Welcome to playful beginnings. Within this podcast, Dr. Kristie Opiola and Dr. Maggie Parker explore the magic of play therapy, the why behind what we do, and how play therapy helps children heal and grow. This podcast is helpful for current play therapists, students and professionals interested in working with children or becoming play therapists, and anyone who is interested in creating transformative relationships with ch ...
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Maggie and Kristie share how they explain play therapy, how it aligns with child development, and the importance of the relationship. Listeners will gain a greater understanding of what play therapy is, how it aligns to adult therapy, and some of the differences between being a play therapist and someone who works with children.
Kristie and Maggie explore what initially spiked their interest in play therapy. They share their experiences in school, how it facilitated their perspective of children, and meaningful experiences in play therapy. Maggie and Kristie share stories of their first play sessions as well as the ones that really showed the power of play for children. This episode will help listeners understand what play therapy is, why it is important, and how it assists children in their healing journey. Whether you want to be a play therapist or you are wondering if your child should go to play therapy, this episode will share the magic of play therapy.
In this episode, Kristie and Maggie discuss their ideal playroom, what the room would look like, and do a deep dive into their thought processes and rationale for including and excluding items such as tents, puppet theaters, and rugs. We also discuss how to adapt rooms to meet the child's needs- and how you can adapt any space into a play therapy space- because we've done it all! From janitors closets to making our own kitchens out of refrigerator boxes, we explore ways to provide space and materials for children to express themselves fully.
In this episode, Maggie and Kristie explore the categories of toys in a Child Centered Play room and their reasonings for being included. They discuss ways to set up the toys and the purpose behind each category and type of toy. This episode can assist play therapists and professionals interested in setting up their own playroom or those who want to adapt theirs to Child Centered. This episode can also help parents better understand what Play therapy is and how their kids play in the space.
