Description

How does play therapy actually create change while improving mental health and overall functioning? This workshop will teach what it is about play specifically that leads to change. The relationship between individual therapeutic powers of play (or change agents) and the primary traits of play will be explored, while relating to the basic tenets of major theories of play therapy. Understanding these relationships and how to implement them allows for effectively choosing techniques or interventions to give the desired observable outcomes. This process will be described and practiced using didactic and experiential exercises, helping participants to solidify their understanding of play therapy theory and practice. Participants will learn how to match presenting problems with the change agents of play and techniques to achieve desired outcomes, and be better equipped to answer the question “So you just…play?” when speaking with parents, referral sources, and other professionals, as well as when writing treatment plans.

Learning Objectives 

1. Identify the 20 therapeutic powers of play seen through play therapy.
2. Identify the eight primary traits of play as used in play therapy.
3. Demonstrate at least three examples of how to connect basic tenets of theories with specific therapeutic powers of play to utilize in play therapy to achieve a desired outcome.
4. Discuss how to choose an intervention to promote a desired observable outcome from play therapy, given a specified therapeutic power of play.