Delaney Allison, LPC, RPT, NCC

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I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who I am and why I’m here.
 
REMINDER: All posts on this account are for educational purposes only and are not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

If you find yourself in any store that has toys and you feel compelled to see what’s there, you may be a play therapist. If you also typically leave with at least a few toys, then you’re likely a play therapist.

The mess created during play represents a safe space for children to express themselves without any pressures or anxiety about cleaning up after. By allowing the mess to remain, we as therapists create an environment that encourages creativity, emotional exploration, and free expression.

Welcome to a day in the life for me on Wednesdays at Paws for Reflection Ranch. I’m so excited to welcome you all to see a glimpse into my animal filled life. I couldn’t fit absolutely everything into one reel, but I have some fun ideas for behind the scenes in the future.

Pumpkin is energetic, open to meeting new people, and just too cute when he stands on his back legs. We are so grateful he found his way to Paws for Reflection Ranch.

Constant striving for perfection can be exhausting and also a major source of stress, anxiety, and depression. There’s no magical moment where everything is flawless. The only thing that ends with the pursuit of perfection is the stress and exhaustion that is caused by it.

I haven’t made new year’s resolutions in quite some time. I rarely celebrate this day other than focusing on rest and relaxation with my close loved ones. However, I do recognize that this time of year allows time for stillness and reflection.

Sometimes old patterns, behaviors, and habits are the toughest to break because they bring a sense of safety with how things have always been. It’s only once we can courageously acknowledge, accept, and thank these parts of ourselves that we can move towards a healthier, happier lifestyle.

All these previous versions of myself seem so far away, yet so close to my heart. I’m grateful for the wisdom I’ve earned and for how these lessons have shaped me into who I am now. I’m hoping these tidbits help young girls and women who may need to hear it now.

Keep in mind many of the tools and strategies covered up until this point are also helpful when encouraging autonomy. Read the full chapter to get insight into how parents use these tools in action, what they struggled with, and how they overcame their challenges.

Mastering the Art of Clean Up: 5 Quick Tips for Play Therapists
Also, this is not a client’s play. I made a mess and then cleaned it up lol. 😂

We have just shy of two more weeks left in 2024. I was watching Home Alone for the third time last night and this line stood out to me. Please remember to lean on your support network and give yourself permission to rest.

Introducing Willow. Willow arrived at the ranch in October of 2023. She’s a four year old Percheron. Willow is playful and high energy. She loves playing in the water, and is a gentle giant. Willow is 18 hands tall, which translates into 6 feet tall at her withers.

A lot of times working in a helping profession leaves us as the last priority on our list, but I have learned personally how vital it is to incorporate support within my daily life. Take a few tips below and make them work for you.

It’s easy to forget that we, too, are human in this work. Not only does being my authentic, messy, silly self encourage my clients to show up authentically to do their own work in session, but it also helps me stay connected to my most open hearted, non-judgmental self.

The day starts out with coffee and a smoothie, but it wouldn’t be an authentic routine for me without kittens and senior kitties. 🫶🏽

REMINDER: All posts on this account are for educational purposes only and are not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship, mental health, or medical care.

Shrinking on Apple TV is one of my top favorite shows of all time. The humor lightens the darkness and makes the heaviness of grief and loss more relatable and digestible.

Instead of helping children learn from their mistakes or understand their behavior, it can actually harm the relationship between parents and kids and makes it harder for children to take responsibility for their actions in a healthy way.

Most days, it’s a work in progress but I’m learning to be more compassionate with myself about those messy parts of me because they also leave remnants of a life lived to the fullest.

Engaging cooperation can be difficult when there is high tension and lack of acknowledgment for a child’s feelings and experiences within the family dynamic. Additionally, not every skill will work for every child to engage cooperation, and not all of them will fit your parenting style.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & How to Listen So Kids Will Talk. These tools to help children deal with their feelings take practice and self-compassion and can make the biggest impact to repair and rebuild the parent-child relationship.

I still remember both the terror and excitement of post-graduation as a new therapist and LPC-Associate. These are the tips I can offer to the newly licensed therapists out there who need guidance and support.

I learned a lot about myself during this mindfulness exploration and that reminded me why it’s so important for every one of us to make the time to invest in ourselves (and our own well-being).

Not only have I seen and experienced the powers of Animal Assisted Therapy and Interventions first-hand, but there are also many outcomes connected to AAT supported by evidenced-based research. AAT leverages the natural bond between humans + animals to facilitate healing and improve quality of life.

Over the past few years, I realized that the best thing for me to help unwind after a long day of sessions is a long, hot bath with at least 2 cups of eucalyptus bath salts – probably more than that if we’re all being honest here. I think this ritual helps me switch off from work mode.

Throughout the week I notice I add things to my bag to take to my office or playroom. That often means I end up carrying around what appears to be the makings of a Mary Poppins bag. As always, I’m so happy you’re here and that you’ve found me.

The Summer Institute was particularly inspiring to me in 2024. This quote stood out to me because it was a huge reminder of the critical importance of the therapeutic relationship to create safety for self-expression through play.

How do we redeem a code for the test flight app?