Welcome to Play Therapy Institute of Colorado’s E-Learning Site

Please select a course below to get started.

  • In this free one-hour webinar, you’ll understand how to manage your stress, fear, anxiety and depression and why it’s important to do so … And that’s not even the best part - You’ll be shown mindfulness strategy after mindfulness strategy, offered understanding of the neuroscience behind each, and guided through how to use them - go from “not just a good idea” to why you would do it and when you would use it.
  • In response to COVID-19, the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute began offering free webinars to address the challenges, stress and impact that therapists, teachers, parents, and those on the frontlines were facing. Since then, we've continued to offer free webinars to support you on your professional and personal life's journey. Please enjoy free access to these very special webinars. You may view and share it with as many people as you feel it would help.
  • Being a therapist is not an easy job as it requires an on-going commitment to show up day in and day out when your clients need you ... But what happens when the people we are serving aren't the only ones in crisis? What happens when we are in crisis too? (We are human after all). And what happens if it's the same crisis?! In this special one-hour webinar (Part 3 of Regulating Through the Coronavirus webinar series), you'll reconnect to yourself and gain greater internal resources to help you overcome many of the challenges of being a therapist right now.
  • Lisa Dion and her dear friend, Peter Bliss join forces again to support you in staying connected during the Holidays ....with the message that staying calm is not the objective or solution for getting through not only the challenges and uncertainty of the world we live in right now, but also this holiday season (because as we know, it's not always about cheer and jubilee).
  • This program is for you if you work IN SCHOOLS (as a school counselor, social worker or psychologist, or a school-based mental health professional) or if you COLLABORATE WITH educators or schools!

    **For all program details and dates of when this program is offered, please visit the Synergetic Education Institute's website**

    A Synergetic Approach to Education (formerly One Foot in Education: Exploring Education Through an SPT Lens) offered by our sister institute, the Synergetic Education Institute, is a distinct and transformative approach to learning and teaching, working at the intersection of education and mental health! Synergetic educators recognize that the collaborative efforts of educators, students, classrooms, and educational systems produce a more substantial impact than individual contributions. This approach spans the landscape of working with students and perceived challenges and barriers, considering all aspects of learners and the learning environment. It incorporates neuroscience and nervous system regulation research with empowerment practices to create positive change within the immediate environment while maintaining a broader perspective using integrated and differentiated approaches. You will delve into strategies designed for educational settings that promote trauma-informed, social-emotional support within schools. You'll learn to implement these strategies as well as understand the neuroscience behind them, empowering you to support others in deepening their knowledge and awareness. You will also learn how to...
    • Implement approaches based on neuroscience that support the development of self-regulation skills, including critical skills that are often missing from SEL programming.
    • Support educators in understanding how to prepare brains and bodies to learn, including articulating the links between neurophysiological states and classroom behaviors
    • Identify the dynamics behind complex student-adult relationships and how to shift these challenging interactions.
    • Increase feelings of safety and belonging for students and adults
    • Implement small shifts in daily routines that include explicitly teaching critical skills using both "top-down" and "bottom-up" approaches.
    • Reframe “resistance” to meeting educators at their level of readiness.
    • Embody Synergetic Play Therapy® principles and collaborate with teachers to empower them and shift their perceptions of students
    "This course has been life-changing for me personally and for so many of the clients and families I work with! I love that your class applies to clinical practice as well! Judith has a brilliant mind and it was an honor to learn from her. I am so grateful. There are moments in your life that are pivotal and I know my Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT) and SPT in schools are one of those pivotal moments for me as a professional and a mom." - Chey Cochran, LPC Check out the clip below for a sample of what you can expect during live webinars!
    Program Prerequisites: This program requires that you have taken a Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® program. This includes the completion of one of the following: If you have not yet completed one of the above programs, you now have the opportunity to meet the prerequisites for A Synergetic Approach to Education by taking the new Fundamentals Course through the Synergetic Education Institute!* *The Fundamentals Course has been created specifically for individuals who wish to take a Synergetic Approach to Education but have not yet completed a Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® program. This course will take you through key Synergetic Play Therapy® principles, creating a foundation on which to build. Please note: This course has been paired down to focus on specific concepts to prepare students for A Synergetic Approach to Education, and, therefore, is not a full replacement for the Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® program.  Should your goal be to apply for the Synergetic Play Therapy Certification program, you must complete the entire Introduction program.
  • Have you found it difficult, confusing, tiring, or maybe even exhausting wearing your two hats day in and day out? One as a therapist and the other as a parent?... Lisa totally gets it!!...as both a therapist and a parent these past 15 years. This one-hour recorded webinar that will help you discover ways to be the most important toy in both the playroom and in your own home!  
  • Oh yes! You likely know what we're talking about ... the feeling of never being "good enough" ... holding yourself back because of pervasive feelings of shame and self-doubt ... the constant worry/anxiety of not measuring up or fear of being outed as a fraud. It may trap you in a cycle of self-doubt, erode your courage and confidence, undermine your success, and lead to missed opportunities, unfulfilled goals, and a tendency to hide or hold yourself back. Sound familiar?... [Sigh ] ... Let's take a deep breath and acknowledge how challenging and debilitating "imposter syndrome" can be. Lisa wants to help you begin to overcome imposter syndrome in your life.
  • Early Bird Payment Plan: 9 Months:  $478 USD, Online | $641 AUD 12 Months:  $364 USD, Online | $488 AUD **Save! Get $500 (US Dollars) or $670 (Australian Dollars) off the full cost of the course when you pay in full AND by the early bird deadline for a massive discount!!* Early bird deadline depends on which course you are currently in or have taken in the past. Payment must be made 30 days from your early bird deadline.  [aelia_currency_selector_widget title="Select your currency based on the retreat location you would like to attend and wait for the page to refresh before adding to cart." widget_type="dropdown"]    
  • Payment Plan Total 9 Months: $489 USD per month, North America | $656 AUD per month, Australia 12 Months: $374 USD per month,, North America | $501 AUD per month, Australia   [aelia_currency_selector_widget title="Select your currency based on the retreat location you would like to attend and wait for the page to refresh before adding to cart." widget_type="dropdown"]
  • Chances are, you read the title of the webinar and thought, "What! You want me to do what with rejection?!" (We know ... it might not quite make sense yet.) Or perhaps you know that rejection has a purpose in your life, but you still find yourself having a "love/hate" relationship with it. Either way, rejection can be one of the toughest things to experience - it gets right down to your core self and brings up all of your "Am I ok?" feelings. And this is what we're going to talk about in this one-hour free webinar! ... and more specifically, how to embrace it! - like you're best-est of friends (Yes, you heard that right too.)
  • Early Bird Payment Plan: 9 Months:  $478 USD, Online | $641 AUD 12 Months:  $364 USD, Online | $488 AUD **Save! Get $500 (US Dollars) or $670 (Australian Dollars) off the full cost of the course when you pay in full AND by the early bird deadline for a massive discount!!* Early bird deadline depends on which course you are currently in or have taken in the past. Payment must be made 30 days from your early bird deadline.  [aelia_currency_selector_widget title="Select your currency based on the retreat location you would like to attend and wait for the page to refresh before adding to cart." widget_type="dropdown"]    
  • As a graduate of the Synergetic Play Therapy Certification program, you now have access to the SPT Certified Community, a one-stop-shop for resources, important updates, and a community of other Certified Synergetic Play Therapists and Certified Synergetic Play Providers looking to connect with YOU! So what is the SPT Certified Community Membership? This Membership is an opportunity for MORE! More engagement, more opportunities to connect and build relationships, More support, and More content to deepen your learning! By signing up for the SPT Certified Community Membership you are gaining access to exclusive content:
    • Monthly LIVE Webinars with Lisa and Special Guest Teachers
    • Monthly Circle of Support Gatherings
    • Monthly SPT Connect Opportunities (NEW!)
    • Yoga + Mindfulness Classes
    • Access to the full Webinar Library with 70 webinars and counting
    • Access to Bonus Video Content
    • Surprise discounts on SPTI courses and trainings
    • Continued personal and professional transformation
    For more information about the SPT Certifed Community Membership, Click Here! All of this and more for $30 USD/month! By signing up for $30 USD/month, your membership will automatically renew each month, maintaining your access to all of the exclusive content! There is now also an option to purchase a full year upfront, 12 months for $299 USD (a savings of over $60 USD annually!) By choosing this annual option, you will gain access to the exclusive content for a full year, 12 months. When your 12 months conclude, all you have to do is come back to this page and sign up for another year, or go month to month, to continue accessing the Membership! Use the dropdown menu below to select the payment option that works best for you.
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  • As a graduate of the Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification program, you now have access to the SPT Certified Community, which will serve as the place for you to keep up with important announcements, upcoming events, and information related specifically to you - a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider. This online gathering place is our gift to you as a thank you for choosing to be a part of the SPT Certified Community! We are so grateful to have such an expansive community and hope the SPT Certified Community will become somewhere for you to land, to connect, and to be inspired! All graduates of the SPT Certification program are welcome! Simply click  "Add to Cart" below to join us! Once you have purchased this FREE product, you will be able to access the SPT Certified Community through your online learning platform! We can't wait to share this space with you!! If you have any questions or need support please email info@synergeticplaytherapy.com.
  • Therapists and clinicians are always experiencing a secondary impact when working with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma, crisis, or challenge. A big statement, we know, but it's true. We can't avoid being impacted and it has a lot to do with the brain's mirror neuron system. When we're in the midst of listening or playing through the trauma with the child, we're tracking our client's non-verbal cues. And as we're tracking our client's non-verbal cues, their non-verbal cues are giving us insight into what is happening within them. THIS puts us directly IN the experience with our clients. We'll experience the fear together, the anxiety together, the sadness together, the overwhelm together - Whatever is going on, we'll experience it together including the trauma. That's why we would love to have you join us for this FREE 1-hour webinar to help you navigate the secondary traumatization that can often come along with this profession that we love!
  • In this workshop, participants will delve into the world of "shoulds" and negative self-talk; those internalized expectations and societal norms that often shape our thoughts, behaviors, and decisions while influencing our lives, physiology, and well-being.   During this hour, we will uncover the complex interplay of factors that contribute to the formation of "shoulds" and most importantly, the unique role they play in our psychology. Understanding how “shoulds” and negative self-talk form, the connection they have with our physiology, and the purpose behind them will help you reframe these patterns as valuable feedback systems on the pathway toward authenticity and congruency. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to harness the power of “shoulds” and negative self-talk for personal growth and self-discovery! And, one of the best parts is that you will be able to take this information and have a better understanding of what is happening with your clients and loved ones, as well!
  • Applications Closed | 2025-2026 Program is Full!

    If you would like to be added to the 2025-2026 Waitlist, please email info@synergeticplaytherapy.com

    Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort will open September 1st!


    2025-2026 Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification Program

    You've already seen the powerful impact of Synergetic Play Therapy through the Level 1 Introductory program—now, imagine what’s possible when you take your skills even further.  The Synergetic Play Therapy Certification program is designed to help you embody the therapeutic skills that will unlock profound transformation for both you and your clients. Imagine feeling more attuned, confident, and capable in every session—able to guide your clients through breakthroughs that go beyond the surface. As one participant put it, “I already got my money’s worth in just the first day!” Are you ready to embody the next level of healing and authenticity? Start your journey now to discover how this program can transform your practice.

    *Keep scrolling to learn about program dates, cost, learning objectives, scholarship opportunities, CE credit hours, and more!

    If you are ready to submit your application, click "Add to Cart" below to pay the $150 application fee. Once payment is confirmed, you will be sent a link to complete the online application!

  • Registration Closed | Program is Full!

    If you would like to be added to the Waitlist for this program, please email info@synergeticplaytherapy.com


    Learn a solid play therapy theory that combines the power of play with interpersonal neurobiology in Brisbane, Australia!

    Registration Deadline is August 29, 2025 | Space is Limited! Reserve Your Spot Today!

    Click here to experience how you can transform you and your child clients from the inside out!

    You asked and we answered! For those of you who have wanted to enroll in our signature Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program, but are seeking an in-person experience, this program is for you! Have you been searching for ways to create a deeper impact for your clients? Or perhaps you are wanting to improve or learn more about...
    • Becoming an external regulator to support children with integration and repatterning the activation of their nervous system.
    • Supporting healing at deeper levels through right brain to right brain attuned communication
    • Teaching children interoceptive (body) awareness (...the key ingredient for self-regulation and co-regulation
    • Creating a neuroception of safety for a child when emotional flooding happens
    • Setting boundaries with the brain in mind to not minimize, shame or shut down the child's play, but keep them engaged in their therapy process
    • Building collaborative relationships with caregivers to support their child's therapeutic process
    • Developing goals, tracking a child's therapeutic process, and translating what's happening during the child's therapy session to their caregiver(s) and others in the world
    • Helping children develop a secure attachment to themselves (...a foundation of resilience)
    • Applying SPT concepts from a cultural lens for a more inclusive and culturally sensitive clinical orientation where a client's unique experiences and needs are honored
    • How to feel a little more like YOU in the therapy process (...because we know inauthenticity is the fastest way to burnout and compassion fatigue)
    • And so much more!

    "SPT is the missing piece in play therapy. I gained an understanding of who I am in the playroom - a humanness that wasn't there before." -Frances Donohue

    Join the growing number of mental health professionals, those in related roles (Child Life Specialists, School Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Coaches, etc.), and parents/caregivers who are learning SPT!

    Check out what past students had to say about their experiences here.

    Keep scrolling to learn about program dates, cost, learning objectives, scholarship opportunities, CE credit hours, and more.
  • Applications have closed! Thank you to all who applied!

    Becoming a Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor isn’t just about offering guidance—it’s about embodying the core tenets of Synergetic Play Therapy and creating an environment where growth and transformation can happen for both you and your supervisees. In this program, you will:
    • Learn to establish strong, trusting supervisory relationships using SPT principles, understanding how to assess supervisees at different stages of their development and guide their growth.
    • Explore complex ethical dilemmas, including how to manage dual relationships, maintain authenticity, and apply legal and ethical considerations in the supervision process.
    • Master cultural awareness and humility by applying SPT tenets through a cultural opportunity lens, supporting therapists in navigating diversity in their clinical work.
    • Enhance your supervisory skills by using reflective practice to empower supervisees to explore their therapeutic work and personal development, while also reflecting on your own patterns as a supervisor.
    This newly revamped program is designed to ensure you’re equipped to provide a supervision experience that promotes both personal and professional growth in your supervisees. With 34.5 hours of training through live webinars, recorded lessons, and hands-on consultation, you’ll finish this program feeling empowered in your role as a supervisor. ***Before submitting your application, please review the APPLICATION CHECKLIST to ensure you have all of the necessary documents and meet all program requirements!

    Applications have closed! Please contact the Institute with any questions.

    For full program details including program prerequisites, program cost, live webinar dates, and CE Credit Hour information, keep scrolling!
  • Holding Space in Hard Times is a support circle for mental health therapists navigating the emotional toll of current events, violence, injustice, political unrest, and collective grief. As therapists, we are trained to hold space for others, but many of us also carry personal sorrow, burnout, rage, fear, and fatigue in response to the events unfolding in the world. This group offers a space to pause, ask questions, and be held in return. It is not supervision or consultation. It is a place for community care. Join the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute's Cultural Ambassador, Liliana Baylon, as we reflect together on how the current climate impacts our minds, bodies, and clinical work, name what often goes unspoken in therapy spaces, and practice grounding and cultural humility. Through connection and honest conversation, we witness each other without the pressure to fix or perform. This space invites you to come as you are, to release what you can, and to leave feeling more connected and less alone!
  • In this episode of Lessons From The Playroom Podcast, we delve into the intricate world of children's lying behavior in this thought-provoking. Participants explored the underlying motives and protective patterns driving lying behavior, challenging traditional views on honesty. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, learn to create a neuroception of safety that fosters trust and authenticity. Gain insights into recognizing lying patterns and responding therapeutically to promote honesty and connection. This Lessons From The Playroom episode offers valuable tools and techniques for caregivers and professionals seeking to navigate lying behavior with empathy and understanding, ultimately fostering meaningful relationships with children.    Course details below.
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