Description:

Child-centered play therapy is a modality that utilizes the child’s natural language of play and the therapeutic relationship to help a child overcome psychosocial, behavioral, relational, and emotional challenges. Through the use of empathic understanding, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard, child-centered play therapists utilize the play sessions to help the client heal. This training will help play therapists understand the theory and principles behind child-centered play therapy as well as the categories of play therapist responses and the ACT model of limit setting during sessions. Participants will be introduced to the materials that are recommended for a well-equipped play therapy room based on child-centered play therapy theory. Implementation of child-centered play therapy in a traditional play therapy room will be discussed, as well as how to modify this work to a school setting. An introduction to the documentation of a child-centered play therapy session will also be provided.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the key figures and timeline in the history of child-centered play therapy

2. Identify the eight core principles of child-centered play therapy outlined by Virginia Axline

3. Identify and demonstrate the nine categories of responses primarily utilized in child-centered play therapy

4. Describe the ACT limit setting model utilized in child-centered play therapy

5. Describe the recommended playroom materials in a child-centered play therapy session, both in an office setting and in a school setting

6. Describe methods of taking notes during child-centered play therapy sessions to ensure appropriate documentation