The Play Rebels

Ep 10: The Surprising Connection between Play + Trauma

Episode Notes

Play and trauma are more related than you think. Is it curiosity or hypervigilance? Anxiety or excitement? 

In this episode of The Play Rebels, TJ shares her deep expertise in mental health to help you understand the relationship between trauma and play. 

Both trauma and play occur in moments of uncertainty. But cultural conditioning, relational impacts, and our own patterning can interrupt and fracture our play, especially when trauma occurs in moments of play. 

TJ shares her journey from divorce mediation back to clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of creating authenticity-based and liberation-based therapeutic interventions. 

The discussion includes practical insights on how to think about your own trauma (even if you think you don’t have any), ways to start small on your play practice to start feeling more joy, and strategies for navigating when trauma interrupts play.

Ready to get started? Learn your play personality by filling out our Play Compass for free here: 

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Episode Chapters 

00:00 The Importance of Play in Healing Trauma

02:57 Incorporating Play into Trauma Therapy

06:22 The Role of Uncertainty in Play and Trauma

15:59 Healing Through Play: Practical Steps

19:14 The Intersection of Play and Joy in Trauma Work

24:14 Starting Your Play-Based Healing Journey