Jamie Lynn Langley, LCSW

08/31/2025

08/29/2025

I have parents who have asked me to help their children develop empathy. What if schools taught empathy as a subject?

In 1993, Denmark made empathy a required class called Klassens tid (“class time”)—1 hour a week dedicated to:
✨ Practicing kindness
✨ Talking about challenges
✨ Building emotional awareness

It’s not just about good behavior—it’s training the brain. Research shows practicing empathy strengthens the part of the brain that handles emotions and perspective-taking.

The results speak for themselves:
✅ Denmark has some of the lowest bullying rates in Europe (just 6.3%!)
✅ Teamwork makes up 60% of classroom activities, teaching kids to collaborate, not compete
✅ Kids who learn empathy early are more likely to graduate, hold steady jobs, and have strong relationships

Beyond school, this focus on emotional intelligence helps make Denmark one of the happiest countries in the world 🌍💛

Moral of the story: Teaching empathy isn’t just nice—it’s powerful.

source
Jessica Alexander, author of the book “The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids”

08/23/2025

As many know, I love puppets! This started when I was a little girl, first with the puppet and marionette shows at the downtown and Richland Park libraries in Nashville, and then with tv shows like Mister Rogers and Sesame Street. Puppets have also been a large part of my play therapy practice as they provide such a safe projective medium to explore experiences and issues. I often provide trainings on puppets in child/play therapy (next one is online in November) to share the therapeutic value of puppets.

Last weekend I was in Salzburg, Austria to experience the Sound of Music tour. While there I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Sound of Music performance at the Salzburg Marionette Theater, bringing together my love of puppets/marionettes and this treasured movie for an unforgettable experience. The marionettists were amazing! 💗

08/18/2025

Parents- this is so true! My sons are now grown but readily remember our family adventures from their childhood. And we’re still having them! We just went on our latest family adventure to Acadia National Park in July. We had a great time and are continuing to build connections and memories. Both are so important no matter how young or old our children are.

And guess what else? We as adults still thrive on adventure! Plan yours! I’m having one in Austria right now as a solo traveler. Adventures are great for couples too. My husband and I love to go on local adventures to area state parks and small town antique stores on weekends or for day trips when we can.

Adventures can happen close by- even in our own back yards. Children love this stuff! (This is good for teens too, even if they act like it isn’t.)

Here’s to your next adventure! Enjoy! 💚

08/14/2025

Dream the dream. Take the trip. Life is short.

“A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (Cinderella)

These are pics from bucket list no 1 this week. I have another one happening this weekend.

This is Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. I’ve dreamed of being here for so long!

It took some doing to get here due to flight problems yesterday. But everything worth it for this end result. Ultimate self-care to experience a dream come true. 🩵

08/12/2025

This is so me today! Much to do before I leave tonight for my birthday Neuschwanstein Castle and Sound of Music trip to Germany and Austria… but happily singing all the songs! 🎶

Thinking of our favorite things can actually be a coping skill when anxious or sad. So it can help us keep calm. So Maria/Julie Andrews (via Rodgers and Hammerstein) was right! 🩵

Being out in nature also helps. Singing does too!

* I am out of the office until Thrs, Aug 21. *

(Image had the British spelling that someone else had posted.)

08/11/2025

This is so true. There is more to therapy, including play therapy, than our time together.

Here’s something you might not know about play therapists…
Our work doesn’t stop when the session ends. We carry your child in mind throughout the week, reflecting, researching, planning and sometimes smiling when something reminds us of them.
Because for us, it’s always more than one hour.

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08/08/2025

Love this so much! Thank you to BAPT for sharing. 💗

Recipe for a Play Therapist

Ingredients:

2 heaped cups of empathy

1 strong foundation in child development

3 generous scoops of patience

1 cup of creativity (rainbows and puppets optional)

½ cup of humour (to laugh with, never at)

A pinch of therapeutic limits

4 tablespoons of active listening

A splash of imagination

Endless sprinkles of curiosity

Essential: a calming voice and a warm smile

Instructions:

1. Start with empathy as your base — it’s the heart of every good play therapist. Mix in a solid understanding of developmental psychology to give your work structure and depth.

2. Stir in patience and creativity slowly. These will help you connect with children at their own pace, in their own world.

3. Fold in humour to help ease anxiety and build rapport. Just a pinch can bring light to even the most difficult sessions.

4. Add your listening skills, being sure to include both what is said and what is shown through play.

5. Season with imagination and curiosity. Let the child lead — your job is to follow, understand, and reflect their world.

6. Top with a warm, consistent presence. Children thrive on predictability and safety, so your steady, genuine approach is the glue that holds it all together.

7. Let it simmer over time. Progress is slow-cooked, never rushed.

Serves: One child at a time — with care, compassion, and connection.

08/06/2025

Happy Back-to-School Day for many of our Murfreesboro and Rutherford County students and teachers! (Just a two-hour intro day today. First full day is Friday!) The 10 weeks of summer flew by!

Transitioning back to school has been a “hot topic” in sessions this past week. We’ve been working on adjusting sleep schedules, ways to stay organized, coping with school and social-based anxiety, and more. And here we are- school is back in session.

Here’s to a great school year! 🖍️ ⏰ 📚 🎒 ✏️ 📓

08/01/2025

Happy August! 🎉

So many great things about this month!
Self-Awareness Month. National Self-Awareness Month. School starts back this month.

It’s also my birthday month. A big one! Which I have honestly been dreading, so I made some plans to be more welcoming of this age and stage, including a big bucket-list solo trip in less than two weeks.

The main thing is- let’s enjoy what life has to offer this month and beyond. 💗

P.S. And the first day in many weeks to not be in the nineties here in Tennessee! A great way for this special month to begin!