Villains, Heroes, and the Complexity of Play Therapy (Best Of)

Original Air Date: January 02, 2024 Get ready to embrace the playful—and profound—world of villains in therapy! In this episode, Lisa Dion is joined by the amazing Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT, RPT-S, as they explore how villain characters can offer clients a unique lens to understand themselves, their struggles, and their identities. Together, they dive into why villains aren't "bad" or diagnosable, how heroes rely on their counterparts, and how children often see reflections of themselves in both roles. What You'll Learn: Why villains are complex characters with their own narratives and motivations The indispensable role villains play in our lives and personal growth How perspective shapes our labeling of heroes and villains, challenging binary thinking The connection between a child's self-perception and their attraction to hero or villain characters Practical tools, including sand tray figures and dress-up items, to explore duality in therapy How to follow the client's lead, honoring their expertise in identifying with heroes or villains This episode encourages curiosity, self-reflection, and celebration of all the parts within us. Join Lisa and Maria to challenge binary thinking and discover how understanding both heroes and villains can enrich your play therapy practice and personal growth. Additional Resources: 💜 Learn more about Synergetic Play Therapy: Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities 📚 Explore Our Books and Read Aggression in Play Therapy ✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about its mission, team, and initiatives 🔗

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Villains, Heroes, and the Complexity of Play Therapy (Best Of) is an episode from Lessons from the Playroom by Lisa Dion.

This episode is 42:53 long.

This episode was published on Dec 16, 2025.

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