With an understanding of aggressive play based on brain function and neuroscience, this book provides therapists with a framework to work authentically with aggressive play, while making it an integrative and therapeutic experience for the child.
Through the lens of principles from Synergetic Play Therapy®, therapists are taught how to integrate the intensity experienced by both the child and the therapist during aggressive play in a way that leads towards greater healing and integration. The book explains the neurological processes that lead kids to dysregulation and provides therapists with tools to help their clients facilitate deep emotional healing, without causing their own nervous system to shut down.
Chapter Topics Include:
- Aggression in the Playroom and Making Aggressive Play Therapeutic
- Understanding the Nervous System
- What Regulation Really Means
- Developing Yourself as the External Regulator
- The Set-Up in Play Therapy
- Authentic Expression
- Setting Boundaries
- Working with Emotional Flooding
- Hyper-Aroused Play
- Observing Play
- Hypo-Aroused Play
- Working with Parents
Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach for Integrating Intensity Book Study Learning Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of aggression and death play that is based on brain function and neuroscience in the play therapy process.
- Explain the four threats to the brain that activate a fight/flight/freeze/collapse response and why this is so important to know when working with children in play therapy.
- Assess the concept of “one foot in and one foot out” and its impact on the play therapy process.
- Understand the practical ways to authentically work with the intensity of aggression and death play, without causing compassion fatigue or burnout in play therapy.
- Develop an understanding of how to set boundaries without shaming or shutting the child down in the play therapy process.
- Identify ways to regulate yourself in the midst of an intense play therapy session so as to model to the child client how to do the same, thereby enhancing the child’s capacity for self-regulation.
Need the book?
The book is also currently available in Audio format and two translations: Spanish and Japanese!
If you have not already purchased the required reading, you can get it at a 25% discount. This only applies for purchase made in the U.S. Go here to redeem: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393713190. Use coupon code LDION21 or https://WWNorton.com/rd/LDION21.
If you reside in Australia/New Zealand, you can order the book through Booktopia, Dymocks, QBD, Amazon AU, etc. Search the ISBN, 9780393713190 to pull results quickly. And if you are unable to locate the book in your country, please email us at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com, so we can contact the publisher and assist you in obtaining a copy.
Each lesson of this course must be completed in order. Please click on the blue letters below, “Synergetic Play Therapy Institute – Course Agreements”, to begin. Once you have completed this first lesson, you will be able to continue on to the next lesson of your course and view the pre-recorded video.
In order to complete the course and print a certificate, you must complete all lessons below. Please remember that your access to this course and its content will expire 365 days from the date of purchase.