In this special episode, Lisa welcomes Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S™, to explore a transformative approach to bibliotherapy. Moving beyond the traditional view of books as cognitive tools, Tammi introduces us to using bibliotherapy as a means for co-regulation, attachment, and creating a sense of safety within the therapeutic space.

Tammi, who was initially trained in client-centered play therapy, shares her journey of discovering the profound impact that books can have when used as co-regulators. Through her experiences and insights, she reveals how stories can extend beyond mere words, becoming powerful tools that facilitate deeper connections between children and their caregivers.

Key Takeaways:

• Tammi's Journey with Bibliotherapy: How she discovered the power of books as a co-regulation tool.
• A Paradigm Shift: Using bibliotherapy from a “bottom-up” approach to support attachment, safety, and emotional regulation in children.
• Integrating Books into Play Therapy: Practical strategies for making books an extension of a child’s play, fostering a more client-centered therapeutic experience.
• Engaging Kids Who Aren’t Interested in Reading: Innovative ways to use books beyond just reading the words.
• Types of Bibliotherapy: Differentiating between developmental, therapeutic, and play-based bibliotherapy.
• Enhancing Parent-Child Relationships: How books can strengthen the bond between parents and children, addressing attachment and repair in relationships.
• Attunement and Trusting the Process: The importance of being present and attuned to the child, allowing books and other tools in the therapy space to facilitate healing naturally.

*Check out Tammi’s new book on Amazon, PESI website, or Tammi’s website: The Bibliotherapy Toolbox: 100+ Creative and Playful Story-Based Interventions to Help Kids Create Safety, Overcome Challenges, and Build Resiliency.

*Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S™, is a leading expert in attachment, sandtray play therapy, and sensory integration with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and advanced training from the Family and Play Therapy Center in Philadelphia. Tammi is the author of Casey’s Greatness Wings and The Bibliotherapy Toolkit, and she delivered a TEDx Talk, "Stories in the Sand: Healing Trauma, Anxiety, and Grief," in 2023. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

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.

Original air date: December 6, 2022

Have you ever wondered what intergenerational trauma looks like in a play therapy session? Or how you can support both the child and the parent in integrating this trauma? In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Arielle Schwartz, renowned author of "The Complex PTSD Workbook" and "The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook," to discuss this profound topic.

Together, they delve into:

• Understanding intergenerational trauma and its manifestations in play therapy sessions.
• Cultivating trans-generational resilience and generational empathy to model for clients and their parents/caregivers.
• Managing your own intergenerational trauma when it arises during sessions.
• The importance of self-care in trauma work, including Dr. Schwartz's own daily embodiment practice.

Join this enlightening conversation and expand your perspective beyond the client's immediate experiences to consider generational patterns and unresolved traumas within the family system. Discover how these dynamics shape the parent/caregiver-child relationship and learn effective strategies to support healing across generations.

About Dr. Arielle Schwartz: Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, and Kripalu yoga teacher with a private practice in Boulder, Colorado. As an internationally sought-after teacher and leading voice in healing PTSD and complex trauma, she is the author of six books, including "The Complex PTSD Workbook" and "Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma." Dr. Schwartz offers an integrative, mind-body approach to therapy through her Center for Resilience Informed Therapy. Learn more about her work at www.drarielleschwartz.com.

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're shaking things up and doing something we haven’t done in a while. In this episode, Lisa is responding directly to your questions! And today, we have three fantastic questions from our listeners that Lisa will be answering.

Jennifer asks: "What do you do if a child wants to bring food or their own toys into the session?"

Lisa gives insights and shares different ways to respond. She delves into the therapeutic function of foods and emphasizes the importance of including the child's toys in sessions, in line with Synergetic Play Therapy’s philosophy.

Sarah asks: "What do you do when a child lies or exaggerates their stories?"

Lisa helps us understand why it’s not about the specific details of the story and highlights what’s more important when working with a child who lies or exaggerates.

Jennifer asks: "How do you handle it if a child wants to show their caregiver something they created in the playroom?"

Lisa discusses the larger question we need to consider first and then offers various ways to respond to different ways that this can play out.

We have three amazing questions that came from YOU! Keep your questions coming and join us for an engaging and insightful episode that deepens your understanding of the little lessons children teach us in the playroom.

If you would like to be part of the conversation (...because yes, we’re going to keep doing these episodes), send your questions to Lisa at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com. Or even better, send us an audio of your question to share. 🙂

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.