Creative Therapy Umbrella

Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

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Welcome back to Creative Therapy Umbrella! We are excited to share this upcoming series with you called “Whats In Your Therapy Bag?” The first four episodes of this series will include short minisodes with Kate where she shares her current favorite resources, interventions, and skills that she uses all the time! We then have four super special interviews lined up with other creative arts therapists, followed by two capstone episodes that will be more of Kate sharing important skills for creative arts therapists working with emotional skills!

Today’s episode all about Emotions Potions! A fun quick tag-on that you can use with any games, music, intervention, etc. that will make it therapeutic! Stick around to find out how to use it, get your freebie version below, or check out in the full deck in shop.

🧪EMOTION POTION FREEBIE🧪

🎧 Tune in and get inspired!

As always, thanks for hanging out under the umbrella with us!

Join the newsletter so you don’t miss out on any of our future freebies or content!

Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice.

Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

Watch this episode on Youtube!

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

This week, we’re honored to welcome Samantha, a neurodivergent, board-certified music therapist, Child Behavior Strategist, and mother to three autistic children. Samantha brings a deeply personal and professional lens to her work, empowering parents of neurodivergent children with the tools, confidence, and compassion they need to thrive.

In this conversation, we explore:
✨ What led her to this work and how her journey as a parent shaped her path
🎵 The powerful role of music therapy in family support
🤝 Why therapists should consider including parents more intentionally in the process
🧠 Structured strategies that therapists and parents can implement together
🧭 How Samantha supports parents beyond traditional therapy sessions

Whether you’re a therapist looking to expand your impact or a parent seeking connection and clarity, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration.

🔗 Learn More + Connect with Samantha:
🌐 Website: www.everybrainisdifferent.com
📸 Instagram: @everybrainisdifferent
📺 YouTube: @everybrainisdifferent
📘 Download: Ultimate Guide to Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child

🎧 Tune in now and discover how every brain really is different — and worthy of understanding and support.

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

As always, thanks for hanging out under the umbrella with us!

Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram!

Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice.

Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

Watch this episode on Youtube!

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

In the second part of our series, we break down actionable strategies to integrate parents and caregivers into your sessions as co-therapists. From esteem-building and attunement to co-regulation and repair work, you’ll get concrete interventions, scripts, and playful activities designed to strengthen the caregiver-child connection—both in and outside of session.

💡 You’ll Learn:

How to coach parents using “Special Play Time”

Ways to teach tracking, reflection, and emotional labeling

The “Art of Apologies” as a therapeutic intervention

Tips for co-regulation and building safety through attunement

→ This episode is packed with tools you can start using immediately—whether caregivers are joining in person or supporting from home. the how in Part Two.

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

As always, thanks for hanging out under the umbrella with us!

Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram!

Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice.

Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

Use the code: Celebrate20 for 20% off everything on our site! Take a look at our courses or if you like our resources like this free download, check out our Resource Library!

Watch this episode on Youtube!

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

Part One: Why It Works (Backed by Research)
In this episode, we dive into the science behind caregiver involvement in child and teen therapy. From improving emotional regulation to supporting long-term clinical outcomes, the research is clear: when parents are meaningfully involved, therapy becomes more effective. Learn why family dynamics, consistency across settings, and caregiver insight can make all the difference—and walk away with foundational tips to begin building collaborative relationships with the adults in your clients’ lives.

🔍 Topics Covered:

Evidence-based outcomes from family-integrated models

How caregiver insight supports treatment planning

The impact of home reinforcement and generalization

Therapist-tested tips for building trust and setting expectations

→ Listen now and explore the why before diving into the how in Part Two.

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

As always, thanks for being here and listening!!

Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram!

Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!

Use the code: Celebrate20 for 20% off everything on our site! Take a look at our courses or if you like our resources, check out our Resource Library!

Watch this episode on Youtube!

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

🖨️ Download the Free Printable: H.E.A.R. Apology Handout

In this episode, we’re digging into a topic every therapist (and parent) bumps into sooner or later: apologies — and how to teach kids and teens to do them well.

We’ll explore why the word “sorry” often falls flat, what gets in the way of real repair, and how you can introduce a simple, therapist-friendly tool: the H.E.A.R. method.

Whether you’re working with young kids, tweens, teens, or even parent-child dyads, this tool can help make apology a skill — not just a reflex.

✨Why Apology Is a Skill — Not a Script

As child and teen therapists, we know the truth: most kids don’t apologize because they feel deep remorse — they apologize because they’re told to.

And often, those apologies come out like this:

“I’m sorry… BUT he started it.”

“I said I was sorry already!”

Cue dramatic side eye!

That’s why we need to slow the process down and teach kids (and caregivers!!) that a real apology is more than a word — it’s a repair tool. When done right, apologies build trust, foster emotional awareness, and create space for reconnection.

My favorite part about this is teaching PARENTS/CAREGIVERS how to apologize in a healthy way. This gives kids the other end of receiving healthy apologies — and how good does that feel?!

✨ Introducing the H.E.A.R. Apology Method

The H.E.A.R. method is a four-step tool you can introduce in therapy sessions to help clients of all ages give more meaningful, connected apologies.

Here’s what it stands for:

H – Hurt: Acknowledge the other person’s feelings (garner empathy)

E – Express: Share a genuine, honest apology

A – Accept: Take responsibility without excuses (NO BUTS – I always emphasize this part for the humor)

R – Repair: Offer what you can do to make things better

This acronym is easy for kids to remember and invites them to slow down, reflect, and make repair in a developmentally appropriate way.

✨How to Use the H.E.A.R. Method in Therapy

You can introduce the H.E.A.R. method in:

Individual sessions (especially around conflict at school, with friends or siblings)

Parent-child sessions where both sides may need support in repairing trust

Parent-only consultation sessions to support parent education

Group therapy or social-emotional learning (SEL) groups

As a take-home tool for parents to reinforce healthy communication

🖨️ Download the Free Printable: H.E.A.R. Apology Handout

To make this even easier, I’ve created a FREE printable H.E.A.R. apology visual that you can:

Print and hang in your therapy space

Use during sessions to talk through apologies step-by-step

Send home with families to encourage consistency outside of therapy

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why “sorry” isn’t enough (and why it often backfires in therapy)

How to break down a real apology into simple, teachable parts

Common apology blockers (like shame, blame, and emotional dysregulation)

How to use the H.E.A.R. method with kids, teens, and even parents

Ideas for integrating this tool into your existing therapy work

✨ Final Thoughts

Apologizing is hard — even for adults. But with a little structure, support, and practice, kids and teens can learn how to take accountability AND spot an unhealthy apology from a mile away.

🖨️ Download the Free Printable: H.E.A.R. Apology Handout

This episode is included in our Partnering with Caregivers pod-course. If you listened to this episode you are already on your way to earning the CE credits!! Learn more here!

As always, thanks for being here and listening!!

Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram!

Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!

Use the code: Celebrate20 for 20% off everything on our site! Take a look at our courses or if you like our resources, check out our Resource Library!

Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram or reach out to us at kate@creativetherapyumbrella.com

Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!