Years of Clinical Expertise & A PhD, Zero Clue How to Turn it into an Online Program - Dr. Sam Casey's Story

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Dr. Sam Casey, founder of the Play Prescription Method, to explore one of the most common challenges therapists face: having an encyclopedia of knowledge but feeling completely stuck when it comes to packaging it into something teachable.

If you've ever felt paralysed by your own expertise, this conversation is for you. Sam had a PhD, extensive research, clinical expertise as a registered play therapist, and a brilliant framework she'd developed. But when it came to creating her certification program? She was completely stuck.

The breakthrough came when she realised she didn't need to include everything in version one. Sometimes the answer isn't adding more content — it's giving yourself permission to simplify and start imperfectly.

In this episode, Sam shares her journey from PhD paralysis to launching a 16-week certification that students call "transformational." We dive deep into her Play Prescription Method, which makes therapeutic play accessible beyond the therapy room, and explore how she's challenging traditional gatekeeping in mental health by equipping professionals and parents with practical healing tools.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. Your expertise can be your biggest obstacle – The more you know, the harder it becomes to decide what to include. Sam's breakthrough came from watching how I'd simplified years of knowledge in the incubator, giving her permission to do the same.
2. Breaking cycles happens on multiple levels – Sam isn't just helping families break generational patterns through play; she's helping therapists break professional cycles of perfectionism and gatekeeping knowledge.
3. Therapeutic play belongs beyond therapy rooms – Sam's framework equips educators, coaches, doulas, and parents with trauma-informed tools to support children's healing and growth in everyday settings, not just clinical ones.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

If this conversation resonates and you're ready to turn your clinical expertise into a structured program, join me for the From Caseload to Course Bootcamp, running Sept 23-26, 2025.

For just $37, I'll guide you through how to map, price, and structure your first ethical online program using frameworks designed specifically for therapists - just like Sam did with her Play Prescription Method.

In four focused days, you'll move from feeling paralysed by your expertise to having a clear roadmap for packaging your knowledge into something people can actually use.

👉 Secure your spot at: therapistsrising.com/bootcamp

Connect with Dr. Sam Casey:

• Instagram: @drsamcasey
• Facebook: @playprescription
• Website: drsamcasey.com

MORE FROM DR. HAYLEY KELLY

• The Therapist Rising Incubator – For therapists ready to create their first sustainable online program with ongoing support: therapistsrising.com/incubator
• Follow me on Instagram @dr.hayleykelly for daily insights on therapist innovation and sustainable practice

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

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Thanks for tuning in to Therapists Rising - see you next time!