Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

Through examination of the relationship between neuroscience and art therapy, an overview of current research including the impact of trauma on brain development and implications for art interventions will be discussed and applied to clinical examples and experiential learning exercises.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the unique qualities and aspects of childhood brain development
• Discuss the neurobiological view of trauma response and current trauma informed therapy approaches
• Identify therapeutic qualities of art, play, and other creative mind-body therapies

Play Therapy Primary Areas:

• Special Topics

Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

Trauma, drama, bullying, bulimia, anorexia, sexting, body image and cutting will be addressed in this workshop. Experiential play therapy techniques in a variety of theoretical modalities will focus on these difficult and challenging issues facing school age through adolescent girls.

• Skills and Methods
• Special Topics

Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

*Supervision Training

The supervision of play therapists is one of the most important jobs we do. The unique process and ethical elements of this relationship will be explored.. Sharing practices will be encouraged.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the role of the play therapy supervisor
• List ethical dilemmas common in play therapy supervision and suggest strategies for addressing them
• List supervision strategies and techniques for play therapists.

Play Therapy Primary Areas:

• Special Topics

Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

More than music! Learn how music therapy and play therapy intersect to enhance treatment and outcomes with young, at-risk children. Gain blended techniques for parent/child dyads and classrooms. Explore culturally sensitive strategies to address social emotional competence, self-regulation and communication.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain what music therapy is and it's application with at-risk children.
• Explain the therapeutic value of both play therapy and music therapy to parents, children and other professionals.
• Discuss toxic stress and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are; including how it can impact a child's development.
• Demonstrate how music and play therapy can support meeting developmental milestones and increase self-regulation.
• Identify appropriate materials for music therapy techniques and how to apply them to a play therapy session.
• List five developmentally appropriate play-based, music therapy interventions to use with at-risk children.

Play Therapy Primary Areas:

• Special Topics

Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

Learn how to use sand tray in family play therapy to increase the participation of all members -- big and small. Learn prompts and processing procedures to use with a variety of disorders specific to children in the family context.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss how to use the sand tray through the lens of family systems theory
• Identify useful prompts for family sand tray creation that will target specific individual and family problems
• Process sand tray creation with the family to facilitate structural change in the family system

Play Therapy Primary Areas:

• Special Topics

Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

This bilingual presentation is for play therapists who work with Spanish speaking clients. We will discuss general terminology in Spanish, interventions, cultural nuances and culturally relevant themes in play therapy. Participants will help develop a glossary of terms that will be helpful in communication with children and parents.

Esta ponencia bilingüe es para terapeutas que trabajan con pacientes hispanohablantes. Hablaremos de terminología en español, intervenciones, detalles culturales y temas pertinentes en la terapia de juego. Los participantes ayudarán a desarrollar un glosario de términos que asistirán en la comunicación con los niños y sus padres.

Learning Objectives:

• List the terms and language relevant to play therapy in Spanish (A glossary of terms will be developed as part of the presentation and discussion).
• Identify common “false cognates” many of us use when translating words literally.
• Explain identify issues they have experienced due to misunderstanding of words or experiences clients have presented that led to poor interventions.

Play Therapy Primary Areas:

• Special Topics

Eligible for APT and NBCC credit only.

Neurobiology reveals that optimal growth occurs right at the border of comfortable and uncomfortable. Explore new frontiers and possibilities in play therapy as you learn what it takes to keep a child right on the edge to maximize healing.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss ways to keep themselves and their child clients at the edge of the window of tolerance for maximum growth during a play therapy session.
• Explain the importance of authenticity and congruent emotional expressions as an integral part of helping deepen the child's experience during the play.
• Discuss some of the research and neurobiology behind expanding a child's emotional window of tolerance in a play therapy session.

Play Therapy Primary Areas:

• Special Topics