Special: Embracing Messy Play: Navigating Messes in the Playroom with Synergetic Wisdom

Lessons from the Playroom

Original Air Date: July 19, 2022

In this playful and insightful episode, Lisa is joined by Certified Synergetic Play Therapists Andrea Davidson, Johanna Simmons, and Rachel Freeburg for a lively discussion on the beauty and power of messes in the playroom. From spilled paint to sensory chaos, they dive into the therapeutic opportunities that arise when we embrace the mess.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• How to explain and normalize messy play to parents and caregivers, helping them see its value;
• Turning messes into teachable moments for boundaries, containment, and personal growth;
• Supporting children in expressing themselves and meeting sensory needs through messy play;
• Deciding when (and when not) to have a child clean up based on their treatment goals;
• Tools and strategies for therapists to stay within their window of tolerance when messiness gets overwhelming; and
• How to understand and approach messes through the lens of nervous system regulation and dysregulation.

🎧 Tune in to transform how you see messes in the playroom and discover practical tips for integrating messy play into your practice with confidence and ease. Let’s get messy! 🎨✨

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

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