Gotel & Thrive

09/07/2026

What do toy handcuffs, police figures, and foam swords have to do with mental health support in schools?

More than school leaders may realize.

Nearly 60% of school-based mental health professionals report using play therapy techniques in their practice. However, aggressive-themed toys and miniatures can create understandable concern when they are seen without context.

In my article for Medium, “Why Are There Handcuffs in My School Social Worker’s Office?,” I explore the tension between two important responsibilities: a clinician’s need to provide children with a safe, developmentally appropriate way to process difficult experiences and a school leader’s responsibility to maintain a safe learning environment.

For principals and district leaders, understanding play therapy is essential to supporting developmentally responsive school mental health programs that meet children where they are.

Read the article to learn:

-How toys and miniature figures are used therapeutically
-Evidence supporting inclusion of certain agressive-themed toys
-Guidance for school leaders to reduce risk of misunderstandings involving play therapy materials

What do toy handcuffs, police figures, and foam swords have to do with mental health support in schools? More than school leaders may realize. Nearly 60% of school-based mental health professionals report using play therapy techniques in their practice. However, aggressive-themed toys and miniatures...

01/05/2026

What Do You Know with Certainty?

Not what you assume.
Not what you fear.
Not what your inner critic keeps replaying.
But what you know, deep down, without needing proof or permission.

Sometimes certainty is small:
“I can handle what comes.”
“This feeling will change.”
“I have a right to rest.”

Clarity doesn’t always come from answers. Often, it comes from listening. Sometimes it is quiet knowing you carry through generations.

Take a pause today, the first week in this new year, and ask yourself:—
What do I know with certainty, right now?

🖤 Sit with it.
🖤 Write it down.
🖤 Let it guide you.

Drop one thing you know for sure 👇🏾
No explaining. No justifying. Just truth.

11/06/2024

There is collective worry and grief this morning with definitive choice of leadership for our country. I am worried, too.

For now, I encourage you to put on your oxygen mask. Take care of yourself. Be in community to remind each other and our children of our good and worth, and that we are made of the same DNA of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Cinque.

We will persevere...together.

07/22/2024

Want to learn Sandtray Therapy? Trenton NJ and surrounding areas: I will be facilitating in-person training at the Center for Dynamic Growth in Hamilton New Jersey on August 10. 6CEUs and APT Credits. Register today!

Introduction to Sandtray Play Therapy (Skills/Methods) -IN PERSON- Presenter: Douglas Gotel, LICSW, RPT-S™ When: August 10th, 9 am-5:00pm est Location: Center for Dynamic Growth 2135 Route 33 Hamilton

07/13/2024

Healing Circles are powerful and transformative spaces that promote emotional well-being and growth through communal support and shared experiences. Grief is a universal human experience, and Healing Circles can be an effective restorative protocol for individuals and communities dealing with loss and bereavement. Healing Circles and symbols can be used as a therapeutic approach that draws on traditional ancestral healing practices and, when integrated with play therapy practice, can honor cultural traditions, foster community support, and provide a medium for individuals to express their grief.

I had a fantastic time presenting this weekend at the Black Play Therapy Symposium. We embodied the adage that "we heal in community," and I am grateful to those those who felt safe enough in the session to share their stories.

Thank you to my co-presenter Dr. Niani Smith for partnering with me to share this practice with other practitioners and thank you to Althea T. Simpson and the Black Play Therapy Foundation for your vision and for hosting such an impactful conference "for the culture!"

02/05/2024

It's International Play Therapy Week and guess who's presenting at the return of the Black Play Therapy Symposium this summer? ⬇ Resister today! https://blackplaytherapy.com/

01/05/2024

Utilize Your Resources!

That is our 2024 imperative. In a world full of possibilities, it's crucial to recognize and leverage the power of the resources at your disposal. Whether it's your skills, connections, or the tools around you, they all play a vital role in your success and growth. Here's to utilizing every ounce of potential and turning possibilities into abundance!

🌐 Your Network: Connect, collaborate, and create magic together. The people around you are a treasure trove of knowledge and opportunities. Don't hesitate to lean on your network and watch the magic unfold!

🔧 Your Skills: You possess a unique set of skills that set you apart. Hone them, refine them, and let them shine! Your abilities are the key to unlocking doors you never thought possible.

💡 Your Environment: Look around, your surroundings are filled with tools waiting to be utilized. Whether it's technology, or even a quiet space to think, optimize your environment for productivity and restoration.

🕒Time: As long as you have breath, “It’s never too late.” Never too late to atone and move forward, to do a new thing, to forgive, to save and invest, to rest, to make better choices…time is one of our most valuable resources.

Success is not just about having resources but knowing how to use them effectively. Embrace your power. Now go forth and Thrive! ✨

#2024

12/28/2023

Hey fam!🌟 In our final post for 2023, let's talk about a small but mighty change we can make in our daily dialogue – mindful use of the word "ONLY” in our vocabulary.

The word "only" has a way of downplaying, restricting, and confining our thoughts. When we say, "I can only do this," or "It's only a small achievement," or “I only have this,” we unintentionally undermine our accomplishments and potential. This subtle language choice can create a mindset of scarcity, limiting our belief in what is possible for ourselves.

“Only” also is a permission-giving word, often to our vices. When you say to yourself “Oh, it’s only $50,” you are also giving yourself permission to spend frivolously, which may undermine your financial goals. Advertisers understand this very well. Alternately say, "I can afford this $50 purchase and I choose instead to save or invest it."

The language we use reflects our mindset and beliefs. By being more mindful and judicious of using the word "only" in our vocabulary, we break free from limitations, embrace abundance, hold ourselves accountable, and open ourselves up to a world of possibilities. Let's choose words that empower, uplift, and inspire, creating a positive ripple effect in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

Embrace the power of abundance, starting with the language you use every day.

May 2024 be as amazing as you are!

12/14/2023

We're Hiring!

Gotel & Thrive is the restorative space for q***r and heterosexual men of color, women of color, and children & youth of diverse backgrounds to undo the thinking and behaviors that block joy and provide tools to cope when life forces you to pivot. We are a growing a team of Thrive Alchemists™– mental health clinicians and wellness practitioners who have a singular agenda: To help our clients release themselves and flourish!

You don’t have to leave your full-time job!

We are looking for fully licensed therapists in DC, MD, VA, and GA for part-time contract positions who are passionate about our client population and share our values of excellence, cultural humility, coaction, valor, and self-compassion.

Why Gotel & Thrive?

· Generous split-fee compensation based on licensure and specialization (up to $123/session)
· Make your own schedule
· Case consultations with experienced clinicians
· Play Therapy supervision
· Work from home or in-office (DC)
· Support building caseload
· No-stress billing (we bill for you and deal with insurance)
· No “non-compete” agreement
· Other value adds...contact us to find out!

Apply Now!
www.gotelandthrive.com/careers

11/16/2023

The holiday season inspires joy for many, and for some, it inspires pressure and stress.

You can choose to prioritize your well-being and joy over the pressure to overspend or overcommit.

You can choose to cherish moments, not things. You can choose to say no to obligations that drain your energy and finances AND give, honor, and show up within your means, emotionally and financially.

Your peace of mind is the greatest gift you can give yourself! 🎁