis entitled “Transgender and Non-Binary Lived Experiences Among Southern Appalachian Youth: Correlations of Mental Health and Interpersonal Relationship Dynamics Before, During, and After the Coming out Process.”

Samantha Willis, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, Registered Play Therapist

Avail Services, LLC

Websites: avail.services, avail.institute

In this episode, Sandra explains how shame impacts a child’s development.  She offers some tips to process through shame as well as presents a technique that therapists can use to support their clients through the healing process. 

Sandra B. Stanford, LMHC, has a heart for people who find themselves in hard situations. Because of this passion, she earned her Master’s Degree in Psychological Counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University (Orlando campus). She currently is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing at Charis Counseling Center in Titusville, FL.

Sandra is certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) which helps in the healing process for people who have experienced traumatic events. She is a Daring Way Facilitator in Brene Brown’s organization which focuses on “I am enough…now!

Sandra also works with couples and is the founder of Our Marriage Matters retreats and conferences.

Sandra received her BS in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University (Palm Beach campus) in 1986. She and her wonderful husband, David, have been married since 1988. They have two precious adult children, Jonathan and Anna Beth and a son in love, Christopher, new grandson Ashton and 2 Airedale grand-dogs named Sherlock and Weta.

Sandra B. Stanford, MS, LMHC  MH13286

EMDR CERTIFIED THERAPIST

Certified Daring Way ™ Facilitator

Founder Our Marriage Matters Retreats/Workshops

https://sandrabstanfordcounseling.com/ 

https://www.chariscounselingcenter.com/sandra-stanford/ 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRziopWTHJ13cDNSMYQxgaA

Lisa Dion is the creator of Synergetic Play Therapy and is the founder and director of the Play Therapy Institute of Colorado

She is experienced in many settings to include private practice, schools, social services, foster care agencies, and orphanages. 

Synergetic Play Therapy’s name was influenced by Lisa’s love for the brain and understanding what happens in the nervous system.  

The collaboration between the child and the therapist, and on a deeper level between the mind, breath, body is an important support in the therapeutic process.  Through this realization, she was drawn to the word “synergy” since it is the idea that when 2 parts come together, the effect is so much greater than what they are individually.   Collaboration within the therapist, child and between them both is cultivated.

Through Lisa’s work, before she created Synergetic Play Therapy, she felt like something was missing.  She had a personal experience with her daughter that gave her an intuitive felt sense of the importance of bringing in the nervous system getting into the somatics.  Becoming an external regulator can take it to a deeper level of healing.  Accessing the brainstem allows for work involving the level of attunement such as what’s present between a caregiver and an infant. 

Lisa’s students say that it feels like a way of being rather than a model.  Her students report transforming through the process and it spills over into their other relationships.

Synergetic Play Therapy is not a list of fun techniques or activities to do with the child, but rather it is a “way of being”.

One of her students said, “Synergetic Play Therapy gives birth to the authentic self within the child and the therapist.”

Lisa urges her students to study as many philosophies and models of play therapy as possible to maximize their abilities. 

Implicit memories bring a feeling and a felt sense that was placed in the early years.  Often before the age 3, the implicit memories provide the structures in the brain. 

When Lisa’s daughter was born, she was emotionally dysregulated. While Lisa was pregnant with her, they both experienced a car crash. When she was born, Lisa was on a journey to help her rewire her nervous system.  She had her first play therapy experience at 9 months old where she played out shock of what she felt when the car accident happened. 

The exchange happening between the therapist and the child is such a vital part of therapy.

Synergetic play therapy teaches the therapist what to do with their personal experience of what the child is feeling and experiencing through the play.  

When parents are dysregulated, they need to regulate before they tend to their child.

The therapist does a lot of breathing, and modeling for the child.  

The mirror neuron system allows the child to borrow the therapist’s regulatory system.  Therapist use themselves to support the child through their healing.  The therapist is intentionally authentic and may rock, say things, and do things that the child needs right in the moment.

Lisa tells a story of a child that had many generalized fears that learned regulatory techniques such as holding her heart and stomach while she did that during his expressions of the fearful scenerios.  In session 3, he reported that he knew what to do when he got scared.  He was able to borrow her nervous system, watch how she handled the situations, and internalized a way of taking care of himself during these types of situations. Through that process, his nervous system got rewired organically and experientially. 

This process also helps keep the therapist well during the process.

Synergetic Play Therapy also offers a certification option as well. 

Lisa has a new book coming out in Spring of 2018, “Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity” from Norton Publishers. 

Lessons from the Playroom bi-weekly Podcast https://playtherapycolorado.com/podcasts/

Hour Live Webinar – 1 x a month https://playtherapycolorado.com/webinar/

Community Membership https://learn.playtherapycolorado.com/product/membership-site/

Play Therapy Institute of Colorado’s Website: https://playtherapycolorado.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

• Jill Aller is an adoption consultant for A Step Ahead Adoption Services and is an adoptive mom of two children, ages 6 and 4. 
• Jill has a B.A. in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Teaching and an Ed.S. degree in Counseling. She adopted her two children through the help of A Step Ahead adoption services and had such a great experience with them that she went to work for them four years ago. Both children have very open adoptions, where they are still in touch with their biological families. Jill has lived all over the U.S. but is now happily settled in Florida with her extended family. Jill is passionate about helping others navigate their adoption journeys in a mindful, balanced way.
• The language that we use helps shape the way we think about adoption.
• The feeling that the language reflects becomes our children’s inner voice.
• “She gave up the baby for adoption” sounds like a rejection.  “She placed the baby for adoption” or she made an adoption plan” is a much better way to phrase it.  This sounds helpful and intentional.  It feels loving and nurturing.
• Jill talks to her children in an active voice about adoption with phrases such as “we adopted then” to put the focus on her putting the effort into making them a part of her family.
• More positive phrases include “birth family, tummy mommy, first family” instead of “the real mom”.  It evolves as they get over.  
• Since all of the people connected by adoption are connected by love.  It is a pain entered into willingly connected by love.
• Others my say things such as “she’s so lucky to have you” out of good intention, but it can be construed as the biological family not being good.  It’s important to be mindful of the message that is conveyed and make sure it is focused more on the love shared. Statements such as “it’s so great to see you as a family” is ideal.  
• It’s important to honor the birth family with your words. 
• Being mindful of the language used to communicate about adoption is important for children and adults. 
• It’s important to allow the adoptee to voice their feelings.  Asking open ended questions can be so helpful.  
• Many of the baby boomers are just finding out they are adopted.  This environment harbors pain and shame. Talking about it openly can be really supportive. 
• There’s a continuum between closed and open adoption.  Closed adoption is where the parents may not know anymore than their names.  A semi-open is where they communicate through a 3rd party. An open adoption, often best for the mental health of the child and the birth family, is when theirs open connection. It’s important to note that open adoption isn’t always best for all families 
• Child Connect is a site that links families together.
• When therapists work with adoptees, its important to allow space for grief and loss.
• Adoption triad – birth family, adopted family, and the child.
• Jill recommends the book 20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Know by Sherrie Eldridge.
• Family therapy can be really beneficial to help the entire family.
• Support groups can be incredibly helpful.
• Online support, consulting, and other connections can be really helpful. 
• Connecting through groups can provide support and healing that can be found elsewhere.
• Jill recommends “The Family Book” by Todd Parr . It’s about adoption, but not soley about adoption. 
• Another book that she recommends is “It’s Okay to be Different” also by Todd Parr.
• Jill really likes the “Adoptive Families” magazine. https://www.adoptivefamilies.com
• The Center for Adoption Support Education, CASE, is a great education resource.  http://adoptionsupport.org
• Adoption Counsel is a great resource at https://www.adoptioncouncil.orgA Step Ahead Adoption is a nationwide agency that helps people build their family in a healthy way.. There’s a focus on helping the birth family.  http://astepaheadadoption.com
• There’s many great children’s books such as “A Mother for Choco”, “Tell Me a Real Adoption Storyadop”, “ABC: Adoption and Me”, and the “Tummy Mummy”. 
• https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/
• https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/
• www.counselinginbrevard.com
• www.playtherapycommunity.com
• www.parentingintherain.com
• www.jackieflynnconsulting.com
• https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

1. “In between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” 
   ~ Viktor Frankl

1. "Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."  ~  Ralph Waldo Emerson

1. "Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." ~  Mother Teresa

1. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." ~ Lao-Tzu

1. "By changing nothing, nothing will change."  ~  Tony Robbins

1. "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."  ~  Plato

1. "Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow."  -  Mary Anne Radmocher

1. “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”  - Maya Angelou

1. When parents offer their children empathy and help them to cope with negative feelings like anger, sadness, and fear, parents build bridges of loyalty and affection.” - Gottman

1. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
   - Maya Angelou

1. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

1. “Every person must choose how much truth he can stand.” - Irvin Yalom, PhD.

1. “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
2. Don’t try to win over the haters; you are not a jackass whisperer.”-  Brene Brown 
3. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

Katie May is the “Group Guru”.

She works exclusively with teenagers in a teen support center in Flourtown, Pennsylvania.  

Groups energize Katie. She says that groups can’ save th’e world.  

In groups, people feel less alone in their struggles and they start to heal in ways that individual therapy can’t provide. 

Her groups are focused on the ideas of connection.

She told us about a group that she runs that looks at being nonjudgmental for teens.  She talked about using rocks to illustrate the judgements that they have for themselves.  She has them decorate the rocks to describe the judgements and toss them away as a concrete expression of getting rid of their judgements.  The teens put the rocks in a bag, weigh them and then toss them away into the water. This helps with processing of letting go of the judgements.  

Sometimes her groups do a “compliment circle” to express and receive kindness from others. Her pre and post assessment of their state of happiness improves after the kindness circle occurs.  

Katie prefers clear names for groups, rather than clever names.  This helps to make the process for the parents and caregivers looking for support for their child finding the groups simple and understanding .

Many times, teens can present with resistance towards therapy. 

Katie runs a skills group for teens.  The connection that they have with each other is really important.

She offers Dialectical Behavioral Therapy that she infuses in many of her groups. She provides experiential activities to help them actually know what works for them and how it feels. 

Pros

Group therapy helps clients feel understood and connected to a positive support system.  When people can connect with their peers to feel less alone.  Social support is so very important and can be a positive experience.

Cons
Group therapy isn’t the best setting for deeper individual work that may involve trauma.  Also, it can be challenging to balance time between the group members.   Another con is that the group members’ personalities don’t always mesh. 

It’s so important to build trust and let the relationships form before diving into tough stuff.  It’s important to put yourself into the group member’s shoes.

http://www.becomeagroupguru.com

https://playtherapycommunity.simplero.com/page/73863-free-download-tips-for-supporting-grieving-children

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

Build Love Maps

Knowing each other’s world is so vital to the health of a relationship.  It’s important to make exploration of each other’s world an ongoing effort.  This can help strengthen the relationship and help each person in the relationship to feel felt and cared about.

Share Fondness and Admiration

Fondness and admiration is noticing what’s going right and what’s good rather than putting a focus on the negative.  If couples are in “Negative Sentiment Override” as Gottman calls them.

Turn Towards

Turning towards your partner, both literally and figuratively is important as it sends a message that “you matter”, “I care”, “you’re important to me”.  Gottman uses the metaphor of a RELATIONSHIP BANK ACCOUNT to illustrate the need for 5 times as many positives to every one negative in a relationship.  Turning towards and accepting “bids for connection”, such as holding hands, inviting on an outing, snuggling, etc. is important to build the relationship bank account up so that when there are negatives, it doesn’t go into a negative balance. 

The Positive Perspective

The positive perspective focuses on friendships.  When couples engage in a strong friendship, then they can weather the storms better.  They have a stronger tolerance for difficult circumstances.

Manage Conflict

Sixty nine percent of the conflict in a relationship is perpetual, which means it doesn’t have a clear resolution.  Often couples need to move towards compromising on issues.  It’s important that couples learn how to use soft startup and avoid the 4 patterns of communications that can eat away at a relationship: Criticism, Defensiveness, Contempt, Stonewalling.  Gottman refers to these as the 4 Horsemen.

Make Life Dreams Come True

Having fun, adventures and dreams together, as well as honoring each other’s dreams is so vital towards the health of a relationship. Couples that laugh and have fun together often have a much healthier relationship.

Create Shared Meaning

Together, couples build a shared culture that incorporates what each of them knew to be true in their formative years, as well as new things that they do together in their own relationship and their own family.  Also, what legacy they want to leave in the world together is explored.

Trust and Commitment

Trust & Commitment are the walls of the sound relationship house.  If these walls are weakened in any way, the entire house could be at risk from falling.  Through repair work, couples can repair ruptures and move towards healed trust and commitment that can weather the storms of a relationship.  

https://playtherapycommunity.simplero.com/page/73863-free-download-tips-for-supporting-grieving-children

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

This episode is with Annie Monaco, Ann Beckley-Forest, Fran Waters and Mark Nickerson! They are providing a training "Recognizing & Treating Youth with Dissociation" – 6 CEUs per day for March 10 - 12, 2023. For the Early Bird Discount, regiser by Sunday, March 5, 2023.

Register at emdradvancedtrainings.co

https://emdradvancedtrainings.com/product/recognizing-treating-youth-with-dissociation/ playfulemdr.com playtherapycommunity.com

Double Mirror Doodle

• Using a large piece of paper and 2 crayons, have the student doodle a mirror image design. This helps with grounding, focus, and clarity through bilateral integration of both hemispheres of the brain. 
• • Materials
  • • Large Paper 
    • 2 crayons

What Happened Next

• Using a large piece of paper and something to write with, have the student sequentially tell the story of what happened from beginning to the end.  This narrative supports "top-down" processing of the event. 
• • Materials
  • • Large Paper
    • Pen, Pencil, or Crayons

Tumbling Blocks Conversation Prompts

• Using a Jenga (or generic version) game, the child and the counselor will pull a block and respond to the prompt on the block.  This can be used for a variety of topics to include coping skills, social situations, icebreaker, friendship skills, etc. 

Pick-Up Straws

• Using straws, students will pick up a straw and respond to a prompt coordinated with the color-coded prompts on a list of prompts in variety of areas.
• • Materials
  • • Package of Straws with a Variety of Colors

Career Charades 

• In this activity, the child(re) will act out a carreer while the others guess.  It can be an ice breaker or connecting activity as well for groups.  
• • Slips of paper with careers or modified prompts to direct the child on what to act out in charades style.

Career Creation 

Through clay creations, the child or teen will mold the dough or clay to form a symbolic representation of the career.  For example, they may create a toothbrush for a dentist.  This can be modified to fit the topic of the area in need of supporting, such as emotional literacy and expression, family system support, and much more. 

Social / Emotional/Friendship Thumballs

• In this activity, the ball is tossed to each player.   The person catching the ball will respond to the word, statement, response closest to the player’s right thumb.  Write words, statements, responses on the ball with a permanent marker.  Themes could be “Ice Breaker”, “Social Situations”, “Emotional Literacy”, etc…
• • Materials
  • • Large Air Filled Ball
    • Black Permanent Marker

Fishing for Solutions

• In this activity, each child “fishes” for a statement or a question.  Once the child “catches’ a fish, he/she responds to the group. 
• • Materials
  • • Foam Sheets (variety of colors)
    • Permanent Black Marker 
    • Small Round Magnets
    • ½ “ x 2’ Dowel Rod 
    • 1’ of Twine
    • Large Metal Bucket
    • Large Blue Cloth 
    • (Cut foam pieces in the shape of a fish.  Glue a round magnet on the fish shape for the eye.  Create a fishing pole by tying and gluing the twine to the end of the string.  At the end of the string, glue a round magnet.)

Mandalas

• In this activity, each person creates a design in the circle.  This art therapy directive can differ based on goals for the activity (team building, expression, calming, etc…).  After completion, a group discussion can be initiated to explore the process and any feelings that surface…
• • Materials
  • • Large Sheet of Paper 
    • Round Object for Circle Shape to Trace on the Paper 
    • Crayons, Markers, and/or Paint

Bibliotherapy

Therapeutic Books with Activities to Address Various Issues

• “Have You Filled Your Bucket Today” (Relationships)  In this activity, the child(ren) will write down positive, helpful statements to others on the slips of paper, then place in others’ “bucket” to symbolize kind acts.
• • Bucket(s)
  • Small Slips of Paper
  • Writing Instruments
• “Invisible String” (Grief and Loss)  In this activity, the child will illustrate pictorially the people that they feel connected as in the metaphor of the invisible string that is represented with clear glue.
• • Paper
  • Glue
  • Crayons
• “Personal Space Camp” (Social Appropriateness)  In this activity, the child learns about the appropriate amount of space to allow for peers and others in their familiarity with the visual aid  of a hula hoop. The child is to be directed to notice the distance as it is an appropriate for personal space.

• Hula Hoop

Positive Belief "I am..." Activity

In this activity, the child “ranks” each statement depending on feelings of accuracy.  Statements can be adapted to individual / group.  The final rank of statements could then be discussed for self-awareness and a starting point for self-image concerns

• Materials
• • Printed sheet with the following statements, cut into strips.
  • • I am CONFIDENT
    • I am INTELLIGENT
    • I am CREATIVE
    • I am HUMOROUS
    • I am KIND
    • I am CONFIDENT
    • I am GOOD
    • I am CAPABLE

Self-Talk Thought Bubble

• This activity is most effective when it is frontloaded with psychoeducation to teach the child about self-talk and how it impacts various situations such as test anxiety, social situations, etc....  To create the dialogue bubble, cut the poster board in the desired shape with a head shaped hole in the middle.  Instruct the child to write some positive and negative self-talk statements on the board.  Each statement can be used as a participatory discussion starter to strengthen the child’s understanding of the importance of using positive self-talk to better situations.
• • Materials
  • • Large Posterboard
    • Sharpie Marker
    • Scissors

Dr. Taylor is an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida.  

She’s also the Center for Play Therapy Training and Research Director, as well as the Play Therapy Certificate coordinator.  

She earned her graduate degrees from the University of North Texas. 

She learned from many of the leaders in the Play Therapy world.  

Dr. Taylor is trained in Adlerian Play Therapy developed in the early 1990’s by Terry Kottman, Ph.D., Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, NCC, LMHC

Adlerian’s belief is that people’s behavior is purposeful and goal-directed.  Their early childhood experiences influence their behavior, as well as how they view themselves, others and their world. 

4 Phases of Adlerian Play Therapy

(1) Relationship Building – This phase of the therapy is non-directive and supports safety in the play room.  By creating a shared power, the client can really feel like a significant person in their world.  This phase supports building trust within the child. 

(2) Investigating the Lifestyle – In this phase, the therapist becomes more directive in their work.  A focus is placed on how they view themselves, others, and the world.  There are a lot of things to take into consideration for the client, especially information on their personality, how do they feel like they matter in the world.  

(3) Gaining Insight – At this point in the therapeutic process, the therapist has a really good idea how the child is viewing themselves, others and world. The treatment plan is developed after phase 2, once the therapist has a good idea of who the child is and how they view the world.

(4) Reorientation –In this phase, the therapist teaches the children skillsets through role play, family work, and more.  One of the goals is to directly support their ability to generalize the skills in different settings to support their self-efficacy.

The therapist looks for signs that the child is ready to move into  each phase. 

It’s important to truly understand the child’s lifestyle.

These 3 things are across each of the categories in the lifestyle: 

• Goals for Change
• Strategies
• Progress

Parent consultation is an important component of Adlerian Play therapy.  Half of the session is spent with the child and ½ of the session is spent with the parent or every other session with parent then with child is scheduled.  

During the therapy, the parent is also following the 4 phases. During the parent consultation, how the parent is viewing the world is explored since it greatly influences their parenting approach. 

During the parent consultation, the parent learns many of the same skills as the child, so that they can respond to the child in a different way that is supportive of the treatment plan for the child. 

Dr. Taylor highly recommends reading Partners in Play by Terry Kottman 3rd Edtion.

Crucial C’s of Adlerian Play Therapy 

• Courage 
• Connect
• Capable 
• Count

It’s important for each therapist to choose a theory that aligns with how you also view the world to foster authenticity of delivery of services. 

The relationship is the most critical element of the therapy.  

http://education.ucf.edu/playtherapy/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ucf-center-for-play-therapy-research-and-training-first-annual-play-therapy-conference-partners-in-registration-26582158953

https://playtherapycommunity.simplero.com/page/73863-free-download-tips-for-supporting-grieving-children

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

Dr. Stacy Van Horn is currently a full-time faculty member and School Counseling Coordinator at the University of Central Florida in the Counselor Education and School Psychology Program within the Department of Child, Family and Community Sciences. She teaches graduate students at both the masters and doctoral level primarily in the areas of career development, counseling with children and adolescents, ethical and legal issues in professional school counseling, and coordination of comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs. She also supervises practicum students in the Community Counseling and Research Clinic (CCRC) on campus and school counseling interns throughout Central Florida schools.   Prior to her position as a Counselor Educator, Dr. Van Horn worked as a professional school counselor for over nine years in Orange County Public Schools working with diverse students, teachers, and families in Central Florida.  Dr. Van Horn has experience in creating and coordinating comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs at both the elementary and middle school level.  In addition, she has experience collaborating with exceptional education school personnel on developing strategies and counseling approaches for exceptional education students.  Her current research interests include training and supervision of professional school counselors, counseling interventions with diverse children and adolescents, and the role of professional school counselors in providing effective career development in schools.  Dr. Van Horn has presented at national, regional, state, and local counseling conferences, including American Counseling Association, Association for Specialists

Prior to her position as a Counselor Educator, Dr. Van Horn worked as a professional school counselor for over nine years in Orange County Public Schools working with diverse students, teachers, and families in Central Florida.  Dr. Van Horn has experience in creating and coordinating comprehensive, developmental school counseling programs at both the elementary and middle school level.  In addition, she has experience collaborating with exceptional education school personnel on developing strategies and counseling approaches for exceptional education students.  Her current research interests include training and supervision of professional school counselors, counseling interventions with diverse children and adolescents, and the role of professional school counselors in providing effective career development in schools.  Dr. Van Horn has presented at national, regional, state, and local counseling conferences, including American Counseling Association, Association for Specialists for Group Work, American School Counseling Association, the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Florida Counseling Association, the Florida School Counselor Association, and invited presenter at the Florida Association for Gifted Children.  

School Counselors have a unique role within the school setting. A school counselor works as a vital part of a team and stakeholders. 

• Primarily, School Counselors work within 3 primary domains: Academic Development, Career Development, and Social/Emotional Development. 
• • Elementary counselors may teach more classroom guidance lessons, identify students in need of more support in regards to specialized programs, connecting with parents through parent conferences, and more…  
  • Middle school counselors may facilitate more small groups, put greater focus on peer interaction, help students with communication skills, and engage in more career exploration with students.  
  • High school counselors tend to provide more 1 on 1 counseling, coordinate bigger school events and assemblies, conduct credit checks, advise students on credit requirements and class selection, prepare students for college with college readiness activities, coordinate / conduct testing, and focus on students’ transition into college.  School counselors are so vital at every level!
• It’s really important for others to know the role of a School Counselor to maximize the benefits of this important role. This is sometimes a big challenge in the field as this is predefined.  Students from University of Central Florida (UCF) are prepared to articulate the role to others.
• School counselors can interact with students in several ways to include, but not limited to one on one, small group, classroom guidance, assemblies, etc... 
• Counseling provided by a school counselor is much different than therapy in a clinical setting.  School counselors often experientially provide students with coping skills to help with managing anger, healthy friendships, solid study skills, mindfulness techniques, and much more. 
• School Counselors often conduct career days, Red Ribbon Week activities, award assemblies, extra-curricular activities, etc…
• It’s helpful for School Counselors to observe students in different environments.
• It’s so important to be visible as a School Counselor to the parents, administrators… and most importantly the students. 
• School counselors can also provide trainings to teachers.  Dr. Van Horn polled teachers to see what areas they would like to learn more about.  She remembers a training that she offered while she was in the role of a School Counselor on “How to Have a Strength-Based Meeting”.   In this training, her team role played to take the learning to a deeper learning to an experiential level. 
• School counselors often conduct several meetings throughout the years, IEP, 504s, behavior support, etc.  
• It can be really helpful for school counselors to connect with child therapists in their area.
• Advantages of Being a School Counselor - School counselors have so much impact on students over weeks, over the school year, and over the course of several years.  School counseling is a unique profession, as rarely are 2 days the same. It’s so helpful to work together as a team with all of the stakeholders such as parents, teachers, administrators, etc. Unlike therapists, a school counselor has the advantage of seeing the child throughout the day in a variety of settings.  Often School Counselors are the first line of support to students. School Counselors may have request slips that the students can submit to request support that doesn’t require consent from parents, session fees, or many of the other limitations that may prevent a student from obtaining help when needed. Dr. Van Horn speaks of “Cluster Groups” within the school to discuss creative ideas, opportunities and such. 
• Disadvantages of Being a School Counselor -  Often school counselors are faced with limited time, limited resources, limited student connection time, lunch duty, etc.  School counselors often wear many different hats: testing coordinator, scheduling, lunch duty personnel, car loop support, credit checks, child study meetings, and so much more.  All of these roles can create confusion on the role of a school counselor and can take them away from services that utilizing their specialized skills to help students in the best way.   
• Sometimes School Counselors face a lack of support.
• School Counselors benefit from placing a focus on how they can take care of their own personal emotional and physical wellness as they can be pulled in so many directions that ca be emotionally draining.  It’s important to establish boundaries to keep emotionally healthy. 
• School counselors benefit from knowing great therapists in the community so that they have good referrals to provide to their students in need.  Sometimes School Counselors co-present with therapists in their community to their parents and their staff, as well as to create trainings and workshops. 
• Relationships between school counselors and child and family therapists in the community are so beneficial.
• When crises happen in schools, relationships within helpers in the communities can make such a huge difference. 
• Dr. Van Horn talks about when she realized that she couldn’t have her “to do” list checked at the end of the day.  She normalized the feeling of overwhelm with so many tasks in a limited amount of time. 
• Play therapy techniques can be used by school counselors in a low-cost way that can be implemented in efficient ways. 
• What does a "typical" day in the life of school counselor look like?  School counselors really don’t have a “typical” day. Each day can look so different. 

Learn More about Dr. Van Horn at UCF http://education.ucf.edu/faculty_detail.cfm?id=591

Association for School Counselors, ASCA https://www.schoolcounselor.org 

Jackie’s Play Therapy Community www.playtherapycommunity.com

Jackie’s Private Practice www.counselinginbrevard.com

Jackie’s Consulting Support www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

Pam Dyson, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S, is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, child development expert and parenting coach.  In addition to her private practice www.pamdyson.com  in Plano, Texas she provides consultation and supervision services and facilitates play therapy workshops at conferences throughout the US. She is the recipient of the Association for Play Therapy 2013 Key Award for Professional Education and Training and is currently serving a three-year term on the APT Board of Directors. Pam is the founder and director of the DFW Center for Play Therapy Training. www.dfwplaytherapy.com 

In this episode, Pam shares with us how she put together her office space.  

After a few times of moving her office, she has tweaked her set up until she created it just like she wants it.

Pam selected her toys and materials strategically, based on influence from Garry Landreth’s work.  She referenced his book, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship .

She has toys from each category: Expressive, Aggressive, & Nurturing.  This helps her to determine what toys she has it in her play room.  

Each toy that she has was selected based on its therapeutic value.  How it can help the child express and release their emotions should be considered.  

It’s important to have real-life toys, expressive materials, blocks, playdough, and more.  Here’s a link to a recommended toy list:   http://cpt.unt.edu/about-play-therapy/recommended-toy-list

Pam’s space is an organized and calming space.

Pam has 2 plain looking dollhouses in her space.  Having 2 doll houses can help children play out what it is like transitioning between 2 homes. 

“We can’t always change what’s going on around them, in their world, in their environment.  But, we can help them improve the way they feel about themselves.” Pam Dyson

Naming the child’s emotion is helpful for the child to process situations in their life. 

Playing activates the right hemisphere of the brain while naming the emotion activates the left.  This supports integration of the 2 hemispheres, which allows the child to fully process.

Pam couldn’t imagine doing the work that she does without play because integrating both sides of the brain is so important.  

In Pam’s space, there's a little table that she uses with her clients for many different purposes.  

Pam intentionally puts everything in the same place, so that her clients know where things are located.  Since they use the toys like we use words, it’s important for them to be able to find their words easily.  

It’s important that there’s a sense of order in the playroom, so it feels like a safe, predictable experience for them. 

Pam makes the distinction between Sandtray and Sandplay therapy.  She uses Sandtray therapy in a separate room to use with older clients either individually with their parents.   

Having 2 separate rooms, Play Therapy Room for younger clients and a Sandtray Room for older clients, Pam can best help both ages.  And it helps lesson clean-up time as well.  

Pam allots 15 minutes for clean-up time before the next client.  She doesn’t feel too rushed in between clients.  She starts each session on top of the hour.

She has an observation window in the play room to facilitate Child Parent Relationship Therapy.  She also uses it to train other therapists how to work with the child.  It has recording capacity for training purposes and self-evaluation as well.  She always obtains written permission before recording. She records for clinical trainings mostly. 

Pam is the director the DFW Center for Play Therapy.  She offers 2 workshops a month for people interested in learning how to do Play Therapy.  She’s an approved provider for the Association for Play Therapy.  Her trainings offer continuing education credits.  She really enjoys it.

Play Therapy can be used across the lifespan.  It looks a bit different but can be used with any age.

Merchandise is available at Pam’s trainings.  Her trainees can buy toys and miniatures and begin to implement what they learned right away. 

Her workshops are experiential in nature to support that integration of the brain for the therapists as well.

To tour Pam’s space, visit www.pamdyson.com

Pam meets with the parents before she meets with the child.  Based on the information from that session, she makes a recommendation on how to best work with the child.  She has a parent consultation room that is comfortable and cozy, which she also uses for family therapy sometimes.  

Pam keeps a bowl of fidget toys in the room to help ground and relax her clients and their parents.  

Pam is a doodler!  It helps keeps her focused while on the phone, at conferences, etc.

Pam models playing with the child for the parent.  She stresses the importance of leaving the phone and other electronics in the other room while playing with their child so they can be more present. Weekly playtimes can be so valuable. 

It’s really important to involve the parent in the therapeutic process as much as possible.

Pam shares lots of free videos on her social media sites. 

Play Therapy Community www.playtherapycommunity.com 

Tour Pam’s Office  www.pamdyson.com

Trainings - www.dfwplaytherapy.com 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/pamdyson/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/PamDysonPlayTherapy

In this episode Billie Jo covers the following:

• Description of what Infant Mental Health is and what professional support in this area involves.
• A discussion on the impact that ages 0-3 has on a child’s development – emotional, physical, cognitive, etc.
• Clarification of who could benefit from Infant Toddler Mental Health Support
• Tips for therapists working with children and families.

https://www.zerotothree.org/early-learning/infant-and-early-childhood-mental-health

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

Ellis Edmunds is a licensed psychologist in Oakland, CA.  He has a private practice working with teens and adults struggling with anxiety.  He is passionate about Mindfulness practices and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  He also loves to play games of all kind and has created a therapeutic board game called The Mindful Bus that can be used with groups or in a one on one setting.  He believes games can provide a fun, safe, and interactive experience for therapeutic work to take place.

In this episode Dr. Edmunds covers the following:

-How he got the idea for the board game by working with teens and adults. 
-The process of getting the game created: prototypes, testing it, art work. 
-How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy inspired the idea for the game. 
-How to get started on your own product or game.

http://www.boardgamesmaker.com

http://drellisedmunds.com

http://www.themindfulbus.com/

http://facebook.com/drellisedmunds

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcounselors/

https://www.facebook.com/counselinginbrevard/

www.counselinginbrevard.com

www.playtherapycommunity.com

www.parentingintherain.com

www.jackieflynnconsulting.com

https://twitter.com/jackieflynnrpt

In this episode Dr. Kat covers the following:

• Understanding what Maternal Mental Health is and where to find trained professionals to help.
• Where to get training for professionals working with mothers in the mental health field.
• Understanding postpartum depression, anxiety, and much more.
• Reducing the shame of maternal mental health struggles through support, education, and sharing stories.
• Her podcast, Mom & Mind is a wonderful free resource for parents, professionals, and anyone that could use information and knowledge in this area.

Dr. Kat’s Amazing Podcast http://www.momandmind.com

Mom and Mind Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/PLAYTHERAPYCOMMUNITY/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentingintherain/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394/

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Expert Guest: Mercedes Samudio, LCSW Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a parent coach, speaker, and author who helps parents and children communicate with each other, manage emotional trauma, navigate social media and technology together, and develop healthy parent-child relationships. Over the course of her career, she has worked with adoptive families, foster families, teen parents, parents navigating the child protective services system, and children living with mental illness. Mercedes started the #EndParentShaming movement as well as coined the term Shame-Proof Parenting – using both to bring awareness to ending parent shame. Mercedes is a leading parenting expert and has an amazing following on social media that allows her to reach the hearts of thousands of parents who feel heard and seen on their parenting journey. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, US News and Report, Woman’s Day, LA Parent Magazine, CBS LA, and Kids In The House. Mercedes seeks to empower parents to believe that they are already great guides for raising healthy and happy children. You can read more about her parenting expertise at http://shameproofparenting.com.

In this episode, Mercedes covers the following:

• How family meetings can help strengthen relationships. 
• Important things to consider when having family meetings. 
• How to respond to sibling rivalry and the benefits. 
• The importance of listening to children and allowing them to participate in family discussions and problem-solving.

Mercedes’ Book – Shame Proof Parenting 

Mercedes’ Website 

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My guest today is Dr. Jonathan Singer, Ph. D., LCSW, who is an expert in the area of suicide. He is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Loyola University in Chicago and the founder and host of The Social Work podcast. He co-authored the book, Suicide in Schools. This episode focuses on suicide assessments and interventions and is the first of a two-part series.

• Therapists can do much at various levels to assess risk. The most important action is to screen for suicide risk at each intake assessment, whether it’s suspected or not. Often, aggression and other behavioral disturbances can be evidence of suicide risk, so ASK the questions!
• What can parents do? Dr. Singer says that parents of any child at risk should talk to the school counselor about a referral. “Don’t start looking for someone when the need arises.” Therapists should also connect with school counselors and let them know who you are and what you do.
• Dr. Singer explains Attachment-Based Family Therapy, which is emotion-focused and addresses the fundamental issue of why kids don’t see their parents as a resource for help. “Why does the child feel like it’s a better choice to die rather than talk to and open up to their parents?” Repairing the “attachment rupture” makes it easier than to talk about everything. Kids need their parents to be a safe place!
• Within ABFT, parents must understand the difference between condoning and validating by giving care and acceptance with words and actions. Use the phrase, “tell me more” to encourage kids to share. With this, they gain confidence to start problem-solving on their own---and this is what we want them to do!
• Another important aspect of ABFT is the service coordination between therapist and counselor. The amazing work in your office is not going to be beneficial if the adults in the kid’s life are not on the same page!

Resources:

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Find Jackie and the Play Therapy Community on Facebook: Look for Play Therapy Community or Jackie Flynn Play Therapy Community.

Find Jackie on Twitter @jackieflynnrpt

Suicide in Schools by Dr. Jonathan Singer

Social Work Podcast

Join the Play Therapy Community Mastermind group - www.playtherapycommunity.com/mastermind

My guest today is Dr. Jonathan Singer, Ph. D., LCSW, who is an expert in the area of suicide. He is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Loyola University in Chicago and the founder and host of The Social Work podcast. He co-authored the book, Suicide in Schools. This episode focuses on suicide pacts and the social media component and is the second piece of a two-part series.

• The language we use around suicide is important. Instead of “suicide threat,” the less-threatening terminology is “suicide disclosure.” Dr. Singer shares how he helped in a suicide pact scenario years ago, before the onset of social media. His story would be very different in today’s world that’s overrun with social media platforms. 
• Peers can help and even intervene in a crisis situation. In today’s world saturated with social media, teens will often be the first to hear of suicide pacts. Their awareness is crucial, so they know how to help and what to do. Dr. Singer explains how to be a friend to someone who is at risk for suicide and, specifically, how to address an online suicide pact.
• What if someone feels that they are betraying a friend? Well, “It’s better to have a friend alive and mad, than dead.” There are intense affective conversation techniques that can help keep a friend around: “Your reason for living may not be in your life yet.”
• Talking about it is so important! Dr. Singer explains that research has shown that asking kids about suicide does not increase risk, but can actually buffer the risk. Contrary to what some people think, bringing up the conversation will NOT make them suicidal.  What does increase the risk is watching a graphic show about a bleak world without hope, as in the recent Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why.

Resources:

www.playtherapycommunity.com

Find Jackie and the Play Therapy Community on Facebook: Look for Play Therapy Community or Jackie Flynn Play Therapy Community.

Find Jackie on Twitter @jackieflynnrpt

Suicide in Schools by Dr. Jonathan Singer

Social Work Podcast

Join the Play Therapy Community Mastermind group - www.playtherapycommunity.com/mastermind

Today I'm joined by Marshall Lyles, I am so excited to share this conversation with you today.

If you want to learn more about Marshall Lyles you can visit his website at https://www.marshalllyles.com/

Ready to take your EMDR practice to the next level? Join the EMDR Learning Community https://emdr-learning.com/share/TzabloXTllAx8cpw?utm_source=manual 

Interested in networking with other Therapists in the Play Therapy Community? Here’s our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtherapycommunity

Lucy Lauer, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 26 years’ experience as a Registered Dietitian. She specializes in helping people navigate the rough waters of disordered eating to achieve a healthier life and relationship with food. She has experience with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Nocturnal Eating Disorder, and the range of dysfunctional eating patterns that cause distress but may not have a diagnostic label.

In 35 years of practice, Lucy has treated disordered eating from both a nutritional and psychological perspective. She has presented workshops at the local, state and national level on many aspects of disordered eating for psychologists and counselors, physicians, dietitians, parents and teachers. She established and facilitated the Space Coast Eating Disorders Professional Consortium from 2009-2011, and supervises Florida Tech Psychology students in a special practicum focused on Eating Disorder treatment. 

She participates regularly in continuing education programs and has had over 60 hours of specialized training in ED treatment in the last 3 years alone. Specific topics have included ACT and other evidence-based interventions, medical complications, trauma impact, co-occurring disorders (substance abuse, self-injury, etc), assessment for appropriate level of care, body image, art and other expressive therapies, and using a team approach to treatment. She has also been invited to site visits at residential treatment centers in South Florida and Colorado. 

What are the various types of eating disorders? Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder

Since eating disorders have a direct impact on physical health as well, tell us a bit about the team approach to treatment when collaborating with Registered Nutritionists, Physicians, etc...

The gold standard of ED treatment involves a team of clinicians working together. The team consists of a mental health counselor or psychologist, Registered Dietitian (RD), primary care physician, and if needed, a psychiatrist. In an out-patient setting, it is usually the mental health clinician who coordinates care by communicating with other team members re. treatment goals, progress toward goals, and psychoeducation, as needed. The RD monitors weight, food intake and specific food-related issues and may also help set exercise goals. Medical parameters such as labs, EKGs and bone-density are ordered by the PCP and shared with other team members as markers for progress. When all team members are not under the same roof (which is usually the case), communication is done through phone calls, written assessments and updates and occasionally, face-to-face team meetings. If the client is a minor, the parents are also part of the team and are included in treatment planning, progress updates and psychoeducation so they can more effectively support their child’s recovery.

 Many people with an eating disorder have a fear of recovery.  Talk a bit about this and how a clinician can work with someone resistant about recovering from their eating disorder.

An eating disorder is experienced as a life-raft in the rough sea of uncertainty that is a normal part of life. Despite the fact that eating disorders are deadly and create enormous physical and psychological pain, they also serve important functions such as protection from intrusion, a sense of control when life feels chaotic, a way to make complex issues seem more manageable and many others. In order to help a person let go of this safety net, the clinician has to help them:  1) recognize the costs to other valued parts of their lives such as relationships, energy & concentration for other persuits; 2) Identify the functions of the ED and Develop other ways to address those. This often requires practicing acceptance of the inherent uncertainty of life, imperfection of themselves and others, and the messiness of living in a human body with all of its flaws and limitations. Sometimes, cognitive growth and recovery cannot take place until weight and nutritional balance is restored and this takes education, support, encouragement and a leap of faith on the part of the client.

 I know you facilitate a wonderful group for people with an eating disorder.  Tell us a bit about that group and how it's different from individual therapy? Our 8-week eating disorder therapy group employs a combination of mindfulness practice, self-compassion and some elements of ACT (acceptance & Commitment Therapy), which helps people identify personal values that the ED has robbed them of. There is a lot of discussion about perfectionism, fear of failure, body hatred, habitual responses to difficult emotions and practice slowing down and experimenting with alternative perspectives and behaviors. Much of the benefit from the group comes from the common experiences of the members who usually feel alien and outside of “normal” human connections. ED is a very isolating illness and it is progressive, so over the years, people feel more and more alone and ashamed of the disorder in addition to all the other things about themselves they already hate.

  Where can clinicians go for more information, trainings, certifications, etc... My favorite resources are programs presented by The Renfrew Center & the Eating Recover Center, both of which have residential treatment facilities in several US cities and do a lot of research, outreach and education. There are some very useful websites with loads of info, too. I’ve attached a list of resources we turn to on a regular basis. Our website and Facebook page also have regular posts about ED and other psychological and mental health issues. Our website is www.BeWellCounseling.net; our FB page is Beachside Counseling & Wellness on Facebook.

Recommended ED Self-help books

Cruze, Robyn & Andrus, Espra, LCSW (2013). Making Peace with Your Plate:  Eating disorder recovery. Central Recovery Press.

Kelly, Joe (2003). Dads and Daughters: How to inspire, understand, and support your daughter when she's growing up so fast. 

Lock, James, MD, PhD. & Le Grange, Daniel, PhD (2005). Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder. The Guilford Press.

Maine, Margo, & Kelly, Joe (2005). The Body Myth: Adult women and the pressure to be perfect. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 

Roth, Geneen (2010). Women, Food and God. New York: Scribner.

Tribole, E. and Resch, E. (2003). Intuitive Eating. New York:  Saint Martins Press.

Johnston, Anita (1996). Eating in the Light of the Moon: How women can transform their relationships with food through myths, metaphors and storytelling. Carlsbad, CA: Gurze Books.

Schaefer, Jenni (2004). Life Without Ed:  How one woman declared independence from her eating disorder and how you can, too. New York:  McGraw-Hill.

Siegel, M., Brisman, J., and Weinshel, M. (1995). Surviving an Eating Disorder:  Strategies for Families and Friends. New York: Saint Martins Press.

Waterhouse, D. (1997).  Like Mother, Like Daughter:  How women are influenced by their mothers’ relationship with food, and how to break the pattern.  New York:  Hyperion.

Sandoz, Emily and DuFrene, Troy (2013). Living With Your Body & Other Things You Hate:  How to let go of your struggle with body image using acceptance & commitment therapy.  Oakland, CA:  New Harbinger Books.

Eating Disorder Resources

• NEDA - National Eating Disorders Association. www.nationaleatingdisorders.org NEDA Helpline: 1-800-931-2237

     ANAD-National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders. www.anad.org ANAD Helpline: 630-577-1330

• Something Fishy - Website On Eating Disorders. Referral sources. www.something-fishy.org
• Gürze Books. Eating Disorders Publication/Education & Referral Sources. www.edcataloggue.com.  800-756-7533
• EDReferral - Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center. www.edreferral.com. 
• Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness. Information for parents & caregivers about the warning signs, dangers, and consequences of eating disorders. www.eatingdisorderinfo.org. 
• ED Hope: a resource and referral site for eating disorders and addictions. www.eatingdisorderhope.com. 
• Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA). Mission is to raise awareness, educate, and provide resources for its members and the general public. www.bedaonline.com
• F,E.A.S.T. - Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders. An organization of parents and caregivers. ww•w.feast-ed.org
• Anna Westin Foundation. Dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders & advocating for insurance coverage. www.annawestinfoundation.org.
• Beachside Counseling & Wellness, Indialantic, FL. Individual, couple and family therapy, Group Therapy, Nutrition Counseling, Information. www.bewellcounseling.net. 321-327-3793
• Am I Hungry? Website promoting intuitive/mindful eating and body respect. www.amihungry.com. 

Websites & Blogs:

  Website launched by a patient in recovery from Bulimia: www.letterstomybody.com

• Blog encouraging positive body image: www.operationbeautiful.com

  Blog encouraging a non-diet approach to healthy eating: www.dietsurvivorsgroup.blogspot.com  Website/program to improve body image on college campuses: www.bQdyimageprogram.org

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Episode 52 – Supporting Grieving Children and Families at the Dougy Center

In this episode:

Jana Cristofaro covers the following:

• Describes the mission of The Dougy Center.
• Tells how it was created (Dougy's story).
• Describes who is eligible to receive services through your program and what is the process.
• Describes what services look and feel like at the Dougy Center.
• Provides tips that you have for therapists working with grieving children and their families.
• Let’s us know about and/or donate to the Dougy Center.

For her Free Download:  Tips for Supporting Grieving Children click on the following:

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Episode 53 – Sandtray Therapy and the Brain

Expert Guest: Amy Flaherty, LPE-I, RPT is the Founder and Director of the Southern Sandtray Institute located in Jonesboro, AR. She has a hybrid program to credential therapists as a Registered Integrative Sandtray Therapist (RIST).  In addition to the formal credentialing program, Amy also offers online sandtray training through The Sandtray Suite. To find out more and grab your free Sandtray technique, simply go to www.sandtraysuite.com/ssi. 

In this episode, Amy Flaherty LPE-I, RPT covers the following:

• What is Sandtray Therapy?
• She describes the relation between neuroscience and Sandtray therapy.
• She shares few examples of that she’s seen throughout her work.
• She shares her most used miniatures?  And, where are some common area she finds miniatures for her collection

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Episode 51: Introduction to Play Therapy Community Podcast and Host, Jackie Flynn EdS, LMHC, RPT

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! This episode was previously known as Parenting in the Rain Podcast.

I created this community as a space for us (Child Therapists!) to connect with other and learn together.  If you’re anything like me, you like the idea of having tons of information at your fingertips so that you can provide the best therapy possible for your clients.

I have a Private Practice in Central Florida, with a fully stocked Play Therapy Room and Expressive Arts Therapy Studio. 

I love being a private practitioner and entrepreneur, taking risks, and daring to dream BIG! And, I LOVE Play Therapy!!!  Helping people through the healing Power of Play.

In the beginning, I remember surfing the web for hours and hours trying to get ideas.

Now, we don’t have to do it alone…we have this podcast and connection to each other where we can find out about all of the other wonderful play therapy related resources that are available to us out there! I LOVE the thought of being part of a community with like-minded individuals.

In my work at my private practice, I am passionate about helping children, adolescents, parents, couples, and families through Play Therapy, EMDR, Sandtray Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Counseling, Hypnotherapy, Education Consultation, Mindfulness, and Art Therapy. 

Probably much like you, I’ve spent years and years going to school, training, conferences, reading books, listening to podcasts, networking, reading blogs, and more to be the effective and passionate therapist that I am today.

We all have so much info to share… and the thought of creating a SYNERGYSTIC community of amazingly ambitious, child therapists like you makes me so happy, I can hardly stand it!!!

Personal and professional growth is ALWAYS at the forefront of my consciousness. And, I LOVE the world of BUSINESS and THERAPY combined. The online business world is packed with so many opportunities for growth – and I LOVE it!  I love helping people in a big way, and online that is possible!  You may have listened to my podcast, Parenting in the Rain or attended some of my Webinars.

I’d love to stay in touch with you through our newsletter.  If you’d like that too, just let me know where to send it by entering your info below.  You’ll get a video of my top 3 most used miniatures as my way of welcoming you to Play Therapy Community’s newsletter.

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