Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training

11/28/2025

Ever had a moment in the playroom where your client builds the exact same scene for the third play therapy session in a row — and you just know something deeper is happening? 🧐

That’s the magic (and mystery) of play themes.

Recognizing play therapy themes isn’t about decoding or over-analyzing — it’s about tuning in to the patterns that whisper what the nervous system is trying to say.

👉 The toys they gravitate toward.
👉 The stories that keep repeating.

👉 The way their energy shifts when you step closer or stay quiet.

Each of those moments is data. Emotional data. Neurobiological data. Attachment data.

When you track play therapy themes over time — and ground your interpretations in your play therapy model — you start to see the story of healing unfold right in front of you. 💫

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I really recognize play themes and make sense of them clinically?” — this carousel is for you.

✨ Swipe through for practical tips + perspective shifts that’ll help you feel more confident in recognizing and using play themes in your sessions.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, check out my free resources and courses at Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training —

I’ll help you bridge the art and science of play therapy so your sessions feel more intentional and grounded. 🌿

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/28/2025

When 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 at how sand tray therapy taps into the implicit memories stored beneath language —

The attachment patterns, emotional imprints, and unspoken stories that surface symbolically before they ever become verbal.

If you’ve ever felt goosebumps watching a client create a scene that “says everything without saying anything,” this one’s for you.

✨ Let’s nerd out together about how neuroscience helps play therapists understand how healing happens inside that little wooden box filled with sand and miniatures.

Join me and I’ll share how your theoretical lens using neuroscience and attachment theory points the way toward deeper understanding of the power of the sand tray in play therapy. I’ll also discuss three ways using the sand tray in play therapy helps children heal.

When 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 at how sand tray therapy taps into the implicit memories stored beneath language — The attachment patterns, emot...

11/27/2025

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and connected Thanksgiving holiday.

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/26/2025

🎉 Black Friday is almost here, Play Therapist Edition is Coming! 🎉

Before you dive into holiday chaos, take a deep breath and ask yourself —

what if this was the year you finally felt confident about your play therapy documentation?

No more late-night progress note marathons.

No more second-guessing what to write so it sounds like you’re doing more than just playing.

Just clear, theory-aligned play therapy documentation that actually reflects your clinical brilliance.

✨ The Play Therapy Documentation Bundle gives you:
📘 3 self-paced online play therapy courses
🧩 A step-by-step framework for case conceptualization, treatment planning, and progress notes

Because you deserve to rest easy this season — and start 2026 with a clean slate (and a calm nervous system).

🗓️ Sale ends December 1, 2025

Don’t wait — your future self will thank you.

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/25/2025

Ever had a moment in the playroom where your client builds the exact same scene for the third play therapy session in a row — and you just know something deeper is happening? 🧐

That’s the magic (and mystery) of .

Recognizing themes isn’t about decoding or over-analyzing — it’s about tuning in to the patterns that whisper what the nervous system is trying to say.

👉 The toys they gravitate toward.
👉 The stories that keep repeating.

👉 The way their energy shifts when you step closer or stay quiet.

Each of those moments is data. Emotional data. Neurobiological data. Attachment data.

When you track play therapy themes over time — and ground your interpretations in your play therapy model — you start to see the story of healing unfold right in front of you. 💫

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I really recognize play themes and make sense of them clinically?” — this carousel is for you.

✨ Swipe through for practical tips + perspective shifts that’ll help you feel more confident in recognizing and using play themes in your sessions.

And if you’re ready to go deeper, check out my free resources and courses at Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training —

I’ll help you bridge the art and science of so your sessions feel more intentional and grounded. 🌿

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/24/2025

Ever notice how confusing case conceptualization and treatment planning can feel for play therapists? 😩

I see it all the time—so many voices, so many opinions:

💬 “You don’t need case conceptualization. Just trust your intuition.”
💬 “You must follow a rigid formula. Focus on the symptoms and fix them fast.”

No wonder so many play therapists feel lost!

After 15+ years of play therapy supervision and consultation, here’s what I’ve consistently seen 👇

➡️ Play therapists skipping a thorough psychosocial assessment in the very first session.

And that’s where the derailment begins.

Because when your foundation is shaky, your case conceptualization and treatment planning go off track like a train with no rails.

Then suddenly you’re sitting in play therapy session thinking,
“Wait… what’s actually happening with this client?”
“Am I even helping?”

Cue the imposter syndrome spiral. 😬

But here’s the truth:
When you take time to build that foundation—starting with a solid psychosocial assessment—you finally have the clarity to answer:

💡 What works best for my client?
💡 And how do I figure that out?

That’s when play therapy treatment planning becomes intentional instead of reactive—
and your confidence (and your clients’ progress) starts to soar. 🚀

Want to learn more about using play therapy with your clients?

Check out my website for information about online play therapy courses to take your play therapy skills to the next level!

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/22/2025

Ever sat with a client and their sand tray and thought, “Okayyyy… what does this mean?”

Totally normal — our brains love answers.

But the moment we force meaning, we risk missing the deeper wisdom unfolding right in front of us in the playroom.

When we hold the sand tray like a story still being written, we create safety for clients to reveal… or simply be.

You’re not decoding — you’re witnessing.

You’re not labeling — you’re attuning.

Real talk:
Curiosity > certainty. Always.

Come explore how to “hold” sand trays in play therapy without rushing interpretation at the December 6–7, 2025 deep-dive play therapy training.

With a neuroscience and attachment framework guiding your work, you’ll finally feel grounded and confident in how you use sand tray therapy to facilitate healing.

Using a Neuroscience & Attachment Lens with Sand Tray in Play Therapy
📍 St. George, UT | Dec 6–7, 2025
Registration closes December 04, 2025

✨ Limited to just 12 play therapists so you get personalized attention in a relaxed learning environment.

Hop over to my website to register today!

Write in the Comments and I’ll message you the link. You can also message me for the link.

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/21/2025

Power. Protection. Safety. Control.

These play therapy themes show up in every play therapy model, including in the sand tray — but not every child wants them named out loud.

And that’s okay.

Sometimes the most therapeutic thing we can do is simply notice… and wait.

The nervous system organizes its story over time.

We don’t force meaning; we make space for it.

Your play therapy theoretical lens will guide when you reflect, when you explore, and when you simply anchor.

Want hands-on practice identifying + holding themes?

Check out my website for information about play therapy training - Using a Neuroscience & Attachment Lens with Sand Tray in Play Therapy.

📍 St. George, UT | Dec 6–7, 2025
Registration closes December 04, 2025

✨ Limited to just 12 play therapists so you get personalized attention in a relaxed learning environment.

Hop over to my website to register today!

Write in the Comments and I’ll message you the link. You can also message me for the link.

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/21/2025

Sand Tray Therapy vs. Sandplay Therapy: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters for Play Therapists

Ever 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 yourlens—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. 💫

Sand 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 thin...

11/20/2025

Your sand tray deserves a glow-up. ✨

Forget the random mix of dollar-store dragons and missing fences — it’s time for a collection that feels grounded, balanced, and truly beneficial for your clients.

Inside my free guide, Must-Have Sand Tray Miniatures, you’ll get:
🪄 A breakdown of miniature types that support emotional healing and storytelling
📦 Easy-to-follow ideas for organizing your minis so clients feel calm and focused
💸 Creative places to find quality figures without overspending

You don’t need more miniatures — just the right ones.

🎁 Download the free guide and give your sand tray the refresh it deserves.
Hop over to my website to download your copy today!

Write in the Comments and I’ll message you the link. You can also message me for the link.

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com

11/19/2025

Imagine walking into each play therapy session with the confidence that you are truly making a difference.

No more imposter syndrome.

No more second-guessing. Just you, your skills, and the knowledge that you’re helping children and adolescents on their healing journey.

Play Therapy Academy is a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive online program designed to guide child and adolescent mental health professionals, like you, to become skilled experts in the world of play therapy.

Through online group consultations and a library of self-paced courses, you’ll learn how to navigate every stage of change with clarity and understand what’s unfolding in your sessions—allowing you to approach each case with knowledge and purpose.

If you're ready to deepen your skills and create meaningful change in the lives of your young clients, hop over to the Supervision page on my website to learn more!

I’m offering a free 30-minute video call to discuss how Play Therapy Academy can help you achieve your goal to use play therapy like an expert to help your clients heal.

Let’s chat about how to equip you with everything you need to help children heal. 💖

Write in the Comments and I’ll send you a link to schedule your free 30-minute video call to see how Play Therapy Academy can be the map you’ve been looking for.

Feel free to message me for the link for more information!

Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training
Rhplaytherapytraining.com