• Sale!

    Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program (ONLINE)

    Price range: $1,283.00 through $1,333.00

    Registration NOW OPEN for the June 2026 Online Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program!

    Register by May 12, 2026, for Early Bird pricing ($50 USD discount)!

    Are you ready to learn a transformative play therapy approach that combines the power of play with the latest in interpersonal neurobiology?

    Discover the Program:

    The level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program is designed for both beginning and experienced practitioners, offering the tools to deepen your understanding of play therapy and apply cutting-edge neuroscience in your practice. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll explore:

    Regulation:

    • Become an external regulator to support repatterning a child's nervous system for integration and healing.
    • Learn how to teach a child interoceptive (body) awareness (the key ingredient for self-regulation and co-regulation).
    • Understand how nervous system activation connects to mental health symptoms.

    The Brain & Neuroscience:

    • Learn how to create a neuroception of safety during emotional flooding.
    • Set boundaries that support brain integration while keeping children engaged in therapy.
    • Use reflections and responses that target multiple areas of the brain for deeper healing.

    Collaborative Relationships:

    • Build effective partnerships with caregivers to support the therapeutic process.
    • Help caregivers recognize that all behaviors make sense, even challenging ones.
    • Set goals, track a child's therapeutic progress, and translate the child's play to their caregivers and others.

    Authenticity & Congruence:

    • Use therapist authenticity to promote profound client change and prevent burnout.
    • Explore aggressive play, sand, and art through the lenses of regulation, mindfulness, and attachment.
    • Cultivate cultural sensitivity to honor the unique experiences and needs of each client.

    Join the growing number of mental health professionals and those in related roles (child life specialists, school counselors, occupational therapists, etc.) who are learning Synergetic Play Therapy!

    “I’m learning Synergetic Play Therapy with Lisa Dion after over 20 years of providing play therapy and 10+ years of providing play therapy training and supervision. I'm here today to tell you that what she is teaching is a game changer. Every one of us needs to understand in an embodied way what it means to combine neurobiology and relationship as the foundation of all the work we are doing with clients, but also with colleagues, friends, family members and SELF. Much of what I’m learning, I've known and done intuitively for years but it is SO liberating to connect the dots and have an understanding through the neurobiological lens of WHY we need to utilize and trust what we feel in our own bodies when in connection with another person.”
    Lynn Louise Wonders
    “It’s been over 2 years since I took the Synergetic Play Therapy [program]. One of the best choices I’ve ever made. The magnitude of deeply attuning with our clients...and ourselves...is immeasurable!”
    Jackie Flynn
    “I personally took a lot out of this [program], not all of it was new, but what was new was extremely useful and impactful. What wasn’t new was an excellent reminder to go back to my roots of attachment and emotional work when working with children just like I have worked with youth and adults over the years but in a slightly different context. My entire team has felt the positive impact of this training on our work and we are very happy that we all did it at the same time. We will be able to continue to practice it together and that is very exciting.”
    Mike Smith
    “This experience has been validating to my entire human experience, and offered a clear framework to better connect with myself, client, and world! I know this was only the tip of the iceberg into integrating these powerful concepts, and I'm so hooked, I've already signed up for certification to continue my journey!”
    Jessie Brockmeier
    “This [program] was a perfect combination of understanding the current science/research, gaining clinical understanding and learning new practical skills in order to find the perfect balance of how to work with clients and their families.”
    Kaity Sollenberger
    “This [program] really was more of an experience. I connected with myself on a deeper level and feel it is going to help me immensely in my work. Lisa explained the content in a simple way that I was able to understand, including multiple learning tools to solidify concepts. It was phenomenal!”
    Kayla Barnett

    Upcoming Registration Deadlines:

    • June 2026 Online Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program
      • Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 12, 2026
      • Final Registration Deadline: June 22, 2026, 12pm Mountain Time (Denver)
    • October 2026 Online Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program
      • Registration Opens: June 22, 2026, 12pm Mountain Time (Denver)
    For full program details including cost, dates, learning objectives, and more, keep scrolling!
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  • Sale!

    July 2026 Level 1 In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program – Boulder, Colorado

    Original price was: $1,333.00.Current price is: $1,283.00.

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

    Apply by the Early Bird Registration Deadline of May 19, 2026, for $50 USD off at checkout!

    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.
  • Space is Limited! Sign Up TODAY to Reserve Your Spot!

    Renewal of the Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential is required every 3 years. In order to renew, students must complete an approved program focused on principle SPT concepts and submit a CE Verification Form to the Institute as confirmation. This program meets FULL SPT Credential Renewal/Recertification requirements for the Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential! During the 3-Day In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program, you will have the opportunity to go back to the foundational understandings and tenets of Synergetic Play Therapy. Likely, the first time you took a Level 1 Introductory course/program, you spent the majority of your time trying to orient towards a new way of being in the playroom while grabbing ahold of some of the details of the Synergetic Play Therapy philosophy. This is why it is so important to go back to the basics every few years, to review and stay up to date on the most current information. Now you have the opportunity to do so and fill in the missing details in your understanding IN PERSON! Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Recertification Program Requirements: 
    • Attend and participate fully in 3 days of in-person training in Vancouver, British Columbia
    • Complete additional online video lessons
    • Complete an Integration assignment to help you reflect on your learning
    • Email all notes to the Institute to confirm completion of the program and to receive your CE Certificate
    *For program details and objectives, see below
  • Sale!

    February 2027 Level 1 In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy® Program – Vancouver, British Columbia (Payment Plan)

    Original price was: $244.38.Current price is: $236.05. / month for 6 months

    Learn a solid play therapy theory that combines the power of play with interpersonal neurobiology in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada!

    Apply by the Early Bird Registration Deadline of October 9, 2026, for $50 USD off the total cost!

    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, CE credit hours, and more.
  • Sale!

    February 2027 Level 1 In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Program – Vancouver, British Columbia

    Original price was: $1,333.00.Current price is: $1,283.00.

    Learn a solid play therapy theory that combines the power of play with interpersonal neurobiology in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada!

    Apply by the Early Bird Registration Deadline of October 9, 2026, for $50 USD off at checkout!

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

    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, CE credit hours, and more.
  • 2026-2027 Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification Program

    Early Bird Application Deadline for 2025 & Earlier Intro Cohorts is April 1, 2026

    Early Bird Application Deadline for January 2026 Intro Cohort is June 1, 2026

    Final Application Deadline is June 16, 2026 (or until program is full)

      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!

  • Join us for this NEW Advanced-Level Program! Registration closes May 26, 2026, at 12pm Mountain Time (Denver)

    After completing the Synergetic Play Therapy Certification program, many clinicians begin asking how to embody cultural humility and systemic awareness while honoring the model’s neurobiological and relational foundations. This advanced two-part experiential training takes that question to the next level. Building on the reflection series "Synergetic Play Therapy and Cultural Humility" and the "4 Threats and the Set Up Through a Cultural Lens", this program supports Certified Synergetic Play Therapists and Providers in expanding their application of SPT to include cultural, collective, and systemic processes that shape the playroom. During this program, participants will explore how privilege, identity, language, migration histories, and power influence the relational field and the nervous systems of both therapist and client. Through interactive experiential exercises and case-based discussions, therapists will practice tracking their own embodied responses to cultural difference, systemic tension, and moments of misattunement. This training emphasizes identifying cultural ruptures in real time, initiating culturally grounded repair using SPT’s regulation and attunement principles, and engaging the therapist’s authentic self as a culturally responsive instrument of change! By the end of the series, clinicians will hold deeper skills for promoting safety, connection, and repair with greater presence, humility, and leadership. *This program assumes a solid understanding of core SPT concepts/tenets and focuses on translating that understanding into embodied cultural engagement. As participants integrate SPT concepts/tenets with lived experience, they will strengthen their clinical presence, deepen their supervisory and teaching practices, and refine their ability to navigate cultural and systemic complexity through a culturally attuned SPT lens. Why This Training Matters Culture lives in the nervous system. Identity, stories, privilege, and systemic experiences shape how clients regulate and how therapists attune and respond. For Certified Synergetic Play Therapists/Providers, true cultural humility requires more than cognitive insight; it requires embodied awareness. This advanced-level program helps therapists integrate cultural and systemic understanding directly into the moment-to-moment attunement that defines SPT. You will learn to track cultural dynamics, recognize and repair misattunements, and strengthen safety across cultural differences. The result is a more grounded, responsive presence that honors the nervous system as both biological and cultural and expands your capacity to support healing in every playroom. 2-Part Live Webinar Series Dates: (Full attendance at both live webinars is required.)
    • Part 1: June 2, 2026, 2-5 PM Mountain Time (Denver)
    • Part 2: June 16, 2026, 2-5 PM Mountain Time (Denver)

    What to learn more? Click here for more details! 

    See program details including cost, dates, and CE Credit Hour information, below.  
  • Registration closes July 9th, 2026, at 12pm Mountain Time (Denver) (or until groups are full!)

    This consultation group is designed for Certified Synergetic Play Therapists and Providers seeking continued growth, connection, and integration of the Synergetic Play Therapy model in their clinical work! This group will meet once a month for six months, each for 90 minutes, and will be led by a Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor and Synergetic Play Therapy Consultant.  Each group consultation offers an opportunity to…
    • Bring clinical cases and questions for discussion and reflection through an SPT lens
    • Deepen your understanding of the therapist’s/provider's use of self and how your internal state impacts the therapeutic process
    • Explore themes of activation, regulation, and authenticity in your work with children, caregivers, and systems
    • Strengthen your capacity to conceptualize through nervous system awareness and energetic attunement
    • Receive support, feedback, and inspiration from a community of fellow Certified SPTers, dedicated to ongoing professional and personal evolution!
    This consultation group is a space for continued embodiment of the SPT principles, a place to reflect on your own process as a therapist/provider, and to reconnect with the heart of Synergetic Play Therapy - the relationship between therapist/provider, child, and nervous system. Full participation in this group meets the 8-hour consultation pre-requisite for the Level 3 Becoming a Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor Program. There are two Group Consultation options to choose from:
    • GROUP A - Wednesdays at 9 AM Mountain Time (Denver) with Polly Douglass
    • GROUP B - Thursdays at 5 PM Mountain Time (Denver) with Katherine Eastlake
     Please use the dropdown menu, below, to register for your chosen group. *Keep scrolling for details including exact dates for each Group Consultation option.
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  • Join us for an opportunity to go back to the basics AND meet full Recertification requirements for your Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential!

    Registration deadline is June 22, 2026, 12pm Mountain Time (Denver)

    Renewal of the Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential is required every 3 years. In order to renew, students must demonstrate that they have remained engaged in the study of foundational Synergetic Play Therapy teachings through identified courses/programs. This program meets the full requirement for renewing the Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential. Students who do not complete recertification requirements can no longer use the title of Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider until renewal occurs.  During the Online Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Recertification program, you will have the opportunity to go back to the foundational understandings and tenets of Synergetic Play Therapy. Likely, the first time you took your Level 1 Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program, you spent the majority of your time trying to orient towards a new way of being in the playroom while grabbing ahold of some of the details of the Synergetic Play Therapy philosophy. This is why it is so important to go back to the basics every few years, to fill in the missing details in your understanding and to also confirm what you have fully integrated, plus the teachings are always being updated with new research and nuance!

    Click here to learn more about how the program has changed over the last few years!

    Recertification Program Requirements: 
    • Attend all 3 live webinars (see dates below) and take notes on the provided handouts
    • Complete each video module and take notes on the provided handouts
    • Complete an Integration assignment to help you reflect on your learning
    • Email all notes to the Institute to confirm completion of the program and to receive your CE Certificate
      *For full program details including cost, dates, and learning objectives, see below.
  • 2026-2027 SPT Certification Program Retreats (Certified SPTers Only)

    Price range: $350.00 through $1,275.00

    Welcome Back Certified SPTer!

    Deadline to Register for the 3.5 Day Online Learning Retreat is June 30, 2026. Deadline to Register for the 4.5 Day Learning Retreat is November 30, 2026.

    Did you know that as an esteemed alumnus of the Synergetic Play Therapy Certification program, you have the opportunity to return to the online learning retreats and join new cohorts of the Certification program - eager, possibly terrified, and ready to be inspired? (Remember that?)
    Why Come Back?
    As part of the ongoing commitment to keep the teaching of Synergetic Play Therapy ever-evolving, we continue to update the Certification program content. By returning to the online learning retreats, you will:
    • Be reminded of the power of the SPT Tenets
    • Receive some of the most up-to-date and current understanding of interpersonal neurobiology and SPT theory
    • Practice your Synergetic Play Therapy skills with play, sand, and art
    • Have the opportunity to do your own personal work toward growth and transformation
    • "Come home" to yourself and find even more ways to be fearlessly authentic
    • Inspire the new cohort of aspiring Certified SPTers and share your own genius
    • AND, meet FULL SPT Credential/Recertification requirements!
    If you are ready to get back into community, refresh your SPT learning, and feel the excitement of the new SPTers on their own Certification journey, we would like to invite you back to join us for the 2026-2027 Synergetic Play Therapy Certification program online learning retreats! "I am always excited to repeat the retreats as an alumni for three reasons. First, there is always new information to be had. Second, each time I hear the information that Lisa imparts, I hear it in a different way. Lastly, it is so wonderful to be in such a supportive environment with like-minded people. I can’t get enough!" - Johanna Simmons, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor
    Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page Details
  • Space is Limited! Sign Up TODAY to Reserve Your Spot!

    Renewal of the Certified Synergetic Play Therapist or Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential is required every 3 years. In order to renew, students must complete an approved program focused on principle SPT concepts and submit a CE Verification Form to the Institute as confirmation. This program meets FULL SPT Credential Renewal/Recertification requirements for the Certified Synergetic Play Therapist/Certified Synergetic Play Provider credential! During the 3-Day In-Person Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy program, you will have the opportunity to go back to the foundational understandings and tenets of Synergetic Play Therapy. Likely, the first time you took a Level 1 Introductory course/program, you spent the majority of your time trying to orient towards a new way of being in the playroom while grabbing ahold of some of the details of the Synergetic Play Therapy philosophy. This is why it is so important to go back to the basics every few years, to review and stay up to date on the most current information. Now you have the opportunity to do so and fill in the missing details in your understanding IN PERSON! Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy Recertification Program Requirements: 
    • Attend and participate fully in 3 days of in-person training in Boulder, Colorado
    • Complete additional online video lessons
    • Complete an Integration Assignment to help you reflect on and demonstrate your learning
    *For program details and objectives, see below
  • Learn a solid play therapy theory that combines the power of play with interpersonal neurobiology in Boulder, Colorado!

    Early Bird Registration Deadline is May 19, 2026! Apply Coupon Code "Boulder2026" at checkout for $50 USD off the first month!

    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.
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