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Latest podcast episodes

Escape Play Theme In Play Therapy

Escape Play Theme In Play Therapy

In this episode, we delve into the fifth theme within the safety play category: Escape Play. This particular theme marks a shift from the previous ones – containing, protection, danger, and rescue. Here, the focus is on a character, often the child themselves,...

Building Trust: The Key to Engaging Parents in Play Therapy

Building Trust: The Key to Engaging Parents in Play Therapy

In this episode, I address a crucial question from Bethany in Mississippi about how to handle corporal punishment in her community where it's still prevalent. Although it's not directly linked to the playroom, it involves supporting parents—a critical aspect of our...

Rescue Play Theme In Play Therapy

Rescue Play Theme In Play Therapy

In this week's episode, I delved into rescue play, which happens to be the fourth of the five safety play themes. Rescue play is often intertwined with the danger theme, providing a powerful means for children to address and resolve negative scenarios. When a child...

Decoding Chaotic/Messy Play: Embracing A Child’s Emotional Expression

Decoding Chaotic/Messy Play: Embracing A Child’s Emotional Expression

In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I discuss a question by Emma in Georgia about managing messy play in therapy sessions. Emma describes a child who engages in a flurry of activities, making a mess and moving rapidly from one thing to another, leaving play...

Danger Play Theme In Play Therapy

Danger Play Theme In Play Therapy

In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, we explore the concept of danger as a safety play theme in the playroom. So we will dive into the nuances of this theme, clarifying that despite its name, danger play falls under the safety category. I talk about how...

Highlights From My 60 Minute Conversation With Dr. Garry Landreth

Highlights From My 60 Minute Conversation With Dr. Garry Landreth

Dr. Garry Landreth doesn't do "interviews" anymore, but I had the opportunity to speak with him on the phone for a whole hour last month. Of course, the conversation turned to Play Therapy, and all the wonderful history and outlook for the future of our field. I think...

Protection Play Theme in Play Therapy

Protection Play Theme in Play Therapy

In this episode, we're delving into the theme of Protection Play, the second segment within the safety play themes. It's crucial to distinguish Protection Play from Containing Play, ensuring a clear understanding. Protection Play is about safeguarding something or...

Child-Centered Healing: Trauma Processing in the Playroom

Child-Centered Healing: Trauma Processing in the Playroom

In this episode of the Play Therapy Podcast, I address a question from Marisol, a newcomer to play therapy, who's working in a community impacted by a traumatic school shooting incident. We delve into understanding trauma in the playroom, emphasizing that the...

Containing Play Theme In Play Therapy

Containing Play Theme In Play Therapy

In this episode, I start into the category of safety play by focusing on the first theme: containing play. I explore the five themes under safety play, emphasizing their focus on ensuring safety for a child or an identified character, often the child's archetype...

Sorting Play Theme In Play Therapy

Sorting Play Theme In Play Therapy

In this episode, we wrap up our exploration of the Control and Safety themes with a focus on 'sorting play.' I share an anecdote from my graduate school experience, illustrating what sorting play entails and its significance in a child's play process. Sorting play...

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