Unlocking The Power of Play: A Conversation With David Schatzkamer

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes David Schatzkamer, a licensed mental health counselor and registered play therapist supervisor. David shares his experiences and insights on helping young children thrive through therapeutic play. He discusses the inspiration behind founding the Center4PlayTherapy, the significance of play in child development, and effective techniques for parents to nurture emotional connections with their children. David also highlights the importance of understanding the child and family as a unit rather than focusing solely on diagnoses. Additionally, David provides practical tips for parents and details his upcoming book, Easy Shmezy Guide to Parenting, which offers therapeutic techniques for everyday use. The episode underscores the transformative power of play in improving communication, behavior, and emotional regulation in children.David's Bio and Contact InformationDavid Schatzkamer, LMHC, RPT-S, is a licensed mental health counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor specializing in helping young children thrive through therapeutic play. As founder and director of the Center4PlayTherapy, David brings over 15 years of experience working with children ages 3–8, supporting families through challenges like ADHD, trauma, behavioral struggles, and emotional regulation. He trained at the University of North Texas’s Intensive Play Therapy Supervision Program and continues to lead supervision groups and serve on the board of the Association for Play Therapy of New York State.David’s approach is deeply practical, blending clinical expertise with simple, powerful tools parents can use to build stronger relationships with their kids. He’s also the co-author of Easy Shmezy Guide to Parenting, a hands-on book packed with therapeutic techniques that actually fit into everyday life. Whether in the therapy room, training other professionals, or sharing insights on podcasts, David’s mission is to make play-based healing accessible, effective, and meaningful.Phone:  (718) 715-9402.https://center4playtherapy.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidschatzkamer/To find out more about Dave Roberts go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com