Next Level Play Therapy: A Podcast for Play Therapy Excellence

Sand Tray Therapy: Should You Interpret a Child’s Play? (3 Things to Consider)

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailYou just know what your client’s sand tray means… but should you say it?In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest clinical ...

Virtual Play Therapy Explained: Tools, Tips & Platforms for Play Therapists

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailVirtual play therapy isn’t the future anymore… it’s already here.But let’s be real for a second—Most platforms weren’t bui...

Sand Tray Therapy: How to Identify Themes in a Play Therapy Session

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailHow do you identify themes in sand tray therapy sessions?One of the most important skills for play therapists is learning how to recog...

Play Therapy Assessment Explained: How to Know If Your Play Therapy Sessions Are Working

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailYou can have the most beautiful playroom… the best toys… even strong rapport…But if you’re not assessing what’s actually hap...

Case Conceptualization in Play Therapy: Why You Feel Stuck (and How to Fix It)

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailAre you feeling stuck in your play therapy sessions… unsure what to do next or why your play therapy interventions aren’t working?...

How to Use Attachment-Based Sand Tray Therapy with Teens

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailWhat do you do after you’ve identified the symptoms in a struggling teen?Failing grades. Emotional withdrawal. “I don’t care.”...

Play Therapy with Adolescents: Why Teen Symptoms Are Easy to Misread

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us Fan MailWhat do you do when a 16-year-old walks into your office, shrugs, and says, “I don’t care”?Low motivation. Failing grades. Emoti...

Sand Tray Therapy with Teens: How to Use It Effectively in Play Therapy

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textCan you really use sand tray therapy with adolescents?Absolutely—and when you understand how to adapt it developmentally, sand tray becom...

How to Use Poetry with Teens in Play Therapy for Self-Expression

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis week I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to help teens access the therapeutic powers of play using poetry.Yes - poetry!If you’re r...

Best Strategies to Use Play Therapy with Teens

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textPlay therapy isn’t for adolescents.  It’s just for little kids.There’s a misbelief in the mental health community that play therapy ...

Can Play Therapy Work with Teens?

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textEver sit across from a teen in session, clock ticking, silence screaming… and your nervous system quietly panicking?Yeah. This episode is...

What’s the Difference Between Play Therapy and Using Play in Therapy?

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textHappy International Play Therapy Week! 🎉What is play therapy—and how is it different from simply using games and activities in therapy...

How to Increase Play Therapy Impact & Reduce Burnout

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMore Impact. Less Burnout. isn’t a cute slogan. It’s a line in the sand.Because here’s the truth most play therapists won’t say ...

How to Get Better Results in Play Therapy Without Doing More

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat if better results in play therapy didn’t come from more play therapy activities, more games, or more play therapy training — bu...

How Does Consultation Improve Play Therapist Growth?

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a mental health professional, including play therapy, we’ve all heard this said and probably even said it ourselves:consul...

If Being a Play Therapist Feels Lonely, This Is for You

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textA New Year Is a Chance to Stop Doing Play Therapy Alone.A new year begins… and for many play therapists, your caseloads are already f...

How to Use AutPlay Therapy with Neurodivergent Kids

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHelping Neurodivergent Kids Thrive in the Playroom: A Conversation with Dr. Robert Jason GrantEvery month inside Play Therapy Academy an...

What is Case Conceptualization in Play Therapy?

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text🎁 Pulled from the Vault: An Oldie but GoodieI’m officially taking a break this holiday season — slowing down, soaking up family t...

What Are Best Practices in Play Therapy for Clinical Decision-Making?

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHappy holidays!!  I’ve decided to take two weeks off to spend the holiday season focusing on my family.So – I went back into my liv...

Music Therapy for Healing Trauma & Grief in Play Therapy

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text🎶 This Week’s Podcast: How Music Helps Kids Heal — A Heartfelt Conversation with Crystal Luk-WorrallIf you’ve ever watched a ch...

Basic Skills Using Sand Tray Effectively in Play Therapy

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’ve ever wondered how to set up a sand tray during play therapy sessions in a way that feels intentional, grounded, and supporti...

How to Write Meaningful Play Therapy Treatment Plans

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf I say play therapy treatment plans, what’s the first thing that pops into your brain?“Aaaaagh! I hate writing treatment plans! Th...

How Does the Sand Tray Help Clients in Play Therapy?

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen kids can’t find the words, the sand tray speaks for them in play therapy sessions.In this week’s podcast episode, we’ll look ...

How to Use Sand Tray in Play Therapy

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textSand Tray Therapy vs. Sandplay Therapy: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters for Play TherapistsEver find yourself wondering, “...

4 Sand Tray Activities for Family Play Therapy Sessions

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI love love love using sand tray therapy in family play therapy sessions!Watching how families approach and complete the activities prov...

How to Use Sand Tray in Family Play Therapy Sessions?

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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? 🙃...

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

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text3 Hidden Mistakes Sabotaging Your Family Play Therapy Sessions“Let’s invite the parents in…”Sounds simple, right? But if you’...

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

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 the...

Play Therapy with Parents | 5 Essential Tips for Family Play Therapy Sessions

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a text🚨 5 Signs You Might Be Accidentally Sabotaging Your Play Therapy Progress (and What to Do Instead)If you’re a play therapist who’...

Is Individual Play Therapy Better Than Family Play Therapy?

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe norm in play therapy, and the mental health profession in general, is to meet with a child or teen every week for individual counsel...

What to Do If Play Therapy Progress is Stalled

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a play therapist – either a newbie, got some experience under your belt, or full on seasoned play therapist – this is bo...

Should Parents Participate in Play Therapy Sessions?

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHow many of you have had this happen with play therapy clients (raise your virtual hand in the Comments) –You greet your client in the...

How Do Play Therapists Decide When to Include Parents in Play Therapy Sessions?

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever had this happen with a play therapy client?You greet your young client in the lobby and your client asks – “Can my mom...

What Are the Top Mistakes Play Therapists Make Working with Parents?

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRaise your virtual hand and shout YES! if you never make mistakes and you are the perfect play therapist who does everything right all t...

How to Conceptualize the Role of Parents in Play Therapy

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat’s one of the biggest struggles play therapists say causes them to feel anxious, incompetent, frustrated, and generally overwhelme...

How To Talk to Parents About Difficult Issues in Play Therapy

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen I talk with play therapists about reasons they avoid having difficult conversations with parents/caregivers, here's the most c...

What is Best Practice in Play Therapy Clinical Decision-Making

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHow does being trained to use a specific play therapy model influence clinical decision-making vs clinical decision-making of child/adol...

How to Work with Resistance in Play Therapy: 4 Approaches for Reluctant Clients

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat do you do when you keep getting frantic phone calls from caregivers between play therapy sessions telling you all the things going ...

How to Avoid Burnout and Create Meaningful Change in Play Therapy

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever thought to yourself when it’s just you and you’ve had a hard day - “I wish I had someone to help me process what jus...

Why Collecting More Play Therapy Activities Is Keeping You Stuck (And What Actually Creates Client Breakthroughs)"

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a play therapist - Do you find yourself doing any of these?  👇 🙄 Constantly searching for new activities online 🙄...

How To Tell If Clients Are Just Playing in Play Therapy

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIs this just a flower… or a window into healing using play therapy?How do you know if your client is ‘just playing’ or doing deep ...

What Are the Benefits of Play Therapy with Traumatized Kids?

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever thought to yourself - I have no idea how play therapy actually helps my traumatized client heal?Then I’ve got good news ...

Is There a Best Approach for Play Therapy with Traumatized Kids?

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThere is no such thing as the best approach for play therapy with traumatized kids.What????!!!!  😱Searching for the ONE approach tha...

How to Use Play Therapy Interventions to Get Great Results in Play Therapy

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEver felt like your playroom is bursting with supplies… You’ve got the latest toy, fidget, slime, sand tray miniature, art supplies...

How to Make Progress in Play Therapy When You’re Feeling Stuck

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever felt like your client doesn’t seem to be making progress and you’ve tried everything to get back on track?You looked t...

How to Tell If Play Therapy Is Working by These 5 Signs

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWe’re diving into a question that lives rent-free in the minds of even the most seasoned play therapists:“Is this actually working?”...

5 Mistakes Every Play Therapist Makes (And How to Grow from Them)

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever had the sinking feeling after a session and thought you blew it bad?If that’s ever been you… welcome to the club. And...

How Do You Create a Sacred Space in Play Therapy for Healing?

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhen I first heard the term “wounded healer” I wasn’t sure it was a good thing.I pictured in my head some of the people I’ve com...

What Does It Mean to Create a Sacred Space for Children in Play Therapy?

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWe often hear the notion of the play therapy process and the need to hold a sacred space for healing in play therapy.But, what the heck ...

Tips to Recognize Themes in Play Therapy with Traumatized Children

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textRecognizing themes in play therapy sessions is an important part of being a play therapist because it influences how you make sense of w...

3 Favorite Play Therapy Activities to Use with Traumatized Children & Teens

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLet’s get creative!  Play therapy activity ideas to help traumatized children and teens healIf you’re a play therapist or child/ado...

Tips for Maximizing Results Using Play Therapy to Heal Trauma

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textLearning more play therapy activities isn’t enough to help children heal.If you talk to the experts in the field of any mental health ...

How to Use an Integrative Play Therapy Model with Traumatized Children & Teens

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat’s the best approach to using play therapy with traumatized children and teens?If you’re a play therapist or child/adolescent me...

What’s the Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Adolescent Suicidality?

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIs there a connection between suicide ideation in adolescence for children who have experienced trauma?We know from the research that tr...

5 Components to Create a Safe Space for Healing Trauma in Play Therapy

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textThe last several years of neuroscience research has shown mental health professionals how to better understand the role of autonomic ner...

Play Therapy with Children & Teens Experiencing Eating Problems

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever had a client present to your office and you were kind of stumped about what to do?Me too.  I’ve totally been there.The ...

Does Case Conceptualization Matter in Play Therapy?

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI’ve heard it said by mental health professionals and play therapists that case conceptualization doesn’t really matter when you’r...

What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy?

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textBoost Parental Involvement in Play Therapy with Attachment & Neuroscience StrategiesIf you’re a play therapist or child/adolescent...

How Play Therapists Can Avoid Burnout

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs play therapists, we are often the ones who sit with stories of pain, loss, and struggle—walking alongside our clients during their ...

Want to Be Part of a Play Therapy Community?

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAre you part of a play therapy community?Are you the only play therapist in your agency?One of the things I hear ALL the time from membe...

How to Develop Culturally-Informed Play Therapy Case Conceptualization

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHow good are you at identifying the role of culture in the problems your clients are experiencing?Have you considered the resiliency fac...

How to Get Great Results in Play Therapy

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat does clinical case conceptualization in play therapy mean and does it really matter? 🙄Case conceptualization is your ability to ...

How to Write Great Play Therapy Documentation Quickly and Easily

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat’s your least favorite part about providing play therapy services to your clients?Let me tune into my mind reading skills to read ...

Why do you need strong Case Conceptualization skills for play therapy?

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMost therapists I talk with, including play therapists, want to get straight to helping their clients during the very first session so t...

What skills are needed to be a play therapist?

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat does it mean to be a play therapist and what skills are needed to provide play therapy?Understanding fundamental principles for pla...

What is Bias in Play Therapy?

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textMental health professionals are human beings who bring all of themselves into the counseling process to walk alongside their clients in ...

4 Basic Skills for Play Therapists

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat are the four basic play therapy skills every play therapist needs to master to competently provide play therapy that gets real resu...

What’s the Backbone of Great Play & Expressive Arts Therapy?

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat’s the Backbone of Great Play & Expressive Arts Therapy?Any really great therapist will tell you that one the foundational ele...

Clinical Decision-Making in Play Therapy: What’s in Your Toolbox?

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat are the clinical tools in your play therapy and expressive arts toolbox and how do you use those tools effectively with your young ...

Is Sandplay Therapy Effective?

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDoes sand tray therapy in play therapy work?  What’s the difference between sandplay therapy and sand tray therapy?  Aren’t they t...

How to Help Bereaved Children in Play Therapy

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textChildren feel grief deeply and their grieving process looks different depending on a variety of factors, including their age and develop...

Can Children Heal in Play Therapy without Parents?

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat’s the best way to make the biggest and most long-lasting impact using play therapy?After all, that’s the goal of play therapy -...

What’s the Secret to Use Family Play Therapy Confidently?

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textUsually when I suggest play therapists use family play therapy sessions, their facial expression says it all.Anxious, surprised, overwhe...

How to Engage Challenging Parents in Play Therapy

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a play therapist or work with children and adolescents in the mental health field, then you know children do not exist in th...

How to Build Strong Rapport in Play Therapy

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhile I believe that learning a play therapy model so you can effectively apply the model with a variety of children through all the sta...

Using Play Therapy to Help Children with Anger Problems

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textEmotion regulation problems, such as anger outbursts, are a big reason parents seek counseling for their children.Parents aren’t sure ...

What’s the Best Approach for Play Therapy?

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a child and adolescent therapist, it’s probably because you want to make a difference in the lives of children.That’s wh...

What is Bibliotherapy in Play Therapy?

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat the heck does bibliotherapy mean?It’s a really fancy term for using stories to help clients heal.Most play therapists incorporate...

How to Create Your Sand Tray Miniature Collection

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE using sand tray therapy with my clients of all ages.  I’m obsessed with it because I’ve witnessed the p...

Best Ever Sand for Sand Tray Therapy!

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWondering how to find great sand to use for sand tray therapy with NO DUST?One of the most challenging things about using sand tray ther...

What Kind of Sand Tray Miniatures Are Best

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat kind of sand tray miniatures do you need?Are there miniatures that are better than others so your clients get what they need in you...

How to Provide Sand Tray Therapy in Play Therapy

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you heard of sand tray therapy?How do you provide sand tray therapy?What do you need to provide sand tray therapy with clients?If y...

How Do Play Therapists Understand Themes in Play Therapy?

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOne of the biggest struggles for play therapists is understanding and recognizing themes in play therapy.Play therapists use themes in p...

Identifying Play Dynamics in Play Therapy

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHow do you make sense of what’s going on in play therapy sessions and figure out if your clients are making progress?This is a questio...

How To Develop Culturally-Informed Play Therapy Case Conceptualization

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHow good are you at identifying the role of culture in the problems your clients are experiencing?Have you considered the resiliency fac...

How To Use Neuroscience & Attachment Theory in Play Therapy to Heal Trauma

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textI discovered neuroscience and attachment theory as a play therapist about 15 years ago and was immediately a fan because I recognized ho...

How To Take a Strategic Approach to Play Therapy with Traumatized Children

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever wondered which approach works best with children who are traumatized?Or maybe you’ve wondered what techniques are used i...

What is Sand Tray Therapy?

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a play therapist you’ve probably heard of sand tray therapy.Maybe you’re using  sand tray therapy now with your child a...

How to Engage Reluctant Parents in Play Therapy

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave you ever felt super frustrated trying to get engagement from parents for their child’s play therapy treatment?Feeling like you ar...

What Are the Current Trends and Growth in the Field of Play Therapy?

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf 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 i...

What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy with Anxious Children?

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIn the play therapy profession, the focus is typically on the children and providing play therapy sessions only with the child to facili...

How to Balance Case Conceptualization, Treatment Planning, and Therapeutic Relationship in Play Therapy

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textAs a play therapist or child/adolescent therapist, 👇Have you ever thought there is no way to balance a strong therapeutic relationshi...

How to Work with High Conflict Families in Play Therapy

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf you’re a play therapist then you’ve probably had children from high conflict divorced families on your caseload at some point, or...

How Can the AAI Be Used in Play Therapy to Create Secure Attachments?

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textOne of the things I regularly hear from play therapists is their frustration knowing what is the most effective way to work with parents...

How to Set Up Play Therapy for Success

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textFrom an attachment theory standpoint, structure is an important part of parenting.It helps children understand relationship boundaries, ...

What is Imposter Syndrome in Play Therapy?

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textIf 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 ...

How to Get Unstuck in Play Therapy

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textHave 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 ...

How Do You Know if Play Therapy Works?

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textWhat’s the point of learning to recognize themes in play therapy sessions?Does it really matter?Play therapists often talk about what ...

How Can Play Therapy Heal Preverbal Trauma?

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textDo children who’ve experienced trauma prior to developing language have the capacity to remember what happened to them?Does the trauma...

What Are the Best Play Therapy Techniques for Connection

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send us a textUsing play therapy effectively requires child and adolescent therapists to know how to use a theoretical play therapy model to access th...