In this powerful and deeply human episode, Lisa is joined by two internationally recognized leaders in the field of complex trauma and dissociation—Ana Gómez and Jill Hosey—for a heartfelt conversation about their monumental new release: The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children.

More than just a book discussion, this episode offers a reverence-based reframe of dissociation—not as pathology, but as a brilliant, adaptive survival strategy used by children navigating overwhelming experiences. Ana and Jill share their personal insights from editing this groundbreaking 900+ page volume, which weaves together theory, research, clinical case work, and embodied practices from over 60 contributors.

Together, they explore the profound responsibility therapists carry—not only to understand dissociation in their clients but to honor how it arises in their own inner worlds. You’ll hear candid reflections on what it means to be a regulated presence in the therapy room, how fear of dissociation may show up in clinicians, and how co-regulation becomes the foundation for relational healing.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore the topic of dissociation or are a seasoned trauma therapist, this episode invites you to shift from fear to curiosity—from fragmentation to integration.

💡 Key Topics Include:

• Why The Handbook is the first of its kind in the field
• Dissociation as a creative, protective superpower
• Therapist nervous system responses and the importance of co-regulation
• Misdiagnosis, marginalization, and what happens when dissociation is misunderstood
• The emotional labor of this work—for both therapist and client
• A call to action for deeper training, relational attunement, and self-reflection
  
  

📘 The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children is available through Routledge, Amazon, Caversham Booksellers (Canada), and other major online retailers.

One of the most highly requested topics in play therapy is finally here—understanding sexualized play in the playroom. In this deeply insightful episode, Lisa Dion is joined by Dr. Jodi Mullen, a leading expert in play therapy and child trauma, to explore what it means when sexualized play emerges in sessions.

🔹 How to trust your felt sense as a clinician when sexualized play appears
🔹 Identifying red flags and themes that may indicate sexual trauma
🔹 Understanding transference and countertransference as clinical clues
🔹 The key differences between medical trauma vs. sexualized trauma
🔹 How aggression presents in children with sexual trauma and what it means
🔹 How to talk to parents and caregivers when trauma or abuse is suspected
🔹 The single most important thing we can do for children when justice isn’t possible

Dr. Jodi Mullen shares real-life examples, clinical insights, and powerful strategies to help play therapists feel more prepared and confident when working with children who have been sexually abused or demonstrate sexualized play.

✨ This episode is a must-listen for any therapist navigating this complex and sensitive work.

Original Air Date: August 29, 2023

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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:

👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books

🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/

✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:

👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/

🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
• Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute

She’s back—and the energy in the room just elevated. In one of the most moving and illuminating episodes to date, Lisa Dion reunites with internationally renowned occupational therapist, author, and teacher Kim Barthel—one of the most beloved guests in the podcast’s history.

Together, they take us deep into the world of psycho-sensory interventions, a term Kim coined decades ago during a pivotal moment that forever changed her clinical approach. Through a powerful real-life case study, this conversation explores how the body holds the story of trauma, how sensation can unlock memory, and why true healing happens when we integrate the mind, body, and play.

Through their dual lenses—Lisa’s Synergetic Play Therapy perspective and Kim’s expertise in sensory integration, posture, and neurobiology—they reflect on working together with a young client whose developmental trauma was revealed not only through his play, but through his body, his relationships, and the clinician’s own internal experience. You’ll also hear about Kim’s early work with children on the streets of Winnipeg, the origin of psycho-sensory work, and how her interdisciplinary lens continues to evolve after 40+ years of practice.

This episode will invite you to:

• Track what the body is telling you through posture, breath, and muscle tone
• See play as only one part of the unfolding story—because the story lives in the body
• Tune into the relational field and your own body as a source of insight
• Slow down and meet your clients where they are developmentally and neurologically
• Embrace an embodied approach to healing that honors both the child’s and the therapist’s nervous systems

✨ Whether you’re a seasoned play therapist, an OT, or simply curious about trauma-informed care, this conversation will expand your lens, deepen your embodiment, and remind you that healing isn’t something we do to a child—it’s something that unfolds when we trust the wisdom of the body.

Take a breath, drop into your own body, and press play. You won’t want to miss this one.