Shows
Lessons from the Playroom198. Wounded Healers in the Playroom: How Attachment Histories Shape Our WorkWhat happens when therapists bring their own attachment histories into the playroom—consciously or not? In this deeply validating and insightful conversation, Lisa welcomes back Dr. Clair Mellenthin—renowned play therapist, author, and professor—to unpack her groundbreaking dissertation research and explore how a therapist’s personal story shapes their clinical work, especially within family-based play therapy. Together, they explore: Why many play therapists are drawn to the work as “wounded healers” Research that debunks the myth of needing to be fully healed to help others How personal attachment wounds show up in the playroom—and why doing our...
2025-08-1241 min
A Hero's Welcome PodcastThe Role of Attachment and Mentorship with Clair MellenthinSend us a textDiscover the transformative power of earned security in attachment theory with the insightful Clair Mellenthin, the brilliant mind behind Attachment-Centered Play Therapy. Clair unveils her pioneering research on the journey of registered play therapists, highlighting how their attachment histories deeply influence their professional and personal lives. This conversation offers a beacon of hope, emphasizing that early relationship patterns are not set in stone and can evolve through nurturing surrogate attachments like mentors and supervisors, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.We explore the significant impact of mentorship and its profound...
2025-06-2640 min
The Family ExpressE32. Play as an Attachment Need with Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-SWelcome back for the next journey of The Family Express Podcast with Kathryn de Bruin, LMFT and Ronda Evans, LMFT where our destination is resilient and connected families. Our guest speaker is Clair Mellenthin, a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist supervisor in Utah. Today we are talking with Clair about play as an attachment need and attachment based play therapy integrated with EFFT. Thank you for listening! Kathryn de Bruin is an ICEEFT Certified EFT Trainer. Kathryn and Ronda are both licensed marriage and family therapists, EFT supervisors and therapists, and A...
2025-03-1142 min
Lift and Make LighterBeyond Behavior: Addressing the Roots of Child Mental Health with Clair MellenthinIn this episode of the Lift and Make Lighter podcast, host Tom Telford interviews Clair Mellenthin from Wasatch Family Therapy. The conversation covers the need for family involvement, the challenges faced by mental health professionals, and the influence of structured environments on children. Emphasizing the importance of safety, attachment, and self-compassion for parents, the discussion concludes with the value of play in childhood development.For more information or to get in touch with Clair, visit https://clairmellenthin.com/ The Lift and Make Lighter podcast is presented by, LÉVO, a mind care company specializing in co...
2024-10-151h 16
Lift and Make LighterParenting Through Connection: Insights with Clair MellenthinIn this episode of the Lift and Make Lighter podcast, host Tom Telford interviews Claire Mellenthin from Wasatch Family Therapy. Claire shares her journey to becoming a therapist and her passion for mental health, influenced by her fascination with criminal profiling and a transformative trip to Africa. The discussion covers connecting with children through play, handling parental challenges, social pressures, and the importance of repair in parent-child relationships. Claire highlights family systems therapy, attachment, and differentiation, and urges parents to seek therapy for better emotional health to support their children. The conversation also addresses the impact of trauma on...
2024-08-291h 33
The BrainStoke PodcastEP.39 - Teaching Play Therapy Around the World - Clair MellenthinSend us a textClair Mellenthin LCSW & RPT - S is a world renowned therapist and social worker that knows a thing or two about parenting and child therapy. She has traveled the world teaching individuals and different populations about play therapy and its positive effect on children and parents. Tom and Clair talk about the importance of parents and guiding through example for older children as well as the effect our own stress can have on our children. Clair's thoughts on the culture of parenting and relieving the pressure on parents and children to achieve and...
2024-05-241h 32
THE SJ CHILDS SHOW-Building a Community of InclusionEpisode 242-Building Bridges to Better Parenting with Clair MellenthinSend us a textAs parents, we all share a common goal of raising well-adjusted, happy children, but how do we navigate the complexities of parenting in today's world? What if there were strategies that could help bridge the communication gap with our children, especially during their adolescent years? In our latest episode, we bring you an insightful conversation with our esteemed guest, Clair Mellenthin, director of child and adolescent services at Wasatch Family Therapy. Together, we explore the profound effects of the pandemic on children's mental health and the rise of school violence, providing you with...
2023-12-1337 min
The Natasha Helfer Podcast33: Jodi Hildebrandt: a Cautionary Tale - Is Your Therapist Practicing Ethically?Natasha interviewed a phenomenal panel of experts in the mental health field regarding the ethics of practice given the scandal that has broken about Jodi Hildebrandt. This panel will include professionals who specialize in sexuality, religion and child/adolescent development. Panelists include: Dr. Julie Hanks - https://www.drjuliehanks.com Aimee Heffernan - https://www.facebook.com/aimeeheff Clair Mellenthin - https://clairmellenthin.com Intro ("Fisher's Hornpipe") and outro by Otter Creek Podcast edited by: Ashley Pacini
2023-09-271h 28
The Right Fit PodcastClair Mellenthin on good enough parenting.Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S is a child and family therapist, author and the founder of attachment-centered play therapy. In this episode Clair talks about her experience growing up in a family of eight children and how international travel as a child gave her a unique world view. As a parent of three teenagers, Clair shares from her personal and professional experience about parenting. She talks about what it's like to let yourself be human in the process, how to like your children more and what to do if you and your partner don't always agree on how to parent.
You c...
2021-06-0937 min
The Happiness PlaybookHow To TRULY Connect Through Play With Claire Mellenthin (Play Therapist)You do not want to miss today’s episode...Clair Mellenthin is a very accomplished spreader of light. She is first and foremost a mother, a wife, a sister, and a friend. She has three rambunctious kids who she refers to as “her insanity makers and her sanity savers”. She is married to her best friend and […]
2021-02-2444 min
Fight Like a MotherEpisode 10: ADHD your superpower with therapist Clair MellenthinI interview therapist Clair Mellenthin author and director of Child Services at Wasatch Family therapy about ADHD and best parenting practices for these kids. She discusses how the brain with ADHD is much like a snow globe, shaken and confused. These kids need opportunities for movement and learning impulse control. Medication is one tool to use, but needs to be paired with therapy and learning tools and skills. Parents of these kids need to be kind to themselves and realize their child's disorder has nothing to do with them. The books she suggests are: Brainstorm by D...
2020-10-0743 min
Mormon Mental Health Podcast212: Depression and Suicide: A Response to Elder Rasband’s “Face to Face,” September 13, 2020If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org During a “Face to Face” with church youth on September 13th, 2020, Elder Donald Rasband answered questions including, “I have serious questions about the truth claims of the church and I am seriously considering removing my name from the records of the church. Can you give me a reason I should stay?” He proceeds to answer with an example of a young man who had struggled w...
2020-09-211h 04
Lessons from the Playroom75. Clair Mellenthin: Supporting Parents during the Pandemic"Let's ask parents, not how they are doing, but what they need and what it is like in their boat." - Clair Mellenthin From the uncertainty, having to homeschool, working from home, navigating family dynamics, and all the other challenges that parents are being confronted with, it is no wonder that so many are feeling burned out, questioning themselves, and needing extra support. Join Lisa and special guest, Clair Mellenthin, as they talk about how attachment, the many challenges of parenting during the pandemic, and most importantly, how best to support parents in ways where they know t...
2020-06-1734 min
Conference ConversationsSeeking a Path to Safety“Seeking a Path to Safety” is a conversation between KSL’s Amanda Dickson and the leading thinkers from law enforcement, mental health, government and family about how we can keep our schools safer – and not just our schools, but our churches, theaters and other public places. How do we help the young people who have grown up never knowing a time when “school shooting” was not a thing? What can we do when we know someone who seems dangerous? What part of the puzzle is arming our teachers or ourselves? What role does the media play, and lastly, what can each one of u...
2018-04-0135 min
Motherhood Archives - WebTalkRadio.netMotherhood – Moms, Kids, & The Power of Play!Play is a crucial part of healthy development for our children, and guess what? It’s an essential part of a healthy YOU, too. Through play, we can better understand our children, their needs, and what we can do to help them through the hard times. We can also strengthen relationships and build connections that last a lifetime. And when we approach life and motherhood more playfully, we not only set the example for our kids; we actually learn, create, relax, and live better, too. In this episode, I’m talking with Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, an expert on play ther...
2015-11-091h 02