Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training

12/30/2025

As you’re reflecting on the previous year and thinking about what you’d like to accomplish in 2026, maybe it’s time to rethink your approach to working with parents.

Are you checking-in with parents at the last 5 - 10 minutes of the session (while the child is present or waiting in the lobby)?

Or maybe you’re texting and emailing clinical information between sessions to keep parents updated?

These two strategies will probably work for highly motivated and attuned parents, but it’s not likely to build a strong foundation of trust so parents will make the changes you recommend.

Do you feel like you’re chasing parents down to get them to schedule a parent session with you leaving you feeling drained and frustrated/

These are all signs that you probably need to rethink your approach to working with parents.

Parents are a key part of a child’s life to create a secure attachment relationship, 👇

So why wouldn’t we focus on finding ways to create a strong foundation of trust with parents to support them as we help them learn effective ways to support their child? 🤔

How do you support parents and build a strong foundation of trust with them? Post in the comments.

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

Check out my website for information about play therapy training, membership programs, and free resources!

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

12/29/2025

Like any good play therapist when I want a second opinion about something, I consult Dr. Google which now has the added superpower of AI. 🤯

So that’s exactly what I did when I was exploring the concept of what it means to create a “sacred space” in play therapy.

The holidays always make me think of the deeper spiritual things of life.

I’m a huge fan of getting down deep into the meaning of words and how we’re using them when talking about play therapy.

According to Dr. AI Google 🤓, creating a safe space in play therapy means play therapists 👇

“create a safe, confidential environment where the client can openly share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment, allowing them to deeply explore their experiences and emotions in a supportive and respectful setting, essentially treating the therapeutic space as a protected and important area for personal growth and healing.
Dr. AI Google provided the following key aspects of "holding a sacred space":
Unconditional positive regard: Accepting the client fully, regardless of their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Active listening: Paying close attention to what the client is saying, both verbally and nonverbally.
Empathy and compassion: Understanding and relating to the client's experiences from their perspective.
Non-judgmental attitude: Avoiding criticism or trying to fix the client's problems.
Confidentiality: Protecting the privacy of the client's information.
Pretty cool right?! Play therapist values in a nutshell!

What are your thoughts about what it means to create a sacred space for healing in play therapy and how you create this sacred space? Post in the comments or message me.

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

Check out my website for information about play therapy training and free resources!

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

12/28/2025

One of my favorite things about Christmas is spending time with my family. It was awesome having our oldest son with us for a few days.

12/26/2025

As play therapists, we witness the tiniest shifts that most people would miss — slower breathing, softer eyes, a new willingness to trust.

Those moments matter.

They’re the quiet evidence that change is happening beneath the surface.

Celebrate them all. ✨

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

Check out my website for information about play therapy training, membership programs, and free resources!

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

12/25/2025

Happy holidays!! I’ve decided to take two weeks off to spend the holiday season focusing on my family.

So – I went back into my livestream vault and found this oldie but goodie!

Check out this podcast discussing some interesting information I gleaned from research and what it means for play therapists.

How does being trained to use a specific play therapy model influence clinical decision-making vs clinical decision-making of child/adolescent therapists using play in therapy?

Hmmmmm. What the heck does that question even mean?

Essentially clinical decision-making involves our expertise and training in a play therapy model and how play therapists engage in the decision-making process to get excellent treatment results for their clients.

Is the clinical decision-making skill level of play therapists who are trained to use specific play therapy models better than child/adolescent therapists not trained who are using play in sessions?

A study by Baker-Ericzen, Jenkins, Park, and Garland (2015) explored the quality of clinical decision-making for child/adolescent therapists who were trained in an evidence-based treatment model (EBT) versus therapists who were not.

This study- Clinical Decision-Making in Community Children’s Mental Health: Using Innovative Methods to Compare Clinicians With and Without Training in Evidence-Based Treatment 👇🏼

Had some interesting results.

I’ll discuss the findings of their study and how it relates to play therapy.

There are several play therapy models considered to be EBT models, so this study provides some interesting points for child and adolescent therapists to consider when working with children using play.

Join me for this free podcast!

Happy holidays!!  I’ve decided to take two weeks off to spend the holiday season focusing on my family.So – I went back into my livestream vault and found this oldie but goodie!Check out this podcast discussing some interesting information I ...

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

May you experience the joy and peace of the season.

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

12/24/2025

On the eve of Christmas we take time to be with loved ones – wishing you peace, joy, and comfort this Christmas season.

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

12/23/2025

May this season remind you of the incredible healing work you do — and may you feel the same peace, joy, and connection you help cultivate in others all year long.

Merry Christmas ✨

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

12/22/2025

Your play therapy theoretical model should be the backstage crew running the entire play therapy production — not a dusty binder from grad school.

When you really understand your play therapy model, you stop relying on random play therapy activities or Pinterest panic grabs.

Instead, you start making choices grounded in a theoretical model and knowing how to apply it in real time – that’s where the real change process happens.

Most therapists never get trained on how to use their model with intention — which is why sessions can feel scattered or overwhelming.

But when you learn to use your model to guide pacing, interpret themes, hold boundaries, and support regulation?

Your confidence becomes unshakeable — because your work is anchored in something solid.

If you're ready to deepen your skills and create meaningful change in the lives of your young clients, Play Therapy Academy can show you how.

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

12/21/2025

A play therapy model isn’t just a cute checkbox for your website bio.

It’s supposed to guide your moment-to-moment decisions, from attunement to interpretation to pacing to closure.

When you only know the play therapy model in theory, play therapy sessions feel chaotic and you end up guessing your way through treatment.

But when you use your play therapy model to track progress, understand what’s happening in play therapy sessions, and choose play therapy activities intentionally?

Everything becomes clearer — patterns, themes, and next steps.

That’s the kind of clarity that helps you show up with grounded confidence instead of session-by-session anxiety.

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

Check out my website for information about play therapy training, membership programs, and free resources!

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

12/21/2025

Sign #5: You lack a repeatable, end-to-end system

( 5 Signs You're as a Struggling Play Therapist Who Needs a Clear Roadmap for Play Therapy )