Best Play Therapy Themes Podcasts (2024)

1
What Are the Current Trends and Growth in the Field of Play Therapy? 45:17

4h ago45:17

45:17

If you’re in the child and adolescent mental health field then you’ve likely heard of play therapy, but why is it so effective? How is it possible that play therapy has become the go-to treatment approach for children to address their mental health challenges? What is it that sets play therapy apart from other treatment modalities? How has play the…

1
How does Burnout Develop? Psychologist Insights with Dr Claire Plumbly 19:37

3d ago19:37

19:37

Links: 📚 Check out Dr Claire's Book on Burnout: How to manage your nervous system before it manages you: https://amzn.to/3W9nsgi 📲Connect with Dr Claire here: https://www.tiktok.com/@drclaireplumbly https://www.instagram.com/drclaireplumbly/ 🖥️ Check out my brand new short courses for aspiring psychologists and mental health professionals here: htt…

1
What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy with Anxious Children? 41:44

5d ago41:44

41:44

In the play therapy profession, the focus is typically on the children and providing play therapy sessions only with the child to facilitate healing. Makes sense when you think about it because parents bring their child to you for help overcoming their mental health challenges. But is it really the most effective way to conceptualize the problem an…

1
What are the 3 Types of Burnout? Stress and Mental Health at Work and Play 13:40

10d ago13:40

13:40

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 139: What are the 3 Types of Burnout? Stress and Mental Health at Work and Play In this brilliant third episode in the very special anti-burnout series by Dr Claire Plumbly we bring you a closer look at the three different types of burnout. It’s a fantastically interesting and helpful episode…

1
How to Balance Case Conceptualization, Treatment Planning, and Therapeutic Relationship in Play Therapy 43:45

12d ago43:45

43:45

As a play therapist or child/adolescent therapist, 👇 Have you ever thought there is no way to balance a strong therapeutic relationship with clients and parents with the more clinically technical aspects of case conceptualization and treatment planning? Therapeutic rapport is relational, right?. It’s personal and dynamic. Case conceptualization and…

1
What is the difference between stress and burnout? 11:48

17d ago11:48

11:48

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 138: What’s the Difference between Stress and Burnout? With Dr Claire Plumbly In this brilliant second episode in the very special anti-burnout series by Dr Claire Plumbly we bring you what the difference is between stress and burnout. It’s a fantastically interesting and helpful episode and …

1
How to Work with High Conflict Families in Play Therapy 49:30

20d ago49:30

49:30

If you’re a play therapist then you’ve probably had children from high conflict divorced families on your caseload at some point, or maybe even now. These families can present very challenging issues to navigate in play therapy. If you’ve worked with children in high conflict family systems then you’ve probably felt helpless, frustrated, and overwh…

1
What is Burnout? Signs and Symptoms with Dr Claire Plumbly 26:26

24d ago26:26

26:26

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 137: What is Burnout? With Dr Claire Plumbly Dr. Marianne Trent introduces Dr. Claire Plumbly as a guest and temporary host of the podcast. They discuss the idea of doing a series on burnout, which they decide to call "Burnout Bites." Dr. Plumbly shares her experience of recording the episode…

1
How Can the AAI Be Used in Play Therapy to Create Secure Attachments? 40:20

29d ago40:20

40:20

One of the things I regularly hear from play therapists is their frustration knowing what is the most effective way to work with parents in play therapy. This is especially true when working with children in families that are very challenging. Children exist within the context of their families and supporting parents to be the therapeutic agents of…

1
How to become a UK psychologist as a non-UK citizen 36:58

1M ago36:58

36:58

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 136: How to become a UK psychologist as a non-UK citizen In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Ananya Mosur Sridhar, an assistant psychologist who is a non-UK citizen. They discuss the challenges and barriers that non-UK citizens face when pursuin…

1
How to Set Up Play Therapy for Success 39:33

1M ago39:33

39:33

From an attachment theory standpoint, structure is an important part of parenting. It helps children understand relationship boundaries, protects them from possible harm, provides a sense of safety and order, and allows them to understand how actions impact them and others. How we provide structure is very important - Not too rigid and not too loos…

1
What is Bipolar disorder? (Manic Depression renamed) Symptoms & Treatment 48:46

1M ago48:46

48:46

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 135: What is Bipolar Disorder? Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Sam Swidzinski, who has bipolar disorder, to discuss what bipolar disorder is, how it is diagnosed, and how it can b…

1
What is Imposter Syndrome in Play Therapy? 35:53

1M ago35:53

35:53

If you’re a play therapist, especially new to play therapy, I’m going to share a secret with you. You may not believe me when I tell you this. If you feel like a fraud using play therapy … If you feel overwhelmed and struggling with thoughts that you suck using play therapy and that your clients are probably suffering because of your incompetence ……

1
What is Indirect Self Harm and How to Reduce it - Trauma Special with Eva Perry 39:50

1M ago39:50

39:50

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 134: What is indirect self-harm? Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. Dr. Marianne Trent discusses the concept of indirect self-harm with guest expert Eva Perry. Indirect self-harm refers to behaviours that may cause unintended harm to oneself, such as social isolatio…

1
How to Get Unstuck in Play Therapy 40:54

2M ago40:54

40:54

Have you ever felt like you’re lost and not sure what to do when you’re providing play therapy? Maybe you’ve secretly thought that you aren’t cut out to be a play therapist because you’re terrible at it. At some point in your learning journey to help your clients heal using play therapy, you’ve probably felt lost, overwhelmed, and frustrated. Typic…

1
Understanding OCD and complex trauma with Alexandra Walker 44:23

2M ago44:23

44:23

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 133: Understanding Complex Trauma and OCD Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, I interview Alexandra Walker, who shares her experiences with complex trauma and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Alexandra discuss…

1
How Do You Know if Play Therapy Works? 35:59

2M ago35:59

35:59

What’s the point of learning to recognize themes in play therapy sessions? Does it really matter? Play therapists often talk about what play themes occurred in their clients’ play therapy sessions. Are play themes even real or are we just making them up to justify that play therapy is actually working? We know that play therapy has become the “go-t…

1
The Killer Psychologist - Childhood Trauma Unveiled with Dr Dana Anderson 59:08

2M ago59:08

59:08

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 132: The Killer Psychologist: Childhood Trauma Unveiled Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Dr. Dana Anderson, a forensic psychologist and host of the Killer Psychologist podcast. They discuss complex trauma, growing up in a gun-filled e…

1
How Can Play Therapy Heal Preverbal Trauma? 41:17

2M ago41:17

41:17

Do children who’ve experienced trauma prior to developing language have the capacity to remember what happened to them? Does the traumatic experience go away on its own? I’ve often heard people, including child serving professionals, dismiss the possibility of the negative impact of neglect and early trauma on infants and young children. Especially…

1
Why is stabilisation work important in therapy? EMDR - PTSD 44:16

2M ago44:16

44:16

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 132: Why is stabilisation important for trauma therapy? EMDR PTSD Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Aimee Shipp, a qualified clinical associate psychologist, about trauma stabilisation. They discuss the importance of trauma stabilisati…

1
What Are the Best Play Therapy Techniques for Connection 43:11

2M ago43:11

43:11

Using play therapy effectively requires child and adolescent therapists to know how to use a theoretical play therapy model to access the therapeutic powers of play. When choosing play therapy to facilitate healing, it’s important to consider what your clients need and how you will use play therapy to accomplish that goal. Want some ideas? Join me …

1
Adult ADHD, Diagnosis and Assessment with Maddy Alexander-Grout 47:33

2M ago47:33

47:33

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 130: Adult ADHD diagnosis and assessment Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Maddy Alexander-Grout, who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. They discuss Maddy's experiences growing…

1
What are the Therapeutic Powers of Play in Play Therapy? 35:37

3M ago35:37

35:37

Play therapists often talk about the therapeutic powers of play. But what exactly does that mean and why are they so important in play therapy? How do you explain play therapy to others? Actually, knowing the answer to these questions are core competencies for play therapists because 👇 The therapeutic powers of play are what set play therapy apart …

1
The psychology of professional football with Daniel jinadu 47:00

3M ago47:00

47:00

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 129: The psychology of professional football with Daniel Jinadu Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent chats with Daniel Jinadu, a professional footballer with a first-class psychology degree. They…

1
How to Write Effective Play Therapy Documentation 33:40

3M ago33:40

33:40

Writing play therapy documentation is hands down the least favorite task for play therapists, myself included. It’s overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting. It can feel never ending and burn you out. It’s often avoided altogether, which is never good. Avoiding it just creates more stress because you feel like you’re always behind or worse you get i…

1
What is health psychology? How do you train as a health psychologist? 50:33

3M ago50:33

50:33

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 128: What is Health Psychology? Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Nicola O'Donnell, a trainee health psychologist. They discuss the field of health psychology, including what it inv…

1
How to Write Play Therapy Progress Notes 28:32

3M ago28:32

28:32

If you’re a play therapist and you have struggled to write progress notes that make sense without draining your brain, then you are definitely not alone. Maybe you feel confused and overwhelmed about writing play therapy notes because you have no idea what to write that makes sense and doesn’t sound like you just played for an hour with your client…

1
8 Strategies for Handling Psychology Job Rejections 28:35

3M ago28:35

28:35

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 127: 8 strategies for handling psychology job rejections Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, I discuss the challenges of job rejection and disappointment in the field of psychology and mental health. I offer eight…

1
Are Open Notes Useful for Play Therapy? 36:50

3M ago36:50

36:50

If you’re a mental health professional in the United States, you might have heard about the CURES Act. It’s created quite a buzz in the mental health community. Maybe you’ve heard of Open Notes. Essentially the discussion about progress notes in the medical community, including the mental health community, revolves around clients’ access to their m…

1
Working psychologically with serious and catastrophic injury 38:38

3M ago38:38

38:38

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 126: Working Psychologically with Serious and Catastrophic Injury with Dr. Shabnam Berry-Khan Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, we speak with Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Shabnam Berry-Khan, who used her creative …

1
What Does Case Conceptualization Have to Do with Play Therapy Themes? 31:57

4M ago31:57

31:57

Play therapists place a lot of emphasis on recognizing themes in play therapy sessions. Why? Because understanding play behaviors and recognizing what clients are communicating in their play is critical to help them in the healing process. Here’s where case conceptualization is often overlooked when making sense of what’s going on in play therapy f…

1
Compare & Contrast: Irish Vs UK Psychology Training 38:48

4M ago38:48

38:48

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 125: Comparing the Irish & UK Psychology Training with Dr Leora DeFlumere Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, we speak with Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Leora DeFlumere, a psychologist who has worked in different pa…

1
What’s the Best Way to Identify Themes in Play Therapy Sessions? 35:00

4M ago35:00

35:00

Have you ever struggled to figure out what exactly your clients are communicating during their play therapy sessions? Whether you’re a new play therapist or a seasoned play therapist, identifying themes can be challenging. Learning to recognize themes in your clients’ play therapy sessions is a great way to understand what they are communicating th…

1
What is a clinical associate psychologist? (CAP) 30:13

4M ago30:13

30:13

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 124: What is a Clinical Associate Psychologist? With Dr Dawn Reeves Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode we dive into the world of Clinical Associate Psychologists (CAPs) with our guest Dr. Dawn Reeves! We explore the role, training, and unique experie…

1
Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Play Therapy Progress Notes 41:52

4M ago41:52

41:52

There is a lot of terrible information being shared in the mental health community about writing progress notes. Some information is based on fear, some information is based on misunderstanding about progress notes, and some information is based on minimizing the importance of progress notes. (Ouch!) 😲 Over the last 30+ years in the mental health f…

1
How to Master Public Speaking - Psychologist Insights 54:06

4M ago54:06

54:06

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 123: How to master public speaking - psychologist insights Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. For those who have received interview offers this year for the DClinPsy, congratulations! You might be feeling nervous around this time and that is okay, perhaps this episo…

1
How to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed Providing Play Therapy 37:01

4M ago37:01

37:01

What’s the secret to success using play therapy like a pro? Any new play therapist will tell you that the thing that drives them to learn new things 👇 is their desire to make a difference in the lives of children. Over the last 15 years supervising new play therapists, I’ve witnessed four things that are 🔑for your success using play therapy so you …

1
What's it like working in politics as a psychologist? 47:56

4M ago47:56

47:56

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 121: Politics, Parliament and Psychology with Brad Powell Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, we speak with Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Bradley Powell, who is in his 3rd year of the doctorate and in a fascinati…

1
How to Engage Challenging Children in Play Therapy 33:25

4M ago33:25

33:25

If you’re a child/adolescent mental health professional, then you probably have children and adolescents on your caseload who are reluctant to engage in therapy. These children can be overwhelming and frustrating, even for seasoned therapists. What can you do to engage them in sessions so you can help them? Knowing how to use play therapy strategie…

1
The Honorary Psychology Role: 7 reasons it sparks debates 24:34

5M ago24:34

24:34

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. It's a controversial one where I discus the controversy surrounding honorary assistant psychologist roles. These positions involve unpaid work supporting qualified psychologists in hospitals, clinics, or research settings. I highlight seven reasons why these roles are con…

1
How To Recognize Clinically Relevant Themes in Play Therapy Sessions 40:02

5M ago40:02

40:02

How do I know what’s happening in my clients’ play therapy sessions? How do I know what’s important to notice and what’s not important in play therapy sessions? How do I know what my clients’ behaviors in play therapy sessions mean? These are often the questions asked by new play therapists. Anyone new to play therapy will have asked these question…

1
Working creatively as a psychologist with The Creative Clinical Psychologist - Dr Juliet Young 43:38

5M ago43:38

43:38

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 120: Working creatively in psychology with Dr Juliet Young Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, we speak with an already well-known creative figure, Dr Juliet Young, more widely known as creative clinical psycholog…

1
How Do Play Therapists Understand Themes in Play Therapy? 35:13

5M ago35:13

35:13

One of the biggest struggles for play therapists is understanding and recognizing themes in play therapy. Play therapists use themes in play therapy sessions to help them understand what’s going on with their clients and how they are progressing in play therapy. But, I’ve always wondered who decided what themes represent or how we recognize them in…

1
Navigating psychology from a wheelchair with complex pain 36:21

5M ago36:21

36:21

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 119: Navigating psychology from a wheelchair Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, we speak with Gavin Clarke, a previous guest on this podcast, where we discuss the complexity and spectrum of disability and types o…

1
Why Does Congruence Matter in Play Therapy? 40:35

5M ago40:35

40:35

What can neuroscience tell us about creating a strong therapeutic relationship that allows our clients to feel safe during the change process? 🤔 Congruence in play therapy is the ability to align our internal experiences with our external expressions of unconditional positive regard and empathy. Our resonance circuits, as termed by Daniel Siegel in…

1
Exploring LGBTQ+ Identity in Psychology 26:55

5M ago26:55

26:55

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 118: Exploring LGBTQ+ Identity in Psychology Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist podcast, we speak with Phil Pampoulou, a trainee clinical psychologist in his third year where we speak about all things on LGPBTQ+ identity …

1
What Are Barriers for Congruence in Play Therapy? 40:43

5M ago40:43

40:43

Congruence is such a nice sounding therapy word when thinking about how to be the best version of yourself in play therapy sessions. (I have visions of unicorns and happily ever after music playing in my head 🦄 🎶) Sounds so easy, right? But it’s easier said than done. No one can be 100% congruent with their clients (or their kids, or their partners…

1
How does Knitting improve mental health? 41:50

6M ago41:50

41:50

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 117: How does knitting benefit mental health? In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Dr. Mia Hobbs, a clinical psychologist and advocate for knitting for mental wellbeing. They discuss the therapeutic benefits of knitting and how it can improve men…

1
What are the Benefits of Formal Assessment in Play Therapy? 44:03

6M ago44:03

44:03

Have you ever had a client that just didn’t seem to make any progress in play therapy even with all your best efforts? What can you do to figure out what’s going on with your clients? Assessment is one of the core competencies in play therapy. There are some forms of assessment we can do as child/adolescent therapists, and some types of assessment …

1
How to become an Occupational Psychologist - Organisational Psychology 37:38

6M ago37:38

37:38

Show Notes for The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast Episode 116: What is an occupational psychologist? Organisational psychology Thank you for listening to the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast. In this episode of the Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, Dr. Marianne Trent interviews Joe Gray, a soon-to-be qualified occupational psychologist. They discuss the f…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Play Therapy Themes Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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