Seriously Therapeutic Play with LEGO®

The Guidebook for Helping Professionals

By Kristen Klassen, Alec Hamilton, Mary Anne Peabody

What Makes Play Powerful?

Explore how LEGO® bricks can transform therapeutic practices by enabling clients to express emotions, build resilience, and process challenges through hands-on play.

  1. Practical techniques for integrating LEGO® into therapy.
  2. Step-by-step guides for activities tailored to diverse populations.
  3. Evidence-based strategies backed by research.
Order Now Read a Free Chapter

For Whom This Book Is Written

Audience Highlights:

  • Counselors and Psychotherapists
  • Educators and School Counselors
  • Social Workers and Child Life Specialists
  • Professionals in Trauma Recovery

Testimonials Section

Ken Gardner, MSc, R Psych

Ken Gardner, MSc, R Psych (CPT-S), senior faculty member and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute, Alberta, Canada

"I couldn't wait to see what this book was about! Seriously Therapeutic Play will appeal to those who are passionate about inviting others to grow through self-expression and exploration. Offering a learning-by-doing experience where our fingers unlock the power of metaphors is seriously creative. Bravo!"
Judi Parson, PhD, MA play therapy, BN RN, discipline leader, and senior lecturer in play therapy at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia

Judi Parson, PhD, MA play therapy, BN RN, discipline leader, and senior lecturer in play therapy at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia

"My father, a bricklayer, always said how important the foundations are to create strong buildings. This book provides foundational knowledge to create, to construct, to communicate, to explore and to process therapeutic material through the magic of play. It is easy to read and is framed beautifully using the biopsychosocial lens and neuroscience to support the base and leads on towards therapeutic integration."
Jessica Stone, PhD, RPT-S

Jessica Stone, PhD, RPT-S, licensed psychologist in private practice, Colorado, USA, co-creator of the Virtual Sandtray App®©

"Klassen, Hamilton, and Peabody have created the first of two texts dedicated to the biological, psychological, social, and biopsychosocial components of LEGO® play. This book is a must have. Intended as a guidebook for the facilitator of play, this book deep dives into the why behind the therapeutic use of LEGO®. Knowing what you are doing and why are essential to facilitating mental health services and this book does not disappoint!"
Cover of Seriously Therapeutic Play with LEGO®

Lesia Shepel, PhD, RPT-S, registered social worker in private practice, Manitoba, Canada

"This well-written, thoughtful book describes the biopsychosocial research behind Seriously Therapeutic Play with LEGO® and offers an integrated perspective to support practitioners in using this approach with their clients. I guarantee that after reading this book you will look at LEGO® bricks with a fresh perspective."
Julie Nash, PhD, RPT-S

Julie Nash, PhD, RPT-S, licensed clinical psychologist at Riverside Psychological Associates, LLC, Connecticut, USA

"A must-read for anyone with LEGO® in their office, this book shares a profoundly impactful model as it describes the why behind a fascinating conceptualization of Seriously Therapeutic Play with LEGO®. Through the authors' invitation to play and the resulting journey through the exploration of emotional experiences via the metaphor of the bricks and the therapeutic powers of group and play therapies, this book brings the meaning of the model to life through personal and professional experiences."
Thomas Bevitt, MOT

Thomas Bevitt, MOT, occupational therapy professional practice program convener/lecturer and course convener, University of Canberra, Australia

"The LSP facilitator in me needed to build a model in response to this book! Klassen, Hamilton, and Peabody provide a robust and comprehensive theoretical background to assist the reader in understanding the power of play using LEGO® as a medium for therapeutic interaction. The detailed practical case studies demonstrate a synthesised integration of the theory in practice to provide the reader with the stimulus to apply the knowledge for real-life situations."

Meet the Authors

Kristen Klassen, PhD

Kristen Klassen is a facilitator, trainer, and therapist from Manitoba, Canada. She is passionate about integrating play into therapeutic practices, leveraging creative methods to foster learning, growth, and transformation. Her work emphasizes the biopsychosocial benefits of play and its role in mental health and therapy.

Alec Hamilton, PhD

A practicing psychologist for over 30 years, Alec Hamilton is based in Queensland, Australia. His approach is characterized by the use of positivity, joy, and playfulness to support clients of all ages through their journeys of change and self-improvement. His therapeutic methods often blend evidence-based practices with innovative play techniques.

Mary Anne Peabody, EdD, LCSW, RPT-S

Mary Anne Peabody is an associate professor at the University of Southern Maine. Her work focuses on the application of LEGO® Serious Play® in higher education, clinical supervision, and therapy. She has published extensively on play therapy and is committed to advancing creative therapeutic strategies for mental health professionals.

These professionals collectively contributed to developing innovative approaches to therapy using LEGO® as a medium for emotional and social exploration. Their work bridges research, theory, and practical applications in mental health and education.

Get your copy of Seriously Therapeutic Play with LEGO®

The Guidebook for Helping Professionals

Copyright Notice:

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this publication.