Next Level Play Therapy: A Podcast for Play Therapy Excellence

By Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S

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Subscribers: 6
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Episodes: 142

Description

Join me on Next Level Play Therapy, a podcast for child and adolescent therapists seeking to elevate your play therapy services. Hosted by Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S, at Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training.  

Each episode delves into the nuances of play therapy, exploring innovative techniques, evidence-based practices, and practical strategies for providing exceptional therapeutic experiences. These engaging discussions cover a wide range of topics, including building rapport with children, how to make sure you get great outcomes for clients, therapeutic toys and tools and strategies to use in sessions, addressing trauma and attachment issues, engaging parents, promoting emotional regulation, and nurturing resilience for children and their families.

Whether you're an experienced therapist looking to refine your skills or a novice clinician venturing into the world of play therapy, the Next Level Play Therapy podcast equips you with the knowledge and insights to enhance your play therapy practice. With interviews featuring experts in play therapy, exploration of best practices, discussion of game-changing principles and strategies, this podcast equips you with the tools to unlock the amazing power of play therapy to transform the lives of children, adolescents, and families.

Tune in to Next Level Play Therapy and take a journey towards becoming an exceptional play therapist as we navigate the next level strategies that lead to profound healing and growth for children and their families.



Episode Date
Family Play Therapy: 3 Signs a Parent Is Ready (and 3 Signs They're Not)
Oct 15, 2026
Family Play Therapy: Why Treating Just the Child Limits Outcomes
Oct 08, 2026
Congruence & Co-Regulation in Play Therapy
Oct 01, 2026
Window of Tolerance in Play Therapy: Why Kids "Bail" on Deep Play
Sep 23, 2026
Explosive Emotions in Kids: A Brain-Based Approach for Play Therapists
Sep 17, 2026
Stop Guessing: 3 Keys to Decode Behavior in Play Therapy
Sep 10, 2026
Stop Processing Your Hardest Play Therapy Sessions Alone
Sep 03, 2026
Stop Guessing: 3 Indicators Play Therapy is Working
Aug 26, 2026
How to Stop Dreading Your Complex Play Therapy Cases
Aug 20, 2026
5 Ways Community Improves Play Therapy Results, Especially When Clients Wreck Your Playroom
Aug 13, 2026
The Dangerous Lie Every Isolated Play Therapist Believes
Aug 06, 2026
The #1 Mistake Play Therapists Make on Parent Calls
Jul 29, 2026
More Years of Experience Won't Fix What's Actually Making You Doubt Yourself as a Play Therapist
Jul 16, 2026
5 Signs You’re a Play Therapist Struggling with Clinical Isolation
Jul 09, 2026
Why Play Therapists Shouldn't Work Alone: Overcoming Clinical Isolation
Jul 02, 2026
The Isolated Play Therapist Syndrome: Why You’re Feeling Burned Out
Jun 25, 2026
Jungian Play Therapy 101: Symbols, Archetypes & Clinical Ideas
Jun 18, 2026
The Trauma Roadmap: Using Neuroscience & Attachment in Play Therapy
Jun 11, 2026
Is Trauma Really Stored in the Body? New Science for Play Therapists
Jun 04, 2026
Beyond Labeling: Why Emotional Granularity is the Key to Resilience in Play Therapy
May 28, 2026
The Missing Piece: How to Include Parents in Play Therapy for Children with Trauma
May 21, 2026
Play Therapy Case Conceptualization: Trauma, Attachment & Behavior
May 14, 2026
Polyvagal Theory Is Being Challenged… What Play Therapists Need to Know
May 07, 2026
Sand Tray Therapy: Should You Interpret a Child’s Play? (3 Things to Consider)
Apr 30, 2026
Virtual Play Therapy Explained: Tools, Tips & Platforms for Play Therapists
Apr 23, 2026
Sand Tray Therapy: How to Identify Themes in a Play Therapy Session
Apr 16, 2026
Play Therapy Assessment Explained: How to Know If Your Play Therapy Sessions Are Working
Apr 09, 2026
Case Conceptualization in Play Therapy: Why You Feel Stuck (and How to Fix It)
Apr 02, 2026
How to Use Attachment-Based Sand Tray Therapy with Teens
Mar 26, 2026
Play Therapy with Adolescents: Why Teen Symptoms Are Easy to Misread
Mar 19, 2026
Sand Tray Therapy with Teens: How to Use It Effectively in Play Therapy
Mar 12, 2026
How to Use Poetry with Teens in Play Therapy for Self-Expression
Mar 05, 2026
Best Strategies to Use Play Therapy with Teens
Feb 26, 2026
Can Play Therapy Work with Teens?
Feb 19, 2026
What’s the Difference Between Play Therapy and Using Play in Therapy?
Feb 12, 2026
How to Increase Play Therapy Impact & Reduce Burnout
Feb 05, 2026
How to Get Better Results in Play Therapy Without Doing More
Jan 29, 2026
How Does Consultation Improve Play Therapist Growth?
Jan 22, 2026
If Being a Play Therapist Feels Lonely, This Is for You
Jan 15, 2026
How to Use AutPlay Therapy with Neurodivergent Kids
Jan 08, 2026
What is Case Conceptualization in Play Therapy?
Jan 01, 2026
What Are Best Practices in Play Therapy for Clinical Decision-Making?
Dec 25, 2025
Music Therapy for Healing Trauma & Grief in Play Therapy
Dec 18, 2025
Basic Skills Using Sand Tray Effectively in Play Therapy
Dec 11, 2025
How to Write Meaningful Play Therapy Treatment Plans
Dec 04, 2025
How Does the Sand Tray Help Clients in Play Therapy?
Nov 27, 2025
How to Use Sand Tray in Play Therapy
Nov 20, 2025
4 Sand Tray Activities for Family Play Therapy Sessions
Nov 13, 2025
How to Use Sand Tray in Family Play Therapy Sessions?
Nov 06, 2025
3 Common Mistakes Using Family Play Therapy (And What to Do Instead)
Oct 30, 2025
Why Parent Updates Alone Can’t Fix Stalled Play Therapy Progress
Oct 23, 2025
Play Therapy with Parents | 5 Essential Tips for Family Play Therapy Sessions
Oct 16, 2025
Is Individual Play Therapy Better Than Family Play Therapy?
Oct 10, 2025
What to Do If Play Therapy Progress is Stalled
Oct 02, 2025
Should Parents Participate in Play Therapy Sessions?
Sep 25, 2025
How Do Play Therapists Decide When to Include Parents in Play Therapy Sessions?
Sep 18, 2025
What Are the Top Mistakes Play Therapists Make Working with Parents?
Sep 11, 2025
How to Conceptualize the Role of Parents in Play Therapy
Sep 04, 2025
How To Talk to Parents About Difficult Issues in Play Therapy
Aug 28, 2025
What is Best Practice in Play Therapy Clinical Decision-Making
Aug 21, 2025
How to Work with Resistance in Play Therapy: 4 Approaches for Reluctant Clients
Aug 14, 2025
How to Avoid Burnout and Create Meaningful Change in Play Therapy
Aug 07, 2025
Why Collecting More Play Therapy Activities Is Keeping You Stuck (And What Actually Creates Client Breakthroughs)"
Jul 31, 2025
How To Tell If Clients Are Just Playing in Play Therapy
Jul 24, 2025
What Are the Benefits of Play Therapy with Traumatized Kids?
Jul 17, 2025
Is There a Best Approach for Play Therapy with Traumatized Kids?
Jul 10, 2025
How to Use Play Therapy Interventions to Get Great Results in Play Therapy
Jul 03, 2025
How to Make Progress in Play Therapy When You’re Feeling Stuck
Jun 26, 2025
How to Tell If Play Therapy Is Working by These 5 Signs
Jun 19, 2025
5 Mistakes Every Play Therapist Makes (And How to Grow from Them)
Jun 12, 2025
How Do You Create a Sacred Space in Play Therapy for Healing?
Jun 05, 2025
What Does It Mean to Create a Sacred Space for Children in Play Therapy?
May 29, 2025
Tips to Recognize Themes in Play Therapy with Traumatized Children
May 22, 2025
3 Favorite Play Therapy Activities to Use with Traumatized Children & Teens
May 15, 2025
Tips for Maximizing Results Using Play Therapy to Heal Trauma
May 08, 2025
How to Use an Integrative Play Therapy Model with Traumatized Children & Teens
May 01, 2025
What’s the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Adolescent Suicidality?
Apr 24, 2025
5 Components to Create a Safe Space for Healing Trauma in Play Therapy
Apr 17, 2025
Play Therapy with Children & Teens Experiencing Eating Problems
Apr 10, 2025
Does Case Conceptualization Matter in Play Therapy?
Apr 03, 2025
What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy?
Mar 27, 2025
How Play Therapists Can Avoid Burnout
Mar 20, 2025
Want to Be Part of a Play Therapy Community?
Mar 13, 2025
How to Develop Culturally-Informed Play Therapy Case Conceptualization
Mar 06, 2025
How to Get Great Results in Play Therapy
Feb 27, 2025
How to Write Great Play Therapy Documentation Quickly and Easily
Feb 20, 2025
Why do you need strong Case Conceptualization skills for play therapy?
Feb 13, 2025
What skills are needed to be a play therapist?
Feb 06, 2025
What is Bias in Play Therapy?
Jan 30, 2025
4 Basic Skills for Play Therapists
Jan 23, 2025
What’s the Backbone of Great Play & Expressive Arts Therapy?
Jan 16, 2025
Clinical Decision-Making in Play Therapy: What’s in Your Toolbox?
Jan 09, 2025
Is Sandplay Therapy Effective?
Jan 02, 2025
How to Help Bereaved Children in Play Therapy
Dec 26, 2024
Can Children Heal in Play Therapy without Parents?
Dec 19, 2024
What’s the Secret to Use Family Play Therapy Confidently?
Dec 12, 2024
How to Engage Challenging Parents in Play Therapy
Dec 05, 2024
How to Build Strong Rapport in Play Therapy
Nov 28, 2024
Using Play Therapy to Help Children with Anger Problems
Nov 21, 2024
What’s the Best Approach for Play Therapy?
Nov 14, 2024
What is Bibliotherapy in Play Therapy?
Nov 07, 2024
How to Create Your Sand Tray Miniature Collection
Oct 31, 2024
Best Ever Sand for Sand Tray Therapy!
Oct 24, 2024
What Kind of Sand Tray Miniatures Are Best
Oct 17, 2024
How to Provide Sand Tray Therapy in Play Therapy
Oct 10, 2024
How Do Play Therapists Understand Themes in Play Therapy?
Oct 03, 2024
Identifying Play Dynamics in Play Therapy
Sep 26, 2024
How To Develop Culturally-Informed Play Therapy Case Conceptualization
Sep 19, 2024
How To Use Neuroscience & Attachment Theory in Play Therapy to Heal Trauma
Sep 12, 2024
How To Take a Strategic Approach to Play Therapy with Traumatized Children
Sep 05, 2024
What is Sand Tray Therapy?
Aug 29, 2024
How to Engage Reluctant Parents in Play Therapy
Aug 22, 2024
What Are the Current Trends and Growth in the Field of Play Therapy?
Aug 15, 2024
What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy with Anxious Children?
Aug 08, 2024
How to Balance Case Conceptualization, Treatment Planning, and Therapeutic Relationship in Play Therapy
Aug 01, 2024
How to Work with High Conflict Families in Play Therapy
Jul 25, 2024
How Can the AAI Be Used in Play Therapy to Create Secure Attachments?
Jul 18, 2024
How to Set Up Play Therapy for Success
Jul 11, 2024
What is Imposter Syndrome in Play Therapy?
Jul 04, 2024
How to Get Unstuck in Play Therapy
Jun 27, 2024
How Do You Know if Play Therapy Works?
Jun 20, 2024
How Can Play Therapy Heal Preverbal Trauma?
Jun 13, 2024
What Are the Best Play Therapy Techniques for Connection
Jun 06, 2024
What are the Therapeutic Powers of Play in Play Therapy?
May 30, 2024
How to Write Effective Play Therapy Documentation
May 23, 2024
How to Write Play Therapy Progress Notes
May 16, 2024
Are Open Notes Useful for Play Therapy?
May 09, 2024
What Does Case Conceptualization Have to Do with Play Therapy Themes?
May 02, 2024
What’s the Best Way to Identify Themes in Play Therapy Sessions?
Apr 25, 2024
Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Play Therapy Progress Notes
Apr 18, 2024
How to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed Providing Play Therapy
Apr 11, 2024
How to Engage Challenging Children in Play Therapy
Apr 04, 2024
How To Recognize Clinically Relevant Themes in Play Therapy Sessions
Mar 28, 2024
How Do Play Therapists Understand Themes in Play Therapy?
Mar 21, 2024
Why Does Congruence Matter in Play Therapy?
Mar 14, 2024
What Are Barriers for Congruence in Play Therapy?
Mar 07, 2024
What are the Benefits of Formal Assessment in Play Therapy?
Feb 29, 2024
How to Use Congruence Effectively in Play Therapy
Feb 22, 2024
3 Misconceptions About Using Expressive Arts with Teens in Play Therapy
Feb 15, 2024
How to Use Play Therapy with Traumatized Children and Teens
Feb 08, 2024
How to Use Play Therapy to Address Alexithymia with Traumatized Children and Teens
Feb 08, 2024
How to Use Play Therapy with Adolescents
Jan 31, 2024