"Every child has the capacity to heal and grow, but it starts with meeting them where they are—with respect, curiosity, and an understanding of their unique needs." – Hannah Young

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Hannah Young, an accredited play therapist, clinical supervisor, and child-parent relationship practitioner, for a deeply moving conversation about the role of poetry in play therapy. Hannah shares how poetry can serve as a bridge between a child’s inner world and therapeutic processing—offering a powerful way to witness, contain, and reflect their experiences.

With her unique blend of clinical expertise and personal storytelling, Hannah invites us to reimagine the role of language in the playroom—not just as a form of communication, but as a gift of presence, attunement, and deep connection.

Together, Lisa and Hannah explore:

✨ Poetry as a therapeutic tool – How writing and reflecting through poetry can deepen attunement and support self-regulation for both therapists and children.
✨ Capturing the unsaid – Using poetry to put words to children’s experiences, especially in moments of struggle, transition, or emotional overwhelm.
✨ Bringing case notes to life – How therapists can transform their clinical reflections into mindful, compassionate narratives.
✨ Offering poetry back to the child – Ethical considerations, creative approaches, and the profound impact of witnessing a child’s experience through poetry.
✨ The rhythm of healing – Understanding how poetry mirrors the tempo and flow of the therapeutic relationship.

And this episode takes an unexpected turn as Lisa is brought to tears for the first time on the podcast, moved by the depth and beauty of Hannah’s words. In a moment of profound resonance, Lisa experiences firsthand the power of poetry to touch the heart, validate emotions, and create space for healing.

Join Lisa and Hannah for this heartfelt and illuminating episode, and discover how to integrate poetry into your practice in a way that is accessible, meaningful, and transformative. ✨🔗

Podcast Resources:

• Learn more about Hannah’s work at https://beyondthelookingglass.org
• Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
• Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
• FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
• Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity

* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

Original Air Date: April 18, 2023

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa welcomes Ann Beckley-Forest for a deep dive into working with children and families navigating adoption, foster care, or placement experiences. With her extensive expertise in EMDR Therapy and play therapy, Ann shares insights that will expand your understanding of attachment trauma and offer practical approaches to support this unique population.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What attachment trauma or attachment wounding is (hint: it’s about “the important good things that didn’t happen”);
• How adoptee-led movements are reshaping language, perspectives, and practices around adoption, honoring all parts of the adoption triad;
• The impact of a child’s trauma history on the collective nervous system of adoptive/foster families;
• Why unprocessed trauma persists in childhood and how therapists can address it effectively in sessions;
• Reparative treatment approaches that prioritize attuned experiences over cognitive processes.

Whether you’re new to this work or seeking to deepen your understanding, this conversation will provide valuable insights and actionable ideas for supporting children with complex placement histories.

🎧 Start or continue your learning journey with Ann and Lisa today, and discover how you can make a profound difference in the lives of these children and families.

Podcast Resources:

• Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
• Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
• FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
• Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity

* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.

"We all walk around in our little cultural bubble, and sometimes, without realizing it, that bubble shapes how we show up in the playroom." – Dr. Carmen Cubillo

In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa sits down with Dr. Carmen Cubillo, a clinical psychologist, Registered Play Therapist, and cultural advocate based in Australia, for an essential conversation about culture—our own, our clients’, and how both shape the therapeutic relationship.

Together, Lisa and Carmen dive into:

✨ The therapist’s cultural lens: How our personal cultural background influences the way we show up in the playroom and why it’s crucial to reflect on it.
✨ Layers of cultural curiosity: Beyond heritage, how systemic and societal influences shape our clients' experiences and why we must stay open and adaptable.
✨ Cultural safety in therapy: What it means to be a culturally safe therapist and how unconscious biases can create barriers to connection.
✨ The importance of rupture and repair: Why acknowledging cultural missteps—rather than avoiding them—deepens trust and strengthens relationships.
✨ Connecting to the land: How understanding the cultural history of where you live can ground your practice and help you become more attuned to the experiences of the children and families you work with.

This episode is an invitation to lean into cultural awareness, embrace the discomfort of learning, and grow into more attuned and connected therapists. With Carmen’s wisdom, vulnerability, and deep experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and expand your perspective.

💡 Join Lisa and Carmen for this transformative discussion and take your cultural curiosity to the next level.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Learn more about Dr. Carmen Kubio and her work in culturally responsive play therapy.

🎧 Tune in, reflect, and lean on in. 💜

Podcast Resources:

• Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
• Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
• FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
• Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity

* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.