APT content area: Seminal Theories and Skills & Methods

Introduction to Child Centered Play Therapy 

DESCRIPTION: 

This dynamic training is intended to provide participants with a basic understanding of Child Centered Play Therapy. Included will be a brief history of play therapy, the foundational tenets of the child centered approach, as well as some basic skills needed in the provision of child centered play therapy.  Child centered play therapy research will be included as well as some skill building practice.


OBJECTIVES:

Following the workshop, participants will be able to:

Participants will gain an awareness of the history of play therapy, with emphasis on child centered play therapy.  


Participants will have the opportunity to learn about and practice some basic child centered play therapy skills.


Participants will gain an awareness of the foundational tenets of using child centered play therapy with children.


Participants will develop an understanding of the connection between child centered play therapy and related research.


Participants will gain an awareness of the ACA code of Ethics standards when working with children, as well as the recommended APT Best Practices.


Participants will develop an awareness of materials, space and situational aspects needed for conducting child centered play therapy.  

Instructor Bio:

Dr. Brennan is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who has been practicing professionally in Albuquerque for more than 15 years. She is a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor through the National and International Association for Play Therapy and is a frequent presenter at the local, state and national levels. She is Past President and Past Secretary of the New Mexico Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Brennan is a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor through the national/international Association for Play Therapy. She provides training, consultation and supervision in play therapy to individuals and groups. In addition to her outpatient practice Dr. Brennan works with children in a variety of treatment settings. Dr. Brennan presented "Attachment - Addressing the Mind-Body Connection" at the annual conference of ATTACh (Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children) in Costa Mesa, California on October 16-19, 2002. The theme of the conference was "Sharpening the Focus on Attachment". Co-presenters were Hope Hoffman, M.A., Licensed Occupational Therapist and Staci Clark, M.A., CCC-SLP.

Carol Brennan, PhD, LPCC