Pondering Play and Therapy Podcast

In this episode of 'Pondering Play and Therapy,' host Philippa interviews Angela Griffith, a registered social worker and independent social care consultant with over 30 years of experience in children's social care. Angela discusses her journey in the sector, beginning in 1991, and the changes she has observed over the years. Angela highlights the importance of strong management in children's homes, the diverse...

In this episode of Pondering and Play Therapy, host Philippa Kelly interviews Charlotte Jenkins, founder of Beacon Family Services and co-founder of the app Looming and Us. Charlotte discusses her journey from a frustrated social worker to establishing innovative, play-based therapeutic solutions for families. She emphasises the importance of connection, nervous system regulation, and understanding the underlying causes of children...

In this episode of 'Pondering Play and Therapy,' the host converses with Jessica McLaughlin, a senior creative director with 20 years of experience in creating digital content for children. Jessica shares her accidental journey into children's media, her work at Find Your Fun Studios, and her new venture, Play Wise Labs. She discusses the intricacies of designing educational games, the importance of testing with chil...

In this episode of Pondering Play and Therapy, Philippa interviews Marguerite Hunter Blair, OBE, the Chief Executive of Play Scotland. Marguerite discusses her extensive career in advocating for children's play in Scotland and Northern Ireland, including her leadership in establishing the Scottish Play Commission, Scotland's Play Strategy, and the statutory duty for play in the Planning Scotland Act of 2019. She also spea...

Podcast Episode Description:

This week on the podcast, I'm joined by Marshall Lyles, an expert in using sand tray therapy to support children, adults, and families. Marshall shares his insightful experience on how this powerful therapy helps individuals explore their early experiences and better understand their present situations. We ponder the importance of approaching sand tray therapy with curiosity and openness, encouragin...

In this episode of 'Pondering Play and Therapy,' Philippa and Julie dive into the critical role of play within school environments. They discuss the decline in playtime availability over the years across primary, secondary, and nursery schools. They explore how therapists can collaborate with schools to support children's learning and well-being through play. The conversation highlights how play helps children learn,...

Podcast Description:
This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Colby Pearce, who shares his wealth of experience working with care-experienced families. Colby dives deep into the importance of attachment, emphasising that connection and consistency are the most crucial aspects. He also discusses the programs he's developed to support professionals in providing care that fosters resilience and aids in repairing the ef...

In this episode of Pondering Play and Therapy, hosts Julie and Philippa explore how poverty affects children's ability to engage in play. They discuss the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the definition of poverty, and the statistics concerning child poverty in the UK. They highlight the various barriers that impoverished families face, such as limited access to resources, social exclusion, and the inabili...

Welcome to this week's episode of Pondering Play and Therapy. Claire, a clinical service lead for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), joins the podcast to discuss childhood mental health, CBT, and the different services that can be accessed through CAMHS. Claire also discusses the different types of services and interventions that are offered, including inpatient, clinic, and early intervention services. 

In he...

In this week’s episode, hosts Philippa and Julie ponder the playful traditions that shape who we are—past and present. From cherished family games like cribbage and Rummy to the joyful, sometimes complex dance of blending new traditions in modern families, they explore how play weaves connection, identity, and belonging across generations.

Through personal stories, thoughtful metaphors, and reflections on adolescence, the episode u...

Podcast Episode Description:

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Mandy Jones, a skilled therapist, based in Chicago, who shares her expertise on the transformative power of play in therapy. Mandy discusses her unique approach, combining sand tray work and Theraplay, to help children and adults process and understand their trauma. She explains how these therapeutic techniques foster emotional healing and support the parent-c...

In this episode of 'Pondering Play and Therapy,' hosts Julie and Philippa discuss the significant reduction of play spaces for children and teenagers within communities affected by poverty and deprivation. Reflecting on changes over the past 10-15 years, they explore how budget cuts and austerity measures have led to the loss of essential community resources like parks, youth clubs, and play schemes. The discussion emphas...

Welcome to Pondering Play and Therapy, the podcast where we ponder the worlds of play, passion, and personal growth. In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Tilly and her mum, Sarah, to explore Tilly’s inspiring journey as an international cheerleading athlete. At just 14 years old, Tilly became the youngest member of an international cheerleading team, and today, she’s sharing the highs, the challenges, and the incr...

Podcast Description:

This week, we are pondering the fascinating world of play—specifically, can play be learned? Over the past few weeks and months of recording, we've been reflecting on how play happens with children, babies and adults. We’ll start by looking at the early stages of life—how even before birth, the unborn child begins to interact with the world around them. From there, we'll explore how play unfolds in ear...

It was an honour to interview Dr Mayers and hear about her journey to becoming a clinical psychologist. She talked about her experience of play and the importance of having toys, books and figures in psychology to support her aspirations. She gave a beautiful insight into her childhood growing up in the west midlands, in a big family and how she and her siblings continue the traditions of play.

Dr Mayers has a private practice, and ...

Podcast Episode Description:

In this week’s episode, Philippa and Julie ponder the role that everyday things can play in fostering connection and playfulness within families. They explore how simple, daily moments can create meaningful rituals, promote connection, and offer a playful approach to life. Sharing personal stories from their own families, they discuss how incorporating playfulness into the ordinary can help with emotiona...

In today's episode, Philippa interviews Vicki, the founder of Little City, which is a mobile role-play centre for little people. She shares her love of Sylvanian families and how she wanted to move away from corporate life and spend more time with her children and family.

Vicki shares the excitement that little people get from role-playing real-life experiences, and how this develops connection and shared joy with parents, care...

Welcome to this week’s episode of Pondering Play and Therapy, where Julie and Philippa think about an important and often difficult topic—child-to-parent violence. In today’s episode, we explore the complex relationship between a child’s anger, rage, and violence, and how these behaviors can fit into the broader context of their development. While it’s normal for children to experience intense emotions at different stages of their ...

Philippa's guest for this episode is Venny, who shares her experience as a foster carer and how important play is when fostering. She also has stepchildren, birth children, and a huge amount of, grandchildren, at least two football teams worth of grandchildren, along with, her husband, Brian, and they've been foster carers for 13 years. She shares how she has noticed the huge role play has in fostering, especially when ca...