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. 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 during sessions. Participants will be introduced to materials that are recommended for a well-equipped play therapy room that are conducive to work with adolescent clients based on child centered play therapy theory. Adaptations to the traditional child-centered play therapy model to specifically engage adolescent clients will also be discussed.

 Learning Objectives:

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

1. Identify the eight core principles of child-centered play therapy outlined by Virginia Axline
2. Identify and demonstrate the nine categories of responses primarily utilized in child-centered play therapy
3. Describe the recommended playroom materials in a child-centered play therapy session
4. Describe at least 3 adaptations to consider for a child-centered play therapy space to encourage therapeutic connections with adolescents