Description:

This advanced course will go through the process and planning for the play therapy treatment of children who have been traumatized through abuse, natural disasters, or other incidents. The participants will see how the process is used in Type I trauma (PTSD) and how different methods are used in play therapy to facilitate the healing process of the children. Some experiential work will be done, and illustrations will be provided through case presentations. ​

Learning Objectives:

• Describe children’s post-traumatic responses depending on age.
• Apply skills for the use of Release Play Therapy for PTSD.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of developmental factors that impact children’s reactions to physical abuse, natural disasters, and witnessing traumatic events.
• Discuss 3 state-of-the-art play therapy techniques to respond to traumatized children.
• Explain the transdisciplinary assessment and its advantages for all children in play therapy.
• Explain Freud’s definition of abreaction and abreactive play in Release Play Therapy.