With an understanding of aggressive play based on brain function and neuroscience, this book provides therapists with a framework to work authentically with aggressive play, while making it an integrative and therapeutic experience for the child. Through the lens of principles from Synergetic Play Therapy®, therapists are taught how to integrate the intensity experienced by [...]

WELCOME to the 6-month Online Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® program! I am so glad that you have chosen to sign up for this program and that we will have a chance to learn and grow together for the next six months. In order to help you get started, please read through this message (I [...]

WELCOME BACK - Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® Refresher! We are so glad that you have chosen to come back to join us for this Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® Refresher! During the next six months, as a past student who has taken any Introductory Level 1 course (Online or In-person Introduction to Synergetic Play [...]

Embark on an enlightening journey with Lisa Dion as she delves into strategies for optimizing the intake process! In this course, you will gain insights into how the foundation of a therapeutic relationship is laid during the intake session and how this extends throughout the entire intake and into the clinical engagement. Lisa will impart valuable [...]

Delve into the evolving landscape of diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness in mental health, exploring how to create a more inclusive and culturally sensitive clinical practice. Led by Lisa Dion, guest panelists Liliana Baylon, Robert Jason Grant and Marshall Lyles share their insights and expertise on a range of essential topics, fostering a deeper understanding [...]

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute® in collaboration with PIP Solutions presents "Working with Adopted Children in Play Therapy". Many adopted children have unique challenges which present in different ways in the playroom.  Play Therapists can often feel unsure but are aware of the importance of responding through a different lens.  In this webinar, there will [...]

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute® in collaboration with PIP Solutions presents "Conceptualizing Cases from a Synergetic Play Therapy® Lens". Translating a right brain play experience into a left brain conceptualization is not an easy task. As such it is common for play therapists to find themselves feeling a bit lost in understanding where the child [...]

Working with families as a whole presents a complex and multifaceted endeavor, often marked by intricate dynamics. This course delves into the significance of integrating families into the play therapy process, providing guidance on effectively engaging all family members during sessions and examining the myriad benefits this inclusive approach offers. You will also understand the [...]

From a stroll through the Lollipop woods of Candyland to a fight over the Thimble in Monopoly, games are part of childhood. In the playroom, certain games are more commonly used than others. How do we use chess as a pawn in our therapeutic healing? How can we call on checkers to check on the [...]

Supporting a child struggling with obsessive compulsions and perfectionism can be incredibly challenging as the desire to move the child out of their rigidity and rituals can overshadow the deeper issues and stressors driving the behaviors.  In this course, you will gain an understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the behavior of perfectionism, and how play [...]

Helping a child heal involves helping them be themselves. One of the best ways to foster this type of environment is to cultivate safety. The therapist knowing the playroom is safe is not enough; the child must know it, too. This course explores what a neuroception of safety is and how to create it within [...]

Divorce. The “D” word. The end of the marital road. A happily ever after run amok. It’s something that often gets a bad rap, especially when we think of the children stuck in the middle. But divorce, while it can be devastating to some kids, can also be a relief for others. Children’s perceptions are [...]

Every therapist has been there – in a session with a child who doesn’t want to come in the room, a child who doesn’t want to do the task, a child who only wants to avoid the issue. This course explores what to do when a child client’s language and behavior say “no.” Join us [...]

Aggression and death are common parts of the play therapy process, yet many therapists don’t have a clear understanding of what to do and how to facilitate intensity. This can lead to inadvertently promoting aggression and low brain disorganization. It can also lead to the therapist feeling beat up, exhausted, and hyper-aroused, ultimately impacting their [...]

This course supports play therapists as they learn about setting boundaries from a neurobiological perspective, keeping the child’s brain and nervous system activation in mind! Drawing from Interpersonal Neurobiology and Synergetic Play Therapy®, participants will learn how to set boundaries without shaming the child or stopping the child’s play, allowing for deeper integration and connection. [...]

From twelve-year-olds to seniors in high school, adolescence is a time filled with change. This can make the notion of bringing play therapy to this population a challenge. Do we play? Do we talk? Do I ask questions? What do I do?" As such, many therapists find themselves at a loss with this age group, [...]

We live in a technological age: there is no pacifying Pac-Man, no axing Apple. But screen time doesn't always mean zoning out. In moderation, Mickey Mouse and Mario can be our allies, helping children better connect to the world around them. This webinar explores the therapeutic value of screen time and how to use it [...]

Research in neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology sheds light on the need for the play therapist to act as the external regulator supporting the child to move towards the intensity they are experiencing allowing for integration. This 3-hour home study course explores this need during trauma integration for two primary reasons: 1) The child need to [...]

As play therapists, we are often searching for ways to help our clients regulate their emotions and body. This webinar explores how therapists can use yoga to increase their ability to connect with themselves and their clients while facilitating the regulation of emotions and body during play therapy sessions. Lisa welcomes Kelly Miller, founder of [...]

Lisa Dion and Dr. Robert Jason Grant (creator of Autplay) discuss what Sensory Processing Disorder is, how to begin to understand it in the context of play therapy and offer helpful suggestions for therapists to get started. Sensory Processing Disorder in the Playroom Learning Objectives: Describe how sensory processing disorder is diagnosed Explain what is [...]