Pre-teens and Teens in Play Therapy

From twelve-year-olds to seniors in high school, adolescence is a time filled with change. This can make the notion of bringing play therapy to this population a challenge. Do we play? Do we talk? Do I ask questions? What do I do?” As such, many therapists find themselves at a loss with this age group, feeling just as confused as they do!

In this workshop, play therapists will delve into the mysteries of the teenage mind as we bust myths and glean insight into how to best offer therapeutic support. Using neuroscience, Developmental, Synergetic, and Systemic theories, participants will explore how to navigate this “awkward” and sometimes “overwhelming” developmental stage using an eclectic framework of non-directive and directive play therapy approaches. Understanding how to assess the teen’s emotional age, an area often missed when working with this population, will also be covered as a way to understand how to incorporate play into the therapy process.

The information presented is designed to open minds and hearts as participants uncover the wisdom of the changing brain and the wisdom of the teenage years. Through lecture, demonstration, and discussion, this workshop will deconstruct this mysterious stage and support play therapists in discovering how they can help mature and remodel the teenage brain, while supporting movement towards the discovery of the authentic self- the cornerstone of the development of a teenager’s identity.

Pre-teens and Teens in Play Therapy Learning Objectives:

• Identify why it is important not to have a script for when to apply directive and non-directive play therapy interventions with pre-teens and teens
• Discuss the importance of assessing the pre-teen or teen’s emotional age in the play therapy process
• Describe the most important goal when applying play therapy to your work with pre-teens and teens

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.