Apr 8, 2025
"Every part of us, even the ones we've been taught to reject, holds the potential for growth and healing." – Mili Shoemaker
Aggression in the playroom is a familiar topic—but what happens when it’s not coming from the child, but from within us as therapists? This is a conversation we rarely hear in the play therapy world, yet it’s a reality many therapists silently grapple with. In this eye-opening episode, Lisa sits down with Mili Shoemaker, a seasoned play therapist, Synergetic Play Therapy trainer, and clinical supervisor, to explore what it means when therapists feel their own aggression arise in session.
With honesty and compassion, Lisa and Mili unpack the discomfort, shame, and stigma that often accompany these experiences. They dive into the protective patterns that emerge when we try to suppress these feelings, and how true healing begins when we stop rejecting these parts of ourselves.
Together, Lisa and Mili explore:
✨ The taboo of therapist aggression – Why this
conversation is missing in the play therapy world and why it needs
to be heard.
✨ Recognizing therapist activation – How to notice when your own
history, protective mechanisms, and triggers show up in the
playroom.
✨ Befriending aggression – How shifting from judgment to curiosity
about our own aggressive parts creates deeper therapeutic
presence.
✨ Embodied expression vs. catharsis – Why aggression isn’t
something to suppress, but also isn’t about explosive release.
✨ The unmet needs beneath aggression – Understanding what these
feelings are signaling and how to meet them with
self-compassion.
✨ Breaking free from shame – How to reframe aggression as part of
our full humanity rather than something to fear or reject.
✨ Integration and authenticity – Why making space for all parts of
ourselves strengthens our ability to hold space for our
clients.
This episode is an invitation to step into a conversation that has been long overdue—to acknowledge, explore, and ultimately embrace a part of ourselves that holds the potential for healing and growth.
🔗 Tune in and take the next step toward deeper self-acceptance and authenticity in the playroom.
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💜 Learn More About Synergetic Play Therapy:
👉 Visit our website for courses, resources, and certification opportunities – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com
📚 Explore Our Books: Aggression in Play Therapy – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/books
🎧 Listen to Our Podcast: Lessons from the Playroom – www.synergeticplaytherapy.com/lessons-from-the-playroom/
✨ SPT Foundation: Learn more about it's mission, team and initiatives:
👉 https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/spt-foundation/
🔗 Connect with Us on Social Media:
- Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergeticplaytherapy/
- Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SynergeticPlayTherapyInstitute