Next Level Play Therapy: A Podcast for Play Therapy Excellence

• How to Use Sand Tray in Play Therapy

  Send us a textSand Tray Therapy vs. Sandplay Therapy: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters for Play TherapistsEver find yourself wondering, “Wait… am I doing sandplay therapy or sand tray therapy?” 👀You’re not alone — and it’s way more than a semantics thing.In this podcast episode, we’re unpacking the fascinating roots and modern applications of both approaches — from Dora Kalff’s Jungian foundations to the integrative, attachment-focused sand tray therapy so many of us use today.You’ll discover: ✨ How your play therapy model shapes what happens in the tray (and why that’s everything). ✨ How to choose when to lead vs. when to follow your client’s symbolic process. ✨ Why holding themes lightly — instead of decoding them like dream symbols — actually deepens healing.We’ll bridge the theory with the practical, exploring how your lens—whether child-centered, Adlerian, or integrative—guides the way you use this powerful tool for connection and transformation.Because the real magic isn’t in the sand alone… it’s in how you conceptualize the process through your theoretical heart and nervous system. 💫🎥 Join me and let’s dig into the art of using the sand tray making process in play therapy with purpose and presence.Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work. I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

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• 4 Sand Tray Activities for Family Play Therapy Sessions

  Send us a textI love love love using sand tray therapy in family play therapy sessions!Watching how families approach and complete the activities provides a wealth of information about interaction patterns and how each family member sees the world and their family relationships.When I use sand tray activities in family play therapy sessions, I like to use activities that allow me to observe interaction patterns.As play therapists working with children in family systems, we recognize the importance of children experiencing secure attachments with parents as well as developing healthy relationships with siblings.I would even include helping children to develop healthy relationships with extended family members and family friends who are “family” in a different way.  Healthy connection and support is vital for all humans, and as play therapists we have an opportunity to help our young clients develop a strong network of support with family and other important people in their lives.Using sand tray in family play therapy sessions is an awesome way to get a peek inside their family system and circle of support.Interested in getting some ideas to use sand tray in family play therapy sessions?  Join me for this week's podcast! I’m sharing four of my favorite family play therapy activities using sand tray and tips for using these activities effectively.  So — If you love using sand tray in play therapy like I do and you’ve been wondering how to use it effectively in family play therapy sessions, then you don’t want to miss this episode!Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work. I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

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• How to Use Sand Tray in Family Play Therapy Sessions?

  Send us a text🌪️ Family Play Therapy + Sand Tray = Chaos or Connection?Ever had a family play therapy session turn into a sand-flinging circus? 🙃 One minute it feels like magic, the next like total mayhem.The truth is—the sand tray can be one of the most powerful tools for family healing… but only if you know how to guide the process with purpose.👉 In this week’s episode, I’ll show you how to move from chaos to clarity with 3 practical tips for using sand tray in family play therapy sessions.✨ Discover how to set the stage so every family member feels included (without power struggles). ✨ Learn prompts that turn random sand play into meaningful connection. ✨ Find your framework so the sand tray becomes a healing space—not a battlefield.Don’t miss this chance to level up your family play therapy game—join me live!Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work. I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

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• 3 Common Mistakes Using Family Play Therapy (And What to Do Instead)

  Send us a text3 Hidden Mistakes Sabotaging Your Family Play Therapy Sessions“Let’s invite the parents in…”Sounds simple, right? But if you’ve ever had a family play therapy session dissolve into chaos—or worse, sit in painful silence—you know it’s anything but simple.Here’s the secret nobody tells you: those messy moments aren’t proof you failed. They’re actually your biggest opportunities for healing.In this week’s podcast, you’ll discover: ✨ Why treating family play therapy sessions like “individual therapy with an audience” quietly sabotages progress ✨ The real reason things get messy (hint: it’s deeper than parenting styles or planning) ✨ How to turn chaos into therapeutic breakthroughs with a clear, confidence-building play therapy frameworkStop white-knuckling your way through family sessions. Start leading them with clarity, purpose, and impact.Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work. I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

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• Why Parent Updates Alone Can’t Fix Stalled Play Therapy Progress

  Send us a text🚨 The Big Miss in Traditional Play Therapy (And Why It’s Holding Back Progress)We talk a lot about helping kids heal using play therapy…But here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud:Most traditional play therapy approaches treat the child like they exist in a vacuum.👀 Reality check:What kid do you know is paying their own rent, making their own dinner, and handling life without family dynamics shaping them every single day?Exactly. None.Families are the ecosystem kids live in. Every belief, every meltdown, every bedtime battle—it’s all influenced by the way their family dances together (or doesn’t).And yet… we often work with kids alone, peeking at the family system through the keyhole of second-hand parent reports.No wonder some problems keep coming back no matter how many play therapy tools we throw at them.If you’ve ever wondered – What am I missing? – when progress stalls, you need to be here.Join me for this free weekly podcast! Because it’s time to stop guessing about the family system and start seeing it for what it really is so your play therapy clients can thrive.Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work. I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills

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