WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
A. Introduction to Sandtray-WorldplayTM: An Experiential Workshop for Play Therapy (B/I) - “Dikke” Hansen, Christina Johnson, and Rachel Kowatch. (ALL DAY SESSION) Playing in the sand can be a powerful and transformational experience in play therapy. Sand play can be utilized by both children and adults because it does not require the ability to verbally express inner conflicts. It is a method to connect to our play therapy clients, learn about their worlds, and access their own abilities to heal from difficult life experiences. This experiential workshop is designed for those who are new to sandtray play, as well as those who are familiar but would like to deepen their use of sandtray play in their play therapy practice. Participants should come prepared with 10-15 images they would like to use in the workshop, a camera, and a journal.
B. Using Play Therapy to Help Adolescents (I) – Diane Frey. (ALL DAY SESSION) This seminar will focus on play therapy techniques to use with adolescents. The rationale for using play therapy with this population will be explored as well as various theoretical orientations. Major emphasis will be placed on age specific techniques. Attention will be given to such topics as transitional objects in play, sandtray for adolescents, drama therapy, family play therapy, art, CDs, game play, card play and other play therapy techniques to engage adolescents.
MORNING WORKSHOPS – SELECT ONE
C. Play Therapy: Theories and Techniques (B) – Dawn Chalker. (MORNING SESSION) This workshop is designed to provide an overview of play therapy through the exploration of both non-directive and directive approaches. Participants will experience play therapy techniques that can be applied to different populations in clinical settings, schools, or private practice.
D. Supervision, Ethics and Self (A) – Heather Maritano. (MORNING SESSION) This presentation is designed to explore the self of the supervisor in order to enhance the quality and integrity for our play therapy work. We will discuss the complex nature of play therapy supervision, the various roles of a play therapy supervisor and how to mitigate risks inherent in providing play therapy supervision. There will be ample discussion around one’s identity as a play therapy supervisor and the nuances of this role. Participants will be given prompts and unstructured time to engage in self-reflection regarding their own work. We will use case illustrations and discussion, with a focus on ethics in play therapy.
E. Connecting Creatively with Children, Adolescents and Families: Using Play Therapy and Drama Therapy Techniques to Expand Your Tool Kit (B/I) – Tamiko Rothhorn and Kristi Davis. (MORNING SESSION) This workshop will explore client-centered, experiential techniques with roots in play therapy, drama therapy and narrative therapy. Participants will have an opportunity for hands-on learning and will receive a detailed description of over twenty unique drama, play and narrative therapeutic interventions. Matching activities to different levels of client comfort will be addressed, as well as how to introduce drama and play activities throughout the therapeutic relationship.
F. All New Play and Art Therapy Techniques that Inspire Healing: For Adolescents and Adults (I/A) – Christine Davis Zouaoui. (MORNING SESSION) Art therapy has been used in mental health healing practices to help with healing for many years. In this experiential workshop participants will learn specific play and art therapy techniques that can be utilized immediately in play therapy practice. The art therapy techniques presented in this workshop will focus on use with adolescents and adults in individual, family, and group play therapy settings.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS – SELECT ONE
G. Using the Many Realms of Play in Created Families (I/A) – Elizabeth Sawyer Danowski and Theresa Fraser. (AFTERNOON SESSION) Families can be created through marriage/divorce, adoption, foster-care, death, disaster, relocation, and displacement. In this workshop we explore and “play with” integrative and psychodynamic play based interventions including sand tray play, client centered, directive, and narrative approaches that can assist created families in determining roles, rules and identity while they are “becoming.”
H. Using Games in Play Therapy (B) – M. Kay Hannah. (AFTERNOON SESSION) Commercial games such of Checkers, Pick-up Sticks, Rush Hour Jr., and Safari can be effective therapeutic tools to teach safety, problem solving, cause and effect, increasing attention and decreasing impulsivity in play therapy. Learn how to adapt commercial games and make games for specific play therapy clients and specific issues.
I. Cultivating Mindsight, Mentalization, Reflective Functioning and Intersubjectivity in Play Therapy through Storytelling Using Visual Images to Develop Secure Attachments (B/I) – Myra Lawrence. (AFTERNOON SESSION) Storytelling using visual images in play therapy enhances attunement, contingent, collaborative, reflective, emotional and reparative dialogue. Narrative approaches in play therapy and parent consultation cultivate mindsight, mentalization, reflective functioning and intersubjectivity, deepening a child’s/parent’s capacity to achieve secure attachments and develop understanding of and empathy for themselves and others.
J. Introduction to Filial Play Therapy (B/I) – Elizabeth Thompson. (AFTERNOON SESSION) Filial Play Therapy is an effective way to strengthen the bond between parent and child. It enhances the parents’ ability to understand their child’s internal struggles and emotions and to respond appropriately to their behavior. Participants will learn and practice skills utilized in teaching and supervising parents in special play sessions with their child.