THANK YOU again for choosing to be a part of this program! Your final step is to answer a few questions regarding the required book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity, as it was your reference guide for this program. If you haven’t yet finished reading (or re-reading) the book, please go ahead and finish before beginning the quiz.

Before you begin the quiz, we would love to hear about your experience during Group Consultation with you SPT Consultant! If you would please take a few moments to complete the questionnaire linked below we would be so grateful! It is so important to us that we are hearing and learning from your first hand experiences!

Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® Program – Consultation Questionnaire

As part of the quiz, you will also be asked to rate the learning objectives:

Book Review – Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurological Approach to Integrating Intensity Learning Objectives

• Develop an understanding of aggression and death play that is based on brain function and neuroscience in the play therapy process
• Explain the four threats to the brain that activate a fight/flight/freeze/collapse response and why this is so important to know when working with children in play therapy
• Assess the concept of “one foot in and one foot out” and its impact on the play therapy process
• Understand the practical ways to authentically work with the intensity of aggression and death play, without causing compassion fatigue or burnout in play therapy
• Develop an understanding of how to set boundaries without shaming or shutting the child down in the play therapy process
• Identify ways to regulate yourself in the midst of an intense play therapy session so as to model to the child client how to do the same, thereby enhancing the child’s capacity for self-regulation

Once you have completed the quiz with a score of 80% or higher you will have the opportunity to download and/or print a certificate displaying the CE Credit Hours earned during this program.

CE Credit Hours: 26 CE Credit Hours, NBCC Content Areas: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship and Social and Cultural Foundations

If you are not a mental health professional and would like to receive a certificate of completion, please contact the Institute.

 Congratulations on completing the Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program!  Please reach out if you need anything at all! Much love to you on the journey!

It’s time for your Quiz on your culture lesson videos! If you have not yet viewed the videos and completed the reflection handouts for both of the Video Lessons: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility & 4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens, you will need to go back and do so before taking the quiz.

In order to move on to the next lesson, you will be required to take a quiz on the topics of Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility & 4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher. 

Before you attempt the quiz, we recommend that you pull out your notes and the Reflection Exercises handouts you completed when you watched the video lessons the first time for reference!

You will also be asked to rate the video lesson learning objectives. You may review the objectives below:

Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Learning Objectives:

• Identify the importance of differences in how a child approaches play therapy depending on an individual’s culture
• Explain what it means for play therapists to have “done the work” to become curious with their clients in play therapy using a cultural approach
• Understand the term “microaggressions’ and how to apply Synergetic Play Therapy® concepts in the play therapy process

4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens Learning Objectives:

• Explain why culture is important when considering the 4 Threats in play therapy
• Understand how culture impacts the Set Up and Offering in play therapy
• Demonstrate ways that as a therapist culture can be considered in the play therapy process

Please remember you will have access to this course site and its contents until September 30, 2025.

If you’ve enjoyed this Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program, you’re in for an incredible journey ahead. We’ve cherished having you with us and invite you to continue your growth with our Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification Program!

Take a moment to reflect on the growth you’ve witnessed since starting the introductory course. How have your clients evolved? How have your therapy sessions changed? Most importantly, how have you changed? Your growth is the key to unlocking your clients’ full potential for transformation.

During the introductory course, you’ve merely scratched the surface of what’s possible for client healing and transformation. Imagine delving deeper into a wealth of knowledge and skills with 85 hours of content (including 13 hours of consultation!). This is precisely what awaits you in our 10-month SPT Certification program, designed to empower you as a therapist* …..

• Dive deeper into understanding attunement, attachment, and mindfulness to enhance your client’s reflective awareness, self-regulation, and co-regulation.
• Gain insight on how to scaffold the development of a child’s interoceptive sense. 
• Cultivate an ability to hold awareness of self and other (dual awareness) in order to become an attuned external regulator.
• Explore the interconnectedness between physics and psychology.
• Learn why individuals are driven to do what they do and become who they are.
• Discover how trauma is stored in the body and mind, shaping a client’s narrative.
• Learn how to work with implicit memory to repattern the somatic imprints and protective patterns of the autonomic nervous system.
• Understand the Vagus Nerve and the role it plays in trauma integration and regulation.
• Gain profound insight into the homeostatic mechanisms within the mind and how these contribute to emotions.
• Understand how to assess and work with a child’s emotional age.
• Overcome fears related to working with caregivers and create true collaborative partnerships.
• Master the use of sand and art in both non-directive and directive approaches.
• Learn about the sensory system and how to use this information with neurodivergent children.
• Explore directive interventions for groups, families, teens, siblings, and adults using the SPT tenets.
• Learn how to work with non-verbal regressive states.
• Work with your own activation that naturally arises in sessions and repattern your own nervous system response.
• Deepen your understanding of how to track a child’s progress on the SPT Therapeutic Stages. 
• Master the art of managing endings, transitions, and strategies for facilitating a meaningful “goodbye process” with caregivers and children.
• Empower both yourself and your clients within the therapy process, tracking small moments and significant empowerment experiences in a client’s therapeutic journey.
• And so much more!!!!

This fully-immersive online experience will transform you from a therapist who understands to one who truly embodies the power of what you do in the world. It’s time to move beyond the introductory Synergetic Play Therapy skills and turn them into a way of being in the playroom!

The transformation begins from day one. As one of our students said, “I already got my money’s worth in just the first day of the program.” And she was speaking to the level of insight that she had already gained about herself and her clients after only a few hours of stepping into her next level of SPT learning. 

Dive deeper into the SPT process and embrace yourself, discover your magnificence, and tap into a higher state of authenticity. It’s time to embody SPT and take it to the next level. You’re worth it, your own transformation is worth it, and the individuals in your life are worth it. This is not the end of the road – it’s just the beginning of a remarkable journey.

To learn more about this program and how to apply click here!

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow and transform with this Level 2 program!

*For individuals that are not mental health clinicians, they will receive Synergetic Play Provider. 

✨ “SPT offers the gift of manifesting the true expression of self, for both our young clients and ourselves. We learn to engage fully in relationships. We connect and become that which fosters trust, growth, and healing. My journey through the SPT Certification process has been the most profound learning experience of my life. I am forever transformed.” – Mary Telep

And here are some more ways to stay connected and keep learning and growing with us……

Master the business skills and mindset so you can build your entrepreneurial dream: The Business of Therapy™ is a 2.5 day course custom designed for therapists, coaches, helpers and healers like yourself, who are deeply committed to making an impact and want to be of greater service – whether it’s one-on-one in private practice, launching a product or program, or running a company – Elevate and take your entrepreneurial dream to new heights! Find out all the details for the next Business of Therapy course here. 

Transform education through empowering educators and students – Join Judy Norman, Certified SPT Therapist/Supervisor and Co-founder with Lisa of the Synergetic Education Institute for One Foot in Education: Exploring Education Through a Synergetic Play Therapy Lens and learn how to take your SPT knowledge into an educational settings to offer trauma-informed, social-emotional support to school educators and their students.  If you work in an educational setting, this is a great next step in your learning!

SPT Consultation: We know consultation can be so important to your ongoing growth and development as a therapist and/or play provider. Consider ongoing SPT consultation with one of our Senior Intro Consultants to support you on the journey.

Stay connected with us: Hang out with us in the private SPT Learning Community Facebook group, on Instagram or like us on Facebook; join Lisa and special guests for the weekly Lessons from the Playroom podcast; meet up with us at a conference, training or other event virtually or in-person; read our monthly newsletter or our blogs!; check out all our free short videos; or go purchase some of our one-hour, two-hour or three-hour courses.

Thank you for being part of the SPT Community!

Click “Mark Complete” below to gain access to the final lesson of your program!

Welcome to the BONUS Video Lesson: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy! Although not required to complete the program, we hope you will find this bonus video content to be helpful in your practice! To bypass this lesson, please click “Mark Complete” at the bottom of the lesson page.

Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy Learning Objectives: 

• Explore how to become the client’s external regulator while facilitating a telehealth play therapy session
• Identity at least 3 ways the play therapist can regulate during a teletherapy session to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout
• Explore how the Synergetic Play Therapy® concept of “The Set Up/The Offering” applies in a telehealth play therapy session

Video Lesson: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy
Password: Synergetic

If you would like to review Module 1: Understanding States of Activation teachings before your next group consultation, you may use the recording below to do so! We also recommend pulling out your program handouts packet and reviewing your notes from our time together in-person!

Module 1: Understanding States of Activation
Password: nervoussystem

Click “Mark Complete” to move on to the next lesson of the program when it opens July 1, 2025.

This module is the second of two video lessons related to the topic of culture! As a reminder, we have spaced out the two video lessons to help you process and engage in the information, however, you will need to have completed both lessons before attempting the combined quiz, available July 1, 2025!  Another reminder to take notes as they will come in handy, along with your reflection exercise handouts, when you take the quiz.

This video lesson will discuss the 4 threats/challenges and Synergetic Play Therapy®’s The Set Up/Offering through a cultural lens. In addition, the term “gaslighting” will be explored.

4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens Course Objectives:

• Explain why culture is important when considering the 4 Threats in play therapy
• Understand how culture impacts the Set Up and Offering in play therapy
• Demonstrate ways that as a therapist culture can be considered in the play therapy process

Handout(s): The handout listed below can be found in the “3-Day Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program (March 2025) – Program Handouts” lesson.

• 4 Threats/Challenges Through a Cultural Lens Reflection #1

Video Lesson: 4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens
Password: CulturalLens

Please click “Mark Complete” to move on to the next lesson. You will be able to revisit this lesson as many times as you’d like until your course access expires on September 30, 2025. 

This module is the first of two video lessons related to the topic of cultural humility! We have spaced out the release of the two video lessons to help you really engage in and think about the information presented; however, you can watch them/complete the reflection exercises at your own pace knowing that come July 1, 2025, you will be prompted to complete a quiz on the two video lessons!  As you watch these videos, please take notes and make sure to save them, along with the completed reflection exercise handouts, to help you with the quiz.

In this video lesson, you will explore Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility. Topics such as what is culture, what it means to “do the work”, why it is hard to have conversations about culture, and how Synergetic Play Therapy® encourages therapists to become external regulators and lean in with curiosity are explored.

Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Course Objectives:

• Identify the importance of differences in how a child approaches play therapy depending on an individual’s culture
• Explain what it means for play therapists to have “done the work” to become curious with their clients in play therapy using a cultural approach
• Understand the term “microaggressions’ and how to apply Synergetic Play Therapy® concepts in the play therapy process

Handout(s): All handouts listed below can be found in the “3-Day Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program (March 2025) – Program Handouts” lesson.

• Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Reflection Exercise #1
• Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Reflection Exercise #2
  

Video Lesson: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility
Password: CulturalHumility

To move on to the next lesson click “Mark Complete”. You may return to this lesson at any point in the program until your course access expires on September 30, 2025.

In this lesson, you will be asked to review the Program Objectives, below, for the topics covered during the 3-Day In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® program. Please take a moment to read through the objectives below before clicking on the “quiz” at the bottom of the page. The “quiz” will ask you to rate how well you feel each objective was covered during our time together. Please answer all questions before submitting the “quiz”.

3-Day In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® Program Objectives:

• Explain the link between nervous system states and the symptoms that show up in the playroom
• Describe the importance of regulation in the playroom
• Explain what regulation is and isn’t according to Synergetic Play Therapy®
• Describe how Synergetic Play Therapy® was inspired, the tenets, the history, and its main play therapy influences
• Explain how children use The Set Up/Offering in play therapy to set the toys and the therapist up to feel how they feel
• Describe how children are looking for templates to help pattern and re-pattern their states of activation
• Explain the “funnel analogy” as a way to understand what children are attempting to integrate in their play therapy sessions
• Describe how Synergetic Play Therapy® approaches boundary setting
• Describe what it means to become the external regulator in a session to help a child integrate their challenges
• Discuss the implications for caregivers being in their own grief process when they bring their children to play therapy
• Describe what it means to become a caregiver’s external regulator
• Discuss the importance of setting goals and speaking in terms of what is important to the caregiver when partnering with them in therapy
• Describe the Therapeutic Stages in Synergetic Play Therapy®
• Discuss Synergetic Play Therapy®’s perspective on attachment
• Explain why interoception is the pre-req for the ability to regulate and co-regulate and why this is a key focus in a Synergetic Play Therapy® session
• Describe the difference between a child’s emotional age and their chronological age
• Explain how to use regulation as a way to help integrate aggressive energy in the playroom
• Describe how to facilitate the use of sand from a Synergetic Play Therapy® perspective in the playroom
• Explain how to facilitate the use of art from a Synergetic Play Therapy® perspective in the playroom

Click “May 2025 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® – Program Objectives” in blue letters below to get started! You must complete the “quiz” below before you will be granted access to the first video lesson on April 1, 2025.

During our time together in person, Lisa referenced a number of additional resources that you may have wanted to refer back to or explore on your own! Below, you will find links to those resources, as well as others, that we hope you will find useful!

Additional Resources by Module

Module 1: Understanding States of Activation

• Short Video: What is Authenticity Really? (time stamp: 7:57)
• Short Video: Nervous System Activation 101 (time stamp: 4:01)
• Short Video: Threats to the Brain – Physical Safety (Part 1) (time stamp: 3:07)
• Short Video: Threats to the Brain – Perceptions in the Unknown (Part 2) (time stamp: 3:18)
• Short Video: Threats to the Brain – Incongruence in the Environment (Part 3) (time stamp: 3:32)
• Short Video: Threats to the Brain – Shoulds & Unmet Expectations (Part 4) (time stamp: 4:44)
• Short Video: Regulation is Not Better than Dysregulation (time stamp: 4:17)
• Short Video: Why the Vagus Nerve is So Important in Play Therapy (time stamp: 2:19)
• Short Video: What Regulation Actually Means! (time stamp: 3:24)
• Short Video: What Emotional Intelligence Really Means (time stamp: 3:09)

Module 2: Understanding the Set Up/Offering

• LFPR Podcast: Expand Your Cultural Lens When Working with Immigrants & Refugees
• Short Video: The Power of Combining Play Therapy with Neuroscience (time stamp: 3:29)
• Short Video: When a Child Doesn’t “Play” in the Playroom (time stamp: 2:43)
• Short Video: Developing Empathy in the Playroom (time stamp: 2:51)

Module 3: Becoming an External Regulator

• LFPR Podcast: How Trying to be Calm Gets in the Way of Regulation (time stamp: 26:07)
• Short Video: How Co-Regulation Changes Templates (time stamp: 7:10)
• Short Video: When a Client Emotionally Floods (time stamp: 5:29)
• Short Video: 2 Tips for Emotional Flooding (time stamp: 7:30)
• Short Video: Creating a Space that Supports Regulation (time stamp: 4:34)

Module 4: Partnering with Caregivers/Tracking the Play

• Short Video: Empowering Parents in the Play Therapy Process (time stamp: 4:54)
• Short Video: 3 Tips for Creating Great Goals in Play Therapy (time stamp: 5:58)
• Short Video: 2 Tips for a Successful Intake Session (time stamp: 6:32)
• Short Video: Preparing Parents for Their Child’s Play Therapy Experience (time stamp: 5:41)
• Short Video: How to Explain Implicit Memory to Parents/Caregivers (time stamp: 7:43)
• Short Video: Supporting Children Through a Grief Process (time stamp: 2:25)
• Short Video: When You’re Feeling Lost in the Play Therapy Process (time stamp: 6:57)

Module 5: Understanding Attachment and Emotional Age

• Short Video: Attunement in Play Therapy (time stamp: 4:12)
• Short Video: The Difference Between Empathy & Compassion Fatigue (time stamp: 3:00)
• LFPR Podcast: Working with Attachment from the Lens of Equine Assisted Therapy 
• Short Video: Why Interoception is Important in Play Therapy (time stamp: 3:09)
• Short Video: When Shame Shows Up in the Playroom (time stamp: 3:46)

Module 6: Sand, Art, and Aggression in Synergetic Play Therapy®

• Short Video: Using the Bop Bag in Play Therapy (time stamp: 5:55)
• Short Video: Turn Your Sand Tray Into A Regulation Device (time stamp: 4:24)
• Short Video: When the Therapist Feels Like They’re in the “Boxing Ring” Too (time stamp: 5:40)

Video Lessons: Synergetic Play Therapy® & Cultural Humility and 4 Threats & the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens

• Lessons from the Playroom Episode 4 – What Our Playroom Says About Us
• Lessons From The Playroom Podcast Episode 151 – Dee Ray: Multiculturalism in Play Therapy
• Lessons From The Playroom Podcast Episode 150 – Marshall Lyles: Ableism and Disablism in the Playroom
• A Conversation With White People On Race | Op-Docs | The New York Times
• Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Episode 101 – Cultural Issues in Play Therapy – Dr. Eliana Gil (A discussion on what it means to be culturally competent!)
• Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Episode 100 – Third Culture Kids in Play Therapy. (In this 100th episode, the tables are turned again, and Lisa is interviewed about being a “Third Culture Kid” (TCK), what it means, and how it has influenced the creation of Synergetic Play Therapy®!)
• Being Understood as an Immigrant | Liliana Baylon | TED x Breckenridge
• Lessons from the Playroom Podcast Episode 74 – Social Justice in Play Therapy – Nora Alwah

BONUS Video Lesson: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy

• Embracing Online Play Therapy(episode #92) with special guest Jackie Flynn
• Online Play Therapy & Therapist Fatigue (episode #69)  
• Overcoming Fatigue in Teletherapy or Superar la fatiga en la teleterapia blog 
• Does Teletherapy Work in Play Therapy (episode #32)

Please click “Mark Complete” below to gain access to the next lesson. In the next lesson, you will be asked to review the Program Objectives and take a short “quiz” to rate how well you feel each objective was covered during our three days together.

You can return to this lesson at any time until the course closes on September 30, 2025, to reference these resources.

This lesson contains all of the handouts you will need during our time together for the 3-Day Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program in Boulder, Colorado! Please download and print the handouts packet, linked below, and bring your handouts with you on Day 1 of the program.

March 2025 3-Day In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program Handouts

Lisa will be referencing these handouts throughout her teaching so it is important that you have them on hand! They are also just a great way to take notes!

Individual Program Handouts by Module:

If you ever want to look back and find a specific handout, we have linked them all separately in this section, below, for easy access!

Module 1: Understanding States of Activation
Synergetic Play Therapy® Tenets
The Brain
Nervous System Symptoms

Module 2: Understanding the Set Up/Offering

Module 3: Becoming an External Regulator
Becoming an External Regulator Key Points
Types of Reflections in Synergetic Play Therapy®
Setting Boundaries in Play Therapy

Module 4: Partnering with Caregivers/Tracking the Play
Therapeutic Stages in Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT Curve)

Module 5: Understanding Attachment and Emotional Age
Growing Up in Play Therapy – Developmental Stages in SPT
Interoception – The Hidden Sense

Module 6: Sand, Art, and Aggression in Synergetic Play Therapy®

Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Handouts
Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Reflection Exercise #1
Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Reflection Exercise #2

4 Threats/the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens Handouts
4 Threats/the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens Reflection #1

Additional Handouts (Optional Resources):
Primary Influences
Starting Points Template – Blank
Starting Points Template #2 – Example
Session Notes – Example
Tips for Talking to Caregivers
Good Communication
Developmental Tasks
Beyond Words

Please click “Mark Complete” to gain access to the next lesson when it opens on March 31, 2024.

Before you may begin the Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® course, you will first need to read and agree to the Program Agreements.

Once you have read the above agreements, please please click on the blue letters titled “In-Person Intro Program Agreements” below to begin the “quiz”, marking that you agree to abide by the statements within the Program Agreements document above.

Upon completion of the Program Agreements “quiz” you may move on to the next lesson following the lesson release date. Please complete the Program Agreements before March 28, 2025, to avoid delayed access to course content!

If you have trouble navigating the agreements, please send an email to info@synergeticplaytherapy.com.

Welcome, once again, to the Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program! You are about to embark on a journey into the depths of therapist experiences, specifically delving into the intricate realm of compassion fatigue!

“Burnout” and “compassion fatigue” are not just buzzwords; they’re real challenges that many of us face daily, and is a large reason that folks leave the field prematurely, or experience high levels of stress when working with clients!

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation has partnered with North Carolina State University to launch an academic study to try to understand these experiences better, so we can support fellow play therapists more effectively and I would like to personally invite you to participate in this research study.

Although completely optional, I hope that you will consider joining the study so that we may learn from your first-hand experiences! We simply couldn’t do this without you 🙂

Love,

Lisa

Compassion Fatigue Research Study Information:

Before you begin Module 1 of this program, you are invited to participate in a research project investigating experiences of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among mental health providers! In addition to learning about your experiences with these phenomena, we want to evaluate whether participation in the Introduction to  Synergetic Play Therapy program affects levels of compassion fatigue or compassion satisfaction among play therapists.

Participation in the study is voluntary. If you do not want to participate in this research, you can still participate in the Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program!

If you choose to participate, you will complete two questionnaires: a “Pre-Program Questionnaire” at the beginning of the program and a “Post-Program Questionnaire” at the end of the program. The Pre-Program Questionnaire will take about 15-20 minutes to complete, while the Post-Program Questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. On the questionnaire, you will be asked demographic questions, questions about your clinical experience, coping strategies, and your experience with clients. You will also be asked questions about your life experiences, including questions about adverse or traumatic events you may have experienced. *Please note that you can choose not to answer any of these questions!

Your answers to both questionnaires will remain confidential, and only the lead researcher, Dr. Sarah Ascienzo, will have access to the raw data. All data will be de-identified and findings will only be reported in the aggregate. Should you have any questions about the study or the questionnaires, please do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher, Sarah Ascienzo, PhD, LCSW at saascien@ncsu.edu or 919-335-3532.

To participate in the research study, please use the link below to access the informed consent and begin the “Pre-Program Questionnaire”. This link will open October 15th, 2024, at 12:00am Mountain Time (Denver) and close on October 25th, 2024, at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Denver):

Compassion Fatigue Research Study – Pre-Program Questionnaire

Please note: If any of the survey questions have made you concerned about or question your health and wellbeing, please use the following resources to get help and more information. 

• For emergencies, contact your local emergency service, or present to your local emergency department
• Consult with your Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – https://988lifeline.org/
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx 
• Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741-741 – https://www.crisistextline.org/ 
• National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) – 1-800-950-6264 – https://www.nami.org/Home 
• List of crisis lines and helplines – https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES

• SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse) – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator – https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance – https://www.dbsalliance.org/?cvridirect=true 
• Alcoholics Anonymous – https://www.aa.org
• Narcotics Anonymous – https://www.na.org 
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) – https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov 
• Clinicians of Color – https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/? fbclid=IwAR0uZidna9E5isghixhWTMrd07U3G766Ns5v7FjKA_sPuBPQpjPtL00YsS0
• Inclusive Therapists – https://www.inclusivetherapists.com
• Melanin and Mental Health – https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network – https://www.nqttcn.com/directory
• Therapy for Black Girls – https://therapyforblackgirls.com

To move on to Module 1 of this program, please click “Mark Complete”.

Compassion Fatigue Research Study Information – Post-Program Questionnaire

At the start of this program, six months ago, you were invited to participate in a research project exploring compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among mental health providers. If you chose to complete the Pre-Program Questionnaire, thank you! We now invite you to complete the Post-Program Questionnaire. 

*If you chose not to participate in the Pre-Program Questionnaire at the start of the program, you may click “Mark Complete” at the bottom of this lesson to move on to the final lesson of your program.

The Post-Program Questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. On the Questionnaire, you will be asked questions about your work with clients, and questions related to compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction.

The questionnaire, linked below, will open on March 21, 2025, at 12:00am Mountain Time (Denver), and close on March 28, 2025, at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Denver):

Compassion Fatigue Research Study – Post-Program Questionnaire

Should you have any questions about the study or the above questionnaire, please do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher, Sarah Ascienzo, PhD, LCSW at saascien@ncsu.edu or 919-335-3532.

Please note: If any of the survey questions have made you concerned about or question your health and wellbeing, please use the following resources to get help and more information. 

• For emergencies, contact your local emergency service, or present to your local emergency department
• Consult with your Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – https://988lifeline.org/
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx 
• Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741-741 – https://www.crisistextline.org/ 
• National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) – 1-800-950-6264 – https://www.nami.org/Home 
• List of crisis lines and helplines – https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES

• SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse) – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator – https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance – https://www.dbsalliance.org/?cvridirect=true 
• Alcoholics Anonymous – https://www.aa.org
• Narcotics Anonymous – https://www.na.org 
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) – https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov 
• Clinicians of Color – https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/? fbclid=IwAR0uZidna9E5isghixhWTMrd07U3G766Ns5v7FjKA_sPuBPQpjPtL00YsS0
• Inclusive Therapists – https://www.inclusivetherapists.com
• Melanin and Mental Health – https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network – https://www.nqttcn.com/directory
• Therapy for Black Girls – https://therapyforblackgirls.com

THANK YOU for participating in this research study! To move on to the final lesson of this program, please click “Mark Complete”.

For those students who participated in the optional Pre-Program Questionnaire before beginning Module 1 of the program, they will now be asked to complete the Post-Program Questionnaire as the final part of the research study.

If students have any questions about this research study please redirect them to the Institute or the lead researcher.

The information below is displayed how it appears for students. Please do not participate in the research study as it is reserved for students new to SPT.

At the start of this program, six months ago, you were invited to participate in a research project exploring compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among mental health providers. If you chose to complete the Pre-Program Questionnaire, thank you! We now invite you to complete the Post-Program Questionnaire. 

*If you chose not to participate in the Pre-Program Questionnaire at the start of the program, you may click “Mark Complete” at the bottom of this lesson to move on to the final lesson of your program.

The Post-Program Questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. On the Questionnaire, you will be asked questions about your work with clients, and questions related to compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction.

The questionnaire, linked below, will open on November 15, 2024, at 12:00am Mountain Time (Denver), and close on November 21, 2024, at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Denver):

Compassion Fatigue Research Study – Post-Program Questionnaire

Should you have any questions about the study or the above questionnaire, please do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher, Sarah Ascienzo, PhD, LCSW at saascien@ncsu.edu or 919-335-3532.

Please note: If any of the survey questions have made you concerned about or question your health and wellbeing, please use the following resources to get help and more information. 

• For emergencies, contact your local emergency service, or present to your local emergency department
• Consult with your Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – https://988lifeline.org/
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx 
• Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741-741 – https://www.crisistextline.org/ 
• National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) – 1-800-950-6264 – https://www.nami.org/Home 
• List of crisis lines and helplines – https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES

• SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse) – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator – https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance – https://www.dbsalliance.org/?cvridirect=true 
• Alcoholics Anonymous – https://www.aa.org
• Narcotics Anonymous – https://www.na.org 
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) – https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov 
• Clinicians of Color – https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/? fbclid=IwAR0uZidna9E5isghixhWTMrd07U3G766Ns5v7FjKA_sPuBPQpjPtL00YsS0
• Inclusive Therapists – https://www.inclusivetherapists.com
• Melanin and Mental Health – https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network – https://www.nqttcn.com/directory
• Therapy for Black Girls – https://therapyforblackgirls.com

THANK YOU for participating in this research study! To move on to the final lesson of this program, please click “Mark Complete”.

Compassion Fatigue Research Study Information – Post-Program Questionnaire

At the start of this program, six months ago, you were invited to participate in a research project exploring compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among mental health providers. If you chose to complete the Pre-Program Questionnaire, thank you! We now invite you to complete the Post-Program Questionnaire. 

*If you chose not to participate in the Pre-Program Questionnaire at the start of the program, you may click “Mark Complete” at the bottom of this lesson to move on to the final lesson of your program.

The Post-Program Questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. On the Questionnaire, you will be asked questions about your work with clients, and questions related to compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction.

The questionnaire, linked below, will open on November 15, 2024, at 12:00am Mountain Time (Denver), and close on November 21, 2024, at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Denver):

Compassion Fatigue Research Study – Post-Program Questionnaire

Should you have any questions about the study or the above questionnaire, please do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher, Sarah Ascienzo, PhD, LCSW at saascien@ncsu.edu or 919-335-3532.

Please note: If any of the survey questions have made you concerned about or question your health and wellbeing, please use the following resources to get help and more information. 

• For emergencies, contact your local emergency service, or present to your local emergency department
• Consult with your Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – https://988lifeline.org/
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx 
• Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741-741 – https://www.crisistextline.org/ 
• National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) – 1-800-950-6264 – https://www.nami.org/Home 
• List of crisis lines and helplines – https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES

• SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse) – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator – https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance – https://www.dbsalliance.org/?cvridirect=true 
• Alcoholics Anonymous – https://www.aa.org
• Narcotics Anonymous – https://www.na.org 
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) – https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov 
• Clinicians of Color – https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/? fbclid=IwAR0uZidna9E5isghixhWTMrd07U3G766Ns5v7FjKA_sPuBPQpjPtL00YsS0
• Inclusive Therapists – https://www.inclusivetherapists.com
• Melanin and Mental Health – https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network – https://www.nqttcn.com/directory
• Therapy for Black Girls – https://therapyforblackgirls.com

THANK YOU for participating in this research study! To move on to the final lesson of this program, please click “Mark Complete”.

Lisa will inform students of this research study during Webinar 1. Students will be asked to complete this lesson before starting Module 1 on June 22nd.

*This Research Study is reserved for students new to SPT. Consultants and students enrolled in the Recertification course are not eligible to participate.

If students have any questions about this research study please redirect them to the Institute or the lead researcher.

The information below is displayed how it appears for students. Please do not participate in the research study as it is reserved for students new to SPT.

Welcome, once again, to the Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program! You are about to embark on a journey into the depths of therapist experiences, specifically delving into the intricate realm of compassion fatigue!

“Burnout” and “compassion fatigue” are not just buzzwords; they’re real challenges that many of us face daily, and is a large reason that folks leave the field prematurely, or experience high levels of stress when working with clients!

The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation has partnered with North Carolina State University to launch an academic study to try to understand these experiences better, so we can support fellow play therapists more effectively and I would like to personally invite you to participate in this research study.

Although completely optional, I hope that you will consider joining the study so that we may learn from your first-hand experiences! We simply couldn’t do this without you 🙂

Love,

Lisa

Compassion Fatigue Research Study Information:

Before you begin Module 1 of this program, you are invited to participate in a research project investigating experiences of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among mental health providers! In addition to learning about your experiences with these phenomena, we want to evaluate whether participation in the Introduction to  Synergetic Play Therapy program affects levels of compassion fatigue or compassion satisfaction among play therapists.

Participation in the study is voluntary. If you do not want to participate in this research, you can still participate in the Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program!

If you choose to participate, you will complete two questionnaires: a “Pre-Program Questionnaire” at the beginning of the program and a “Post-Program Questionnaire” at the end of the program. The Pre-Program Questionnaire will take about 15-20 minutes to complete, while the Post-Program Questionnaire will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. On the questionnaire, you will be asked demographic questions, questions about your clinical experience, coping strategies, and your experience with clients. You will also be asked questions about your life experiences, including questions about adverse or traumatic events you may have experienced. *Please note that you can choose not to answer any of these questions!

Your answers to both questionnaires will remain confidential, and only the lead researcher, Dr. Sarah Ascienzo, will have access to the raw data. All data will be de-identified and findings will only be reported in the aggregate. Should you have any questions about the study or the questionnaires, please do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher, Sarah Ascienzo, PhD, LCSW at saascien@ncsu.edu or 919-335-3532.

To participate in the research study, please use the link below to access the informed consent and begin the “Pre-Program Questionnaire”. This link will open June 18, 2024, at 12:00am Mountain Time (Denver) and close on June 21, 2024, at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Denver):

Compassion Fatigue Research Study – Pre-Program Questionnaire

Please note: If any of the survey questions have made you concerned about or question your health and wellbeing, please use the following resources to get help and more information. 

• For emergencies, contact your local emergency service, or present to your local emergency department
• Consult with your Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – https://988lifeline.org/
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx 
• Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741-741 – https://www.crisistextline.org/ 
• National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) – 1-800-950-6264 – https://www.nami.org/Home 
• List of crisis lines and helplines – https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/

MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCES

• SAMHSA Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse) – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator – https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance – https://www.dbsalliance.org/?cvridirect=true 
• Alcoholics Anonymous – https://www.aa.org
• Narcotics Anonymous – https://www.na.org 
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) – https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov 
• Clinicians of Color – https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/? fbclid=IwAR0uZidna9E5isghixhWTMrd07U3G766Ns5v7FjKA_sPuBPQpjPtL00YsS0
• Inclusive Therapists – https://www.inclusivetherapists.com
• Melanin and Mental Health – https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network – https://www.nqttcn.com/directory
• Therapy for Black Girls – https://therapyforblackgirls.com

To move on to Module 1 of this program, please click “Mark Complete”.

THANK YOU again for choosing to be a part of this program! Your final step is to answer a few questions regarding the required book, Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity, as it was your reference guide for this program. If you haven’t yet finished reading (or re-reading) the book, please go ahead and finish before beginning the quiz.

Before you begin the quiz, we would love to hear about your experience during Group Consultation with you SPT Consultant! If you would please take a few moments to complete the questionnaire linked below we would be so grateful! It is so important to us that we are hearing and learning from your first hand experiences!

Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® Program – Consultation Questionnaire

As part of the quiz, you will also be asked to rate the learning objectives:

Book Review – Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurological Approach to Integrating Intensity Learning Objectives

• Develop an understanding of aggression and death play that is based on brain function and neuroscience in the play therapy process
• Explain the four threats to the brain that activate a fight/flight/freeze/collapse response and why this is so important to know when working with children in play therapy
• Assess the concept of “one foot in and one foot out” and its impact on the play therapy process
• Understand the practical ways to authentically work with the intensity of aggression and death play, without causing compassion fatigue or burnout in play therapy
• Develop an understanding of how to set boundaries without shaming or shutting the child down in the play therapy process
• Identify ways to regulate yourself in the midst of an intense play therapy session so as to model to the child client how to do the same, thereby enhancing the child’s capacity for self-regulation

Once you have completed the quiz with a score of 80% or higher you will have the opportunity to download and/or print a certificate displaying the CE Credit Hours earned during this program.

CE Credit Hours: 26 CE Credit Hours, NBCC Content Areas: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship and Social and Cultural Foundations

If you are not a mental health professional and would like to receive a certificate of completion, please contact the Institute.

 Congratulations on completing the Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program!  Please reach out if you need anything at all! Much love to you on the journey!

It’s time for your Quiz on your culture lesson videos! If you have not yet viewed the videos and completed the reflection handouts for both of the Video Lessons: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility & 4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens, you will need to go back and do so before continuing below.

In order to move on to the next lesson, you will be required to take a quiz on the topics Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility & 4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher. 

Before you attempt the quiz, we recommend that you pull out your notes and the Reflection Exercises handouts you completed when you watched the video lessons the first time for reference!

You will also be asked to rate the video lesson learning objectives. You may review the objectives below:

Synergetic Play Therapy® and Cultural Humility Learning Objectives:

• Identify the importance of differences in how a child approaches play therapy depending on an individual’s culture
• Explain what it means for play therapists to have “done the work” to become curious with their clients in play therapy using a cultural approach
• Understand the term “microaggressions’ and how to apply Synergetic Play Therapy® concepts in the play therapy process

4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens Learning Objectives:

• Explain why culture is important when considering the 4 Threats in play therapy
• Understand how culture impacts the Set Up and Offering in play therapy
• Demonstrate ways that as a therapist culture can be considered in the play therapy process

If you’ve enjoyed this Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program, you’re in for an incredible journey ahead. We’ve cherished having you with us and invite you to continue your growth with our Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification Program!

Take a moment to reflect on the growth you’ve witnessed since starting the introductory course. How have your clients evolved? How have your therapy sessions changed? Most importantly, how have you changed? Your growth is the key to unlocking your clients’ full potential for transformation.

During the introductory course, you’ve merely scratched the surface of what’s possible for client healing and transformation. Imagine delving deeper into a wealth of knowledge and skills with 85 hours of content (including 13 hours of consultation!). This is precisely what awaits you in our 10-month SPT Certification program, designed to empower you as a therapist* …..

• Dive deeper into understanding attunement, attachment, and mindfulness to enhance your client’s reflective awareness, self-regulation, and co-regulation.
• Gain insight on how to scaffold the development of a child’s interoceptive sense. 
• Cultivate an ability to hold awareness of self and other (dual awareness) in order to become an attuned external regulator.
• Explore the interconnectedness between physics and psychology.
• Learn why individuals are driven to do what they do and become who they are.
• Discover how trauma is stored in the body and mind, shaping a client’s narrative.
• Learn how to work with implicit memory to repattern the somatic imprints and protective patterns of the autonomic nervous system.
• Understand the Vagus Nerve and the role it plays in trauma integration and regulation.
• Gain profound insight into the homeostatic mechanisms within the mind and how these contribute to emotions.
• Understand how to assess and work with a child’s emotional age.
• Overcome fears related to working with caregivers and create true collaborative partnerships.
• Master the use of sand and art in both non-directive and directive approaches.
• Learn about the sensory system and how to use this information with neurodivergent children.
• Explore directive interventions for groups, families, teens, siblings, and adults using the SPT tenets.
• Learn how to work with non-verbal regressive states.
• Work with your own activation that naturally arises in sessions and repattern your own nervous system response.
• Deepen your understanding of how to track a child’s progress on the SPT Therapeutic Stages. 
• Master the art of managing endings, transitions, and strategies for facilitating a meaningful “goodbye process” with caregivers and children.
• Empower both yourself and your clients within the therapy process, tracking small moments and significant empowerment experiences in a client’s therapeutic journey.
• And so much more!!!!

This fully-immersive online experience will transform you from a therapist who understands to one who truly embodies the power of what you do in the world. It’s time to move beyond the introductory Synergetic Play Therapy skills and turn them into a way of being in the playroom!

The transformation begins from day one. As one of our students said, “I already got my money’s worth in just the first day of the program.” And she was speaking to the level of insight that she had already gained about herself and her clients after only a few hours of stepping into her next level of SPT learning. 

Dive deeper into the SPT process and embrace yourself, discover your magnificence, and tap into a higher state of authenticity. It’s time to embody SPT and take it to the next level. You’re worth it, your own transformation is worth it, and the individuals in your life are worth it. This is not the end of the road – it’s just the beginning of a remarkable journey.

Apply today to embark on this transformative experience.

Deadline to apply is June 14, 2024. Early bird deadline is April 1st to get up to $500 off. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to grow and transform with Synergetic Play Therapy in 2024-2025!

*For individuals that are not mental health clinicians, they will receive Synergetic Play Provider. 

✨ “SPT offers the gift of manifesting the true expression of self, for both our young clients and ourselves. We learn to engage fully in relationships. We connect and become that which fosters trust, growth, and healing. My journey through the SPT Certification process has been the most profound learning experience of my life. I am forever transformed.” – Mary Telep

And here are some more ways to stay connected and keep learning and growing with us……

Master the business skills and mindset so you can build your entrepreneurial dream: The Business of Therapy™ is a 2.5 day course custom designed for therapists, coaches, helpers and healers like yourself, who are deeply committed to making an impact and want to be of greater service – whether it’s one-on-one in private practice, launching a product or program, or running a company – Elevate and take your entrepreneurial dream to new heights! Find out all the details for the next Business of Therapy course here. 

Transform education through empowering educators and students – Join Judy Norman, Certified SPT Therapist/Supervisor and Co-founder with Lisa of the Synergetic Education Institute for One Foot in Education: Exploring Education Through a Synergetic Play Therapy Lens and learn how to take your SPT knowledge into an educational settings to offer trauma-informed, social-emotional support to school educators and their students.  If you work in an educational setting, this is a great next step in your learning!

SPT Consultation: We know consultation can be so important to your ongoing growth and development as a therapist and/or play provider. Consider ongoing SPT consultation with one of our Senior Intro Consultants to support you on the journey.

Stay connected with us: Hang out with us in the private SPT Learning Community Facebook group, on Instagram or like us on Facebook; join Lisa and special guests for the weekly Lessons from the Playroom podcast; meet up with us at a conference, training or other event virtually or in-person; read our monthly newsletter or our blogs!; check out all our free short videos; or go purchase some of our one-hour, two-hour or three-hour courses.

Thank you for being part of the SPT Community!

Click “Mark Complete” below to gain access to the final lesson of your program!

Welcome to the BONUS Video Lesson: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy! Although not required to complete the program, we hope you will find this bonus video content to be helpful in your practice! To bypass this lesson, please click “Mark Complete” at the bottom of the lesson page.

Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy Learning Objectives: 

• Explore how to become the client’s external regulator while facilitating a telehealth play therapy session
• Identity at least 3 ways the play therapist can regulate during a teletherapy session to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout
• Explore how the Synergetic Play Therapy® concept of “The Set Up/The Offering” applies in a telehealth play therapy session

Video Lesson: Synergetic Play Therapy® and Teletherapy
Password: Synergetic

If you would like to review Module 1: Understanding States of Activation teachings before your next group consultation, you may use the recording below to do so! We also recommend pulling out your program handouts packet and reviewing your notes from our time together in-person!

Module 1: Understanding States of Activation
Password: nervoussystem

Click “Mark Complete” to move on to the next lesson of the program when it opens February 1, 2025.