Farewell... this is my last episode of this podcast. “You are the most important tool you have in your therapeutic work. It is critical that you take good care of it.” Do you value yourself that highly? Find me at www.denisthomas.com Listen to my other podcast Wellness with Dr. Denis
Aug 23, 2021•12 min•Season 6Ep. 38
This episode is intended to encourage you wherever you are right now. It's also a reminder that you are enough.
Aug 09, 2021•13 min•Season 6Ep. 37
There are two topics that I love to talk about. One is play therapy and the other is wellness, and when I can talk about them together, all the better. Check out my wellness podcast Wellness with Dr. Denis.
Jul 26, 2021•12 min•Season 6Ep. 36
We all have areas of strength, things that come so easily to us that we may not even recognize them as a strength. Those strengths have soft underbellies, areas of vulnerability for us. We all have weaknesses, too. Part of working on the weakness is recognizing the strength. This episode explores how those two things work together.
Jul 12, 2021•12 min•Season 6Ep. 35
Welcome back for Season 6. In this season, I want to share my top 5 things I want everyone doing play therapy to know and the top 5 Dr. Denis-isms based on follower feedback. I hope you enjoy this special season.
Jun 28, 2021•12 min•Season 6Ep. 34
In this final episode of Season 5, Drs. Denis' and Kasie Lee share their thoughts on the intersection between play therapy and ethics.
May 02, 2021•34 min
Drs. Denis' and Kasie Lee dig deeper into the category of role-play toys. Regardless of the age of your clients, having toys and tools that help them externalize issues and trauma from their lives can be instrumental in helping them heal.
Apr 19, 2021•28 min•Season 5Ep. 32
In this episode, Drs. Denis' and Kasie Lee share their thoughts on how to keep your play space organized.
Apr 05, 2021•28 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Drs. Denis' and Kasie Lee discuss how to select the toys and tools you will need for your play space.
Mar 21, 2021•29 min•Season 5Ep. 30
In this episode, Drs. Denis' and Kasie Lee share tips and tricks for stocking a play room in a way that’s practical and affordable.
Mar 07, 2021•35 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Dr. Denis and Dr. Kasie Lee share tips on designing and setting up your play room.
Feb 22, 2021•32 min•Season 5Ep. 28
In this first episode of Season 5, Dr. Denis’ interviews Dr. Kasie Lee, and together they discuss important aspects of defining a play space.
Feb 07, 2021•28 min•Season 5Ep. 27
In the final episode of Season 4, Dr. Denis talks about mastery themes and knowing when your client is ready to end therapy. Rachel reviews the book, Windows to Our Children: A Gestalt Approach to Children and Adolescents, by Violet Oaklander.
Dec 14, 2020•19 min•Season 4Ep. 26
In this week's episode, Dr. Denis explores three more facets of relationship play themes -- grief, loss, and resilience. Rachel Sellers shares her thoughts on the book, The Whole-Brain Child by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.
Nov 30, 2020•21 min•Season 4Ep. 25
In this episode, Dr. Denis shares her perspective on relationship play themes. Rachel Sellers reviews the book, The Connected Child , by Dr. Karen Purvis and Dr. David Cross.
Nov 16, 2020•20 min•Season 4Ep. 24
In Episode 23, Dr. Denis explores the themes of inner-value, hopelessness, helplessness, and self-sufficiency. Rachel Sellers reviews the book, The Healing Power of Play , by Eliana Gil.
Nov 02, 2020•20 min•Season 4Ep. 23
This episode is part two of the theme “Power and Control.” It covers how this theme can manifest in clients as chaos, revenge, and nurturing.
Oct 19, 2020•19 min•Season 4Ep. 22
In this episode, Dr. Denis dives into the theme of power and control, specifically outlining how this theme manifests as perfectionism and anxiety.
Oct 05, 2020•18 min•Season 4Ep. 21
In this first episode of Season 4, Dr. Denis' talks about the themes of safety, security, and protection and how those themes show up in play.
Sep 21, 2020•17 min•Season 4Ep. 20
In the last episode of the summer season, Dr. Denis’ talks about advocacy. Sometimes, you shout for big change. Sometimes, you speak to have the conversations. And, sometimes, you whisper to quietly encourage your clients. With play therapy, you use your voice to empower others to use their voices and be heard.
Aug 17, 2020•11 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Play therapy friends, you are so valuable to your clients and the profession. You listen, you care, and you believe in the relationship. This episode in our summer series celebrates your importance.
Aug 03, 2020•9 min•Season 3Ep. 18
In this summer series, Dr. Denis' offers encouragement to play therapy practitioners. Have you been too serious lately? This episode is a reminder that you are fun!
Jul 20, 2020•9 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In this summer series, Dr. Denis' offers encouragement to play therapy practitioners. With Telehealth, abrupt endings, social unrest, exhaustion, you may be feeling like you are not good enough. But, you are enough!
Jul 06, 2020•10 min•Season 3Ep. 16
This episode is an invitation for you play therapists to take care of yourselves. Links from the Show: Introduction to Play Therapy Workshop Register at www.lipscomb.edu/playtherapy 40 continuing education hours: we are an APT approved provider and these are direct contact hours in four 10-hour days. Cost is $750. July 15-18 with Dr. Kasie Lee July 22-25, with Dr. Denis’ Thomas Books Creative Play Therapy with Adolescents and Adults: Moving from Helping to Healing by Drs. Denis' Thomas and Melan...
Jun 22, 2020•11 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode, Dr. Denis’ gives you lots of ideas for incorporating writing into your therapy work and interviews Teresa Prendes-Walls. You’ll also hear an inspiring research segment from Rachel. Find the show notes and Transcripts here .
May 04, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this episode, Dr. Denis talks about using digital and print photography in counseling. She also interviews Niamh Rawlins.
Apr 20, 2020•35 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this episode, Dr. Denis delves into sand therapy. Sand therapy can help clients explore subconscious themes, process difficult emotions, ground themselves, and communicate in powerful, non-verbal ways. Dr. Denis offers suggestions for types of sand, containers, and figurines to use when doing sand therapy. This episode’s special guest is Timothy Hollar, who shares a sand tray technique specific for clients who are going through transitions. Rachel’s research segment explores the use of sand t...
Apr 06, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this bonus episode, Dr. Denis' shares some thoughts about counselors, clients, and the chaos that has been triggered as a result of the Coronavirus. She also provides practical strategies for keeping your sanity in the midst of this challenging time.
Mar 26, 2020•23 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This episode is all about incorporating drama and puppets into play therapy. Dr. Denis explains what drama therapy is, who is qualified to use it, what materials are needed, and how to go about incorporating drama and puppets into sessions with clients. She also talks about how drama can be incorporated into work with children, adolescents, emerging adults, and professional adults. This episode includes a special interview with Jamie Langley. In her research summary, Rachel talks about The Body ...
Mar 23, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Music is such an important part of our lives, and in this episode, Dr. Denis explores different ways it can be incorporated into play therapy. She discusses the fundamentals of music therapy and how it can be used with children, teens, and adults. Musician and therapist Sheldon Clark is this episode’s special guest – he shares a technique called “Song of Hope.” In this episode’s research segment, Rachel discusses the effectiveness of short-term music therapy in adults with chronic mental illness...
Mar 02, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 9