Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories | Paris Goodyear-Brown, MSSW, LCSW, RPTS | TEDxNashville

How do children heal from trauma? Play therapy and trauma expert, Paris Goodyear-Brown, takes us on a journey through the stories of children from hard places, the neuroscience of play, and the importance of each of us in bearing witness to the hurt. Graphic images may evoke strong emotions but will reveal the amazing ability of children to tell us what happened and play their way to healing. Paris Goodyear-Brown, LCSW, RPT-S, is a child trauma expert and a professional player with 23 years of experience in helping traumatized children and their families heal. She is the founder and Clinical Director of Nurture House, serves the Association for Play Therapy in several roles, is a sought-after international speaker and a prolific author. With specialties areas in sexual abuse, maltreatment, and attachment repair, her trauma model is best explained in her books "Play Therapy with Traumatized Children: A Prescriptive Approach," "Tackling Touchy Subjects," and her newest book "Taming the Trauma with Children and Families" (in press). Her hope for hurt children is best communicated in her children’s book A Safe Circle for Little U. Paris lives in Franklin, Tennessee with her husband and three children, and to balance the weight of holding the hard stories of those in her care she likes to drive her yellow jeep with the doors off whenever the weather allows. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@stellaemeka-okoli2170]

OmG. I didn't want this talk to end. I was literally writing down every single sentence. This is so practical and useful. Thanks a million

[@stefaniegilbert157]

As a fellow play therapist this was a clear and inspiring way to share the transformative effect play has in therapy. Would love to have a Nurture House in my community!

[@stephaniegerdes8926]

13:24 13:26 14:04

[@kelseymariebell1357]

Same!

[@chjhooah1976]

Watching this for a MSW class.....frankly, most powerful 18 minutes of over 2 years of school to date. THANK YOU for this gift.

[@jacquelinesevra7091]

I am balling my eyes out. I am so grateful for people like you! Much love & light 💜

[@JIWY05T]

So true! My young son broke his arm when I was not there. I remember the relieve when I asked him after he came out of hospital to tell everything that happened to a little giraffe that I spoke through. It was amazing how he told this little animal all details, from what happened to how he felt. It was play, so free of possible judgements and worries from mom :-)

[@avanikhade4297]

this is so sweet

[@juliabrem4673]

This is sooo helpful to read, thank you!

[@thedogshouterer]

OMG, this gave me a memory of a student I worked with: I tutor neurodivergent learners and this kiddo was struggling to learn to read. He would come in so dysregulated. One day, he did not want any of me, so I started making jokes to make him laugh and he went over to my dog (I had a dog I brought to my private practice office), got down on his knees and whispered in her ear, "She's funny." It's like my hear HURT from the tenderness of it. We had a good session after that. You're a good parent!

[@jinjo001]

This is what progress feels like. Not over to mars but taking care of kids here. However I am curious if the play therapy can be helpful with full grown adults.

[@fihrinazzukhruf9475]

Jitin Joshi I was going to ask the same question. Does anybody have literature about this? Thanks

[@lorestla.]

The Ecosystemic Play Therapy can actually help adults!

[@clairmellenthin8811]

Play therapy absolutely can help adults! I use play therapy across the lifespan with clients and it can be a powerful modality to helping adults access their own past hurts and trauma, as well as find words for their stories

[@hadahraben-israel9136]

Yes! it sure can. but remember there has to be an 'other'

[@patrickronquillo4548]

This is so true!

[@rosemarygarrels6916]

this makes so much sense! Now I understand why I had to make SO many more abuse reports in the summers while working at summer camps than I've ever had to make working in the public schools

[@monahaddad5379]

play for traumatic children is their talk and the toys are their words. agree 100% "there is no greater agony than burying an untold story inside of us. sharing it with an other helps to leech the toxicity out of it" I watched this video twice. Thank you Paris.

[@Ibnafrika]

You picked out two of my favourite quotes from this Ted Talk.

[@jojomariejosee]

Thank you so very much! You have inspired me to become a play therapist! 🙏 ❤️

[@sos1474]

Me too!!!!!!!!

[@janeEyreAddict]

How do you become one?

[@ritav793]

@@janeEyreAddict You have to be a licensed therapist and then get a specialized certification in it.

[@effiemantzouranis938]

this deserves more than 250,000 views. This was such a wonderfully presented talk and its so touching to see someone so devoted to helping children. Thank you for this

[@jennifertaylorplaytherapys2337]

Thank you Paris Goodyear-Brown for such an eloquent description of play therapy and the work that is done by children. The work you are doing is so important!

[@pandaprincess2793]

This makes me cry. Feel so bad for these kids.

[@psicologayanahina]

Paris thank you, so Inspirational!!, I am living in a country where play therapy is still in the pregnancy stage. Nevertheless, I was trained in Uruguay and 20 years ago in that little far away country I worked with play therapy within school frameworks. For the last 18 years, since relocating from Uruguay to New Zealand, a beautiful 1st world country, I have been dealing with professional frustation as the psychology and psychotherapy proffession here does not integrate play therapy as main stream modality. Watching your video motivated me to keep up my work and hope for play therapy to take off as an incredible transformational tool for children and people with intellectual disability.

[@MandyWoodArtist]

Hi Yana, I am studying Counseling at Bethlehem Tertiary Insitute in Tauranga, NZ, and we are currently studying play therapy which some of our tutors are experienced in. Hopefully, it will be integrated into the mainstream here soon. What part of the country do you live in?

[@yanahinarodriguez3527]

@@MandyWoodArtist I work at waikato hospital.

[@alanmintz1514]

This is so enlightening!! I never thought of trauma being accessible and tractable through play before this lecture. Phenomenal

[@TheHappyNisha]

For me, after decades of searching, Anthroposophical Therapies helped me heal my' ACE' 'symptoms', specifically Eurhythmy Therapy, Art (Play) Therapy, Clay Modelling and Stone Carving (very grounding, safe, gentle, empowering, artistic and I'm in charge of how fast or slow I choose to go; supported by people who understand the forces inside the human being, at all levels). So grateful.

[@raybellows6216]

Love this talk. The bottom-up process explanation is excellent when considering how we process information.

[@DD-jm5ug]

This is amazing! All children should have access to this care in schools. Thankyou for sharing 🙇💜

[@adriennearambula6064]

You are doing God's work, thank you for your speech

[@HealthcareMasterData]

This has to be the best you tube I’ve watched in 2020 ~ thank you

[@shelbyfigueroa5600]

Im a music therapy student and so glad I watched this!!! Play is an integral part of what I am learning.

[@user-ll7tx5fd1s]

This is consistent with Dibs i Search of Self. A wonderful book written in 1963.

[@GeekPsychology]

Wow. That was so... difficult to watch... in a meaningful and inspiring way. I hope to impact people as you have.

[@samw-h9380]

v `5

[@psychshell4644]

I'm preparing for my practicum/internship in Forensic Psychology and will be working with children. I am embracing play therapy as a mode of expression. Fantastic TED talk.

[@creativefamilycounselingan1479]

I love how you packed so much great information in this talk! Fabulous work Paris! Your work with traumatized children is so valuable! Thank you!!!

[@HSMfanatic17]

As a grad student who wants to specialize in work with kids and has considered play therapy, this has solidified my ambition.

[@ananananabop]

Play therapy seems like an incredible, life changing resource. The work this person is doing is so important, I am blown away.

[@MelanieSakowski]

Outstanding talk, bless you. I’m undergoing Somatic Experiencing, and learning much about the nervous system and how I’ve been stuck in “freeze”, in the reptilian level. I appreciate you so much.

[@auroraramirez4389]

this remember me when I was a foster home mom I love to do it and help a lot of families and the reson why I stopped doing it was that the agency where I worked they changed and the next agency didn't support us liked the first one.

[@evelynspaghetti4978]

I wasn't going to have a drink, but now I definitely am. All I can say is thankyou to each and every person in this field.

[@janeta.courtneyphd1755]

Thank you Paris Goodyear-Brown for this excellent TEDx Talk sharing your expertise about the healing power of play and the need for safe nurturing spaces to heal trauma in children.

[@markahearne3280]

Thank you you are amazing. We need more caring therapists like you in the world

[@marybrantly581]

Play is paramount for children. Thanks for contributing to my healing journey! You're a good one!

[@angelinarose9916]

Excellent, to learn and listen about explanations of reactions of child abuse and how the brain reacts and how powerful play is - I learnt so much about trauma - Thank you

[@marilynselfridge2977]

Another inspirational Ted Talk special that validates the purpose for my work with crisis and trauma.

[@angelasolomon87]

Thank you for your hard work- I have recently found my calling within the mental health field; play therapy and this talk only fuels my passion even more fiercely. Thank you.

[@jdubwalmer4237]

This made me cry. From the things that we experience as kids. I know why I have some of the feelings that I have now.

[@jaimecudjoe100]

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST LECTURES I HAVE HEARD WELL SAID THANK YOU

[@katrogers1969]

Beautiful! I'm in school for MFT, not even interested in working with children, but I'm hanging on to every word. That's how fabulous of a job you've done.

[@bennettclarke2052]

This one's a new favourite, so much here for all ages.

[@christinekaye6393]

Love, love, LOVE what you do! You are truly inspiring.

[@SOOJ1NSOU]

"It hurts inside, it hurts inside, it hurts inside so bad" T_T

[@moonpriest8016]

Soojin Sou I just to sing songs like that to myself when I was five so to block the fact my mum and dad where arguing

[@imaginechi7677]

I hope to help the children I will see in the future by going to college and and grad school to learn how to conduct play therapy and becoming a play therapist

[@CTCie]

Absolutely wonderful presentation Paris! So delighted you did this - thank you!

[@irektaflinski5449]

This is my dream life!!! I believe in the healing power of play 👏👏👏👏💙

[@jpetersonrealestateinvestm2103]

Thank you so much for this beautifully educational ted. You shared knowledge experiences has given me clarity as to what I want to pursue after completing my MSW.

[@samray3297]

A lot of valuable info. Inspiring, particularly the approach in communicating with children! I now have the 1st 2 to help, in mind! Thank you for helping them!

[@julee0]

That is a such a great talk, so clear and evocative. Thank you Paris and for your work.

[@X00079X]

Play can help traumatized adults too. Art therapy for example, art is a state of a play.

[@elizabethpeterson6148]

What an amazing talk and amazing woman. Thank you for this!! God bless you and your work!

[@karenlimoico]

You have inspired me to become a play therapist, thank you so much, thank you for inspiring me, im so bless😊

[@Bella.favela]

This is incredible. It resonated so much with me. Thank you! ♥️♥️♥️

[@samray3297]

This is precious! Thank you so much! We need more, to learn more!

[@contentbible615]

It is a very great work you are doing. THANK YOU

[@grinreaperoftrolls7528]

I was not prepared for this to get so dark. This is why I could never be a therapist. It would destroy me.

[@chrisbailey5731]

Great Video, very informative, has definitely increased my understanding of how play therapy works and why it works! I am training to become a therapist and have found this video to be an invaluable source of wisdom regarding child psychology, thank you very much!

[@dmiles6387]

My heart is so deeply touched! Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful talk with us.

[@light_with_leyah]

Amazing. Very well explained. So helpful.

[@TheHouseOffice]

10:30 cleansing ritials. 16:45 "We want as much oxytocin and dopamine in trauma recovery involved as we can get."

[@rabiakaneezsubhani1971]

This was so insightful and eye opening. Thankyou so much!!

[@CelinaOrtiz-gi7hv]

I truly appreciate the lessons in this talk, though I really wish there were content warnings so viewers could be prepared in the right headspace to receive the information. Whew! So much to unpack.

[@sos1474]

Oh My Gosh! "It hurts inside so bad..." 🥺 I am so sorry children are subjected to irresponsible parents, poverty, and crime. 💔

[@samt5571]

Susan "Sam," RPT THIS = AWESOME Thank you Paris Goodyear-Brown! Looking forward to attending your workshop at the Association for Play Therapy International Conference this fall! :)

[@clmjpm73]

Excellent, Pari Goodyear-Brown...and what a wonderful work you and your team do on behalf of traumatized children!

[@ansar.haddad9342]

So powerful and inspiring 🧡

[@ViankaOkoli]

wow this is so beautiful although I am not interested in becoming a play therapist listening to this makes me want to apply it to my everyday life. It makes me want to help people and now I have a deeper understanding as well.

[@lanalou2749]

Absolutely brilliant talk! 💯👌🏽

[@therapywithlara]

Powerful! Thank you for sharing 👏

[@valarieedwards8997]

Powerful! Thank you.

[@zakia7163]

Thank you so much for this much needed presentation.

[@LonnieSommer]

Would love to know more about Nurture House and how it has been designed with a trauma-informed lens? Need more safe places for re-wiring for all ages!!

[@Portia620]

Would love to hear more about nurture house!!!

[@wandalorenz7688]

That was so insightful and beautiful thank you so very much

[@semihcorbaci]

As a Psychology student, I got inspired by your excellent talk. Many thanks, ma'am!

[@accountingwithteacherphath8616]

The image is on point

[@allierod1366]

What an excellent presentation!!! Thank you!

[@KimONeill]

Excellent talk! Thank you.

[@accountingwithteacherphath8616]

Woow you are speaking to me

[@liesxh]

very well done!!!

[@ankitwankhede4710]

Well explained, thank you.

[@syahidahawashamsol9757]

thank you for the great information and attcrt me on focus play theraphy

[@ItsJager]

Good up to the point of the Triune Brain theory. This is very old science that has been well challenged. Polyvagal theory is a bit better but even that has it’s critiques.

[@wisper21s]

Excellent ! Thank You

[@bethjbrannon4114]

That “response “SOUNDED STRANGE”!!!!!

[@tscarlet3258]

HOW do I find a therapist who can help my daughter with all of these things? She is in counseling that seems so pallid and weak, talk therapy that does not seem to be helping with anything because it doesn't seem to be identifying or targeting the underlying issues.

[@karencurran-au]

Search in your area for a counsellor that uses sandplay (sandtray), art therapy or expressive therapy. Best wishes.

[@_b3ll3_ame]

This is amazing! Thank you!

[@Queensidum]

Amazing!!!!!

[@sn8323]

Amazing. TY

[@isabellastinson1789]

AMAZING!

[@Leppalimes]

Sometimes I don't think I'm paying attention but then I hear "he's washing the big windshield of the tank".

[@BenefitsofBravery]

Sheesh this was difficult to get through. I don't wanna hold any of it.

[@dianalereve5402]

awesome 💛

[@VladyslavKL]

🕊

[@dekapwt5618]

Apa yg sebenarnya terjadi denganku Saat ini mudah gugup & akan menjadi begitu lemah saat teringat apa yg terjadi dan aku alami... Semua Menyebutku (Liar)... jangan salahkan aku, aku membutuhkan Access yg cepat untuk semua ini...😔😔😔

[@poohbear0320]

Can adults with trauma benefit from play therapy too?

[@sn8323]

"Holding" the client's story may be more meaningful to the therapist than to the client. Real healing for trauma victims comes not from merely telling one person, as, for example, a play therapist in a therapy session. True and profound healing begins when the victim survivor is able, empowered, to use her/his voice loudly, to tell the community, and is given the attention and validation of the community. Be mindful: Just because you, the therapist, are learning key stories from your clients, and just because their stories may change you profoundly, does not necessarily mean that they are radically changed, healed, by the mere act of telling one therapist in a closed door session. The hushed, taboo, nature of the therapeutic session experience reinforces, and communicates, to the survivor that what happened to them is unspeakable, must not be spoken of outside of clinician's offices. When this is the message received, clients are failed.

[@lo9209]

she's saying that children may not have the language to express those vulnerabilities and experiences like play may help to facilitate that expression. This isn't about making a child feel like it's not okay to outwardly tell their story due to the one on one nature of therapy.

[@UnroyalTV]

She never once said said or implied that mere story telling will heal all trauma. This video is specifically about how children communicate traumatic experiences when they don't have the vocabulary to do so and the impact that has on them. Jfc!! We are talking about children, they're not going to be advocates at that age. Developmental stages matter too and I recommend you read up on them.

[@brandysboa6368]

Well Done, Paris!

[@johnrobertd748]

What about adults who are still suffering from childhood trauma??

[@keshiasondakh]

Adults can also go to a play and art therapist, it's available and applicable for all ages. Play therapy use many tools, not just toys, but also arts.

[@heatherpurtell8412]

Can you do this with special needs adults with cerebral palsy

[@mollynoneofurbuisness3099]

Loved this

[@unzahid]

powerful words.

[@Granddaughters4]

Thank you...