Tammi's New Play Therapy & Sandtray Page

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09/07/2026

Battling with Boundaries

Pool-noodle sword fighting can be a powerful play therapy activity for sensory input, boundaries, safety & regulation.

The rules matter:
⚔️ Start every battle by tapping swords: 1, 2, 3… FIGHT!
- Heads, necks & private parts are safe zones.
- Each person chooses a nearby safe/reset space. Touch or enter it → everyone FREEZES.
- Another adult (therapist, parent) can also call “RESET!” at any time.
- After EVERY reset, the battle can only begin again with 1, 2, 3… FIGHT!

That last part is important. We’re not just giving kids permission to discharge big energy—we’re practicing stopping, finding safety, regulating, respecting boundaries, and choosing to re-engage. When in the reset space, we may offer water or a few deep breaths, or asking what their body needs before reset.

Big play. Clear boundaries. Safe bodies. Reset. Reconnect

Neal King, LCSW

09/06/2026

Rock balancing can be challenging!

Focus. Patience. Regulation. And a little practice staying focused through distractions. 🪰

But maybe the best lesson comes when it falls: we can always rebuild—sometimes even better.

Neal King, LCSW

09/04/2026

Nature + Imagination = Possibility. ✨

Movement, fresh air, and imagination—a perfect prescription for play. A magical scavenger hunt brings us into the here and now—not stuck in the past or worrying about the future. Just noticing, creating, and playing.

Connection → Creativity → Possibility. 💗

Heal with Neal

What a voice. What a legacy. ❤️Gloria Steinem’s words about imagination and possibility resonate so deeply with me:“With...
09/03/2026

What a voice. What a legacy. ❤️
Gloria Steinem’s words about imagination and possibility resonate so deeply with me:
“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.”
This so beautifully aligns with the heart of my CCP approach: Connection → Creativity → Possibility.
When we feel connected and seen, we create the safety to become curious, imagine, play, and dream. And through creativity, we begin to see possibilities that perhaps we couldn’t see before.
Whether in healing, relationships, leadership, or life, we have to be able to imagine something different before we can begin to create it.
Thank you, Gloria, for imagining a different world—and for helping generations of women believe they could help create it. ❤️
Connection → Creativity → Possibility.
That’s where change begins.

09/03/2026

Neal and I were out in NYC when I spotted Where the Wild Things Are playing in the background—one of my all-time favorite books. Of course, I was immediately distracted (as usual).

Books and movies offer us psychological distance—a chance to step away from reality and enter a world of imagination, metaphor, and possibility.

Just like the playroom, sometimes we need a place to roar our terrible roars, feel our BIG feelings, and return feeling a little more alive.

What movie transports you into another world and leaves you feeling refreshed, inspired, or more alive when you return?

09/02/2026

The after-school crash is real. ❤️
Our littles have spent all day listening, transitioning, managing sensory input, navigating relationships, following directions, and holding it together.
And then they see us—their safe person.
Instead of meeting them with a million questions, try turning down the volume.
Fewer questions.
Softer voice.
Less stimulation.
A snack.
Favorite chill music.
And a simple, “I’m so happy to see you.”
Let them lead. They’ll tell you what they need—and when they’re ready, they may tell you about their day too.
Think about how you feel when you come home after a long day.
What do you need? And what DON’T you need?
Sometimes connection begins by simply giving them space to land. ❤️

09/01/2026

This little moment captures so much of what play can offer: joy, connection, rhythm, attunement, and co-regulation.

It’s also a beautiful opportunity to teach safe, respectful touch—gentle hands, noticing another person’s cues, respecting boundaries, and learning that touch should feel safe and welcome.

And watch what happens at the very end. ❤️ After all that playful drumming, she gently rubs his head in such a nurturing way. The play naturally shifts from silliness and rhythm into tenderness and care.

No fancy toys. Just a bald head Lol, a little rhythm, and a whole lot of Fun!

This is play at its best!

Neal King, LCSW Alexis Morgan Cimino

08/31/2026

Real Men Play: Senior Edition ❤️

You’re never too old—or too young—to play.

Something as simple as tossing a ball back and forth supports connection, co-regulation, coordination, attention, rhythm and nervous-system regulation. And it doesn’t have to be a ball!

For little ones, think big, soft and slow: a large ball, balloon, pillow, beanbag or stuffed animal can make back-and-forth play easier and more successful. As children get older and more coordinated, you can gradually move toward smaller, faster objects—even a tennis ball. 🎾

The goal isn’t how well you catch it. It’s the back-and-forth. The rhythm. The shared attention. The connection.

Play has no age limit. ❤️ NervousSystemRegulation Alexis Morgan Cimino

08/27/2026

This week, I was reminded that we are never too old to play, to create, to remember, or to be deeply seen.

I had the privilege of bringing sandtray and expressive work to a group of residents ranging in age from 70 to 95, with many different cognitive abilities at a senior residence.

And it was magical.

Stories surfaced. Memories returned. Hands began to move through the sand. Bodies softened. I watched nervous systems shift from states of alarm and uncertainty toward regulation, curiosity, connection and even joy.

One moment will stay with me.

A woman picked up a witch miniature and said, “This is how I show up here.”

But then she shared that underneath that exterior, she is really someone full of love and joy.

How often do we see someone’s behavior without wondering about the person underneath it?

Our elders carry entire lifetimes inside of them—love, loss, relationships, identities, memories, wisdom and often tremendous physical and emotional grief. And for many, aging can also bring profound loneliness and isolation.

They still need what all human nervous systems need:

Connection.
Curiosity.
Expression.
Play.
To feel seen.
To feel that they still matter.

I walked away from this experience feeling beyond grateful—and with a very strong sense that this may be a calling for me to bring more of this work to older adults.

There are so many stories still waiting to be heard. ❤️ If you work in a senior home or care community and are looking for meaningful, gentle, creative programming for residents, I would love to connect.

08/26/2026

I was so touched to receive Love Is Like the Moon: A Grandmother Gently Explains Love and Divorce by Junique McKay.

This beautiful story gently reassures children that families may change, but a parent’s love remains unconditional. I especially love how it honors the sacred bond between grandparents and grandchildren, offering wisdom, comfort, and security during times of change.

A meaningful addition to my bookshelf. Thank you, Junique!

ChildrensBooks UnconditionalLove illustrated by Stacey Aaronson | Memoirist | Book Production Professional

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