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The Innovative TherapistCreative solutions for body trust Author: Dr. Shawn Hondorp, PhD, ABPP
Are you a therapist or helper that likes to think deeply and creatively about ways to build trust with our bodies in and out of the therapy office? Do you want to overcome disordered relationships to food so that you can live a life that feels aligned and amazing, and help inspire others to do the same? Do you hate small talk your idea of fun is deep and meaningful talks about living more courageous and connected lives? If so, then welcome to the Innovative Therapist podcast where we talk about creative ways to heal and build self-trust, Internal Family Systems theory and Parts Psychology, and unlearning the many messages from oppressive systems that lead us away from body trust. Im Dr. Shawn Hondorp, clinical psychologist. Lets work together to create safe learning environments for those who want to explore innovative approaches to healing, one authentic conversation at a time. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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When Play Feels Scary — What Guilt, Grief, and the Fear of Being Lazy Are Really Trying to Tell You
Monday, 1 December, 2025
Therapists, helpers, and creatives — you weren’t made to burn out. You were made to create from your Zone of Genius.💛 Grab the free guide and start crafting work that energizes (not drains) you.👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone Episode 154: When Play Feels Scary — What Guilt, Grief, and the Fear of Being Lazy Are Really Trying to Tell You If you’ve ever felt pulled toward creativity or play — and immediately felt guilt, fear, or the worry you’re being “lazy” — this episode is for you. Following joy should feel simple… but most of us quickly discover it’s incredibly vulnerable.Because reconnecting with play doesn’t just open the door to joy — it also awakens grief, old protective parts, and long-buried fears about productivity, worth, and being “too much.” In this solo episode, I’m sharing what I’ve been exploring inside the Inspired Innovators online community, in recent talks with psychology interns, and in my own journey with creativity and dance. This one is tender, honest, and very real. Why Play Feels Scary (Even When We Want It) Play looks lighthearted on the outside…but internally, it stirs everything. When we try on a new color, order something different for dinner, sign up for a dance class, or say yes to a creative urge, we bump into old beliefs: “People will judge me.” “This is silly.” “We don’t have time for this.” “You’re being unproductive.” “Remember when you slacked off as a kid and it cost you?” These messages come from protector parts — loyal, hardworking, and terrified of vulnerability. Play isn’t just fun.It’s revealing. Where Grief Shows Up No one talks about the grief that surfaces when we start playing again. The sadness of: realizing how long it’s been noticing what we lost touch with seeing our younger parts resurface feeling regret for the years we muted this part of ourselves remembering the joy we denied or postponed Grief doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.It means the joy is real. As Brené Brown teaches, we can’t selectively numb.When joy returns, grief is often sitting right beside it. For me, returning to dance brought both: pure aliveness and deep tenderness for the years I didn’t let myself have it. The Fear of Being “Lazy” This came up inside our community and in conversations with clients: “What if I start following my joy and I can’t stop?”“What if I lose all structure?”“What if play makes me irresponsible?” These fears make total sense. When you’ve been starved of play, rest, or joy, it’s normal for the playful parts to want freedom. They’re not trying to derail your life — they’re trying to catch up. You’re not lazy.You’re under-nourished. And the only way to build trust with your playful parts is by actually letting them out — in small, safe doses. Creativity Isn’t Optional — It’s Survival Creative practice is how we: build resilience enhance problem-solving reconnect with embodiment tolerate frustration navigate change stay mentally alive Especially in a world where AI is shifting the landscape of therapy and helping professions, our uniquely human capacities — empathy, intuition, creativity, storytelling — matter more than ever. Lessons from Watching My Kids Play Watching my kids play recently reminded me: Play is not just fun — it’s how we learn. Kids problem-solve, negotiate, switch roles, and move through discomfort because the play matters enough to keep going. As adults, we need that space too: non-performative messy intuitive embodied alive It strengthens courage, presence, clarity, and connection — all things our field desperately needs. What to Ask Yourself When Play Feels Scary Try these as gentle starting points: ✨ How did I love to play as a kid?✨ What tiny “joy breadcrumb” is calling to me right now?✨ Which protector shows up when I consider doing it?
