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Sibling rivalry is a common phenomenon in family systems and thus a common reason siblings are brought to play therapy! Have you ever wondered how to support siblings in play therapy? Do you work with them individually, together or with the entire family system? Do you take a non-directive or directive approach? When they are in the room together, what exactly do you do? This webinar will answer these questions and more! You will walk away with a better understanding of how best to support siblings in play therapy, along with creative ideas as to what to do when they are in the room together! Scroll down for all of the course details!
From the dad with doubts to the mom with mixed emotions, not all parents are sold on the idea of play therapy. The resistant parent is a parent who may have questions, shame, or confusion about the process. This course explores how to encourage parental understanding of the power of play and why it’s a key step in helping children heal.
Parents are the most important allies of the play therapist. But forming this alliance requires time, understanding, and lots of communication. It also requires congruence, adaptability, and an appreciation of the parents’ authentic selves. Parents and play therapists are on the same team with one common goal: promote healing for a struggling child. This one-hour home study course explores this play therapy pact.
Working with families as a whole presents a complex and multifaceted endeavor, often marked by intricate dynamics. This course delves into the significance of integrating families into the play therapy process, providing guidance on effectively engaging all family members during sessions and examining the myriad benefits this inclusive approach offers. You will also understand the role of the nervous system in family interactions and strategies for regulating and harmonizing family dynamics within the context of play therapy sessions.
The Synergetic Play Therapy Institute® in collaboration with PIP Solutions presents “Working with Adopted Children in Play Therapy”. Many adopted children have unique challenges which present in different ways in the playroom. Play Therapists can often feel unsure but are aware of the importance of responding through a different lens. In this course, there will be an emphasis on the importance of working with the child’s neuro-biological processes such as regulation and dys-regulation, as well as the importance of educating and working with the child’s adoptive parents.
From a stroll through the Lollipop woods of Candyland to a fight over the Thimble in Monopoly, games are part of childhood. In the playroom, certain games are more commonly used than others. How do we use chess as a pawn in our therapeutic healing? How can we call on checkers to check on the child’s state of regulation? What does a game tell us about a child’s emotional world? This webinar explores these questions and more!
This course supports play therapists as they learn about setting boundaries from a neurobiological perspective, keeping the child’s brain and nervous system activation in mind! Drawing from Interpersonal Neurobiology and Synergetic Play Therapy®, participants will learn how to set boundaries without shaming the child or stopping the child’s play, allowing for deeper integration and connection. Working with emotional flooding (the child’s and the therapist’s) will also be explored. Please scroll down for course details.
Lisa Dion and Dr. Robert Jason Grant, creator of AutPlay Therapy, discuss what Sensory Processing Disorder is, how to begin to understand it in the context of play therapy, and offer helpful suggestions for therapists to get started.
With their changing brains and hormones, finding ways to integrate play with pre-teens and teens can at times just feel “Awkward”. Learn how to navigate therapy with our clients who are no longer children, but also not quite yet adults. 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. To get a sense for the course, check out this short video below:See course details below.
A One-Day Virtual Summit Empowering Therapists While Supporting Play Therapy Training Scholarships!
"Play It Forward" is how therapists maximize their impact for clients, for themselves, and for their community of therapists around the world. Led by mental health professionals for mental health professionals, this educational summit offers online workshops on a variety of distinct topics by leaders in their fields and specialties. And, it provides another unique benefit: making professional development available to all clinicians! Hosted by the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute (SPTI), the Play It Forward Virtual Summit supports the Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation in offering scholarships for mental health professionals in need of financial assistance for training and education. Summit presenters donated their time and expertise as a vehicle for fundraising for our global community of therapists. *All proceeds from this virtual summit will be donated to the Synergetic Play Therapy Foundation to fund play therapy scholarships! The content of each course is diverse, yet there is one common vision - a future where play therapy education and training are more widely accessible and attainable for clinicians in need! Join us and invest in your professional growth while supporting this broader goal! You have the option to join this virtual summit for the Morning Session, the Afternoon Session, or for the Full Day of learning! Each "session" contains two courses on separate topics. (See the topic descriptions below to select the session(s) that most interests you!) Morning Session (Two Courses): Course #1 - Understanding the Intersection of Reflections and Reflective Functioning in Sandtray Therapy Presented by Marshall Lyles, LPC, LMFT-S, RPT-S Sandtray therapy prominently features the art of reflecting. In fact, it may be the therapy skill most associated with the craft. However, we can become so accustomed to the language of reflecting that we can lose contact with its intent. This workshop will look at the skill of reflecting through the lens of the attachment theory concept of reflective functioning. The examples given for honoring this intersection will feature the use of the sand tray. Course #2 - Playing by the Rules: Navigating Legal Processes for Play Therapists Presented by Val Bruno, LPC, RPT-S When play therapy intersects with the legal system, Play Therapists often find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Navigating legal processes can be daunting without proper guidance, leaving therapists feeling uncertain and ill-prepared to advocate for their clients effectively. Learn what you need to know to steer through the legal system with ease and confidence. You'll leave this presentation empowered to effectively advocate for your clients, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. Afternoon Session (Two Courses): Course 1 - Play Therapy with Sexually Traumatized Children Presented by Dr. Jodi Mullen, LPC Children who have been sexually traumatized are often in need of our clinical services. Both directive and non-directive play therapy approaches provide these traumatized children with healing and the repair of losses associated with sexual trauma, such as innocence, trust, and appropriate boundaries. Develop your expertise and become a more effective advocate for your child clients with the knowledge and insight offered through this presentation. Learn about sexual development in children, the psychological markers of sexual trauma, and the special issues these children present in play therapy, including: consulting with non-offending parents, dealing with the powerful impact of countertransference, and setting limits. Course 2 - Creating an Affirming Play Therapy Space for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Their Families Presented by Jennifer Shivey, LPC, RPT-S Transgender and gender-diverse children face unique challenges in navigating their identities and experiences. Their families also face unique challenges, but many are fearful of voicing them because of how others might perceive them. And well-meaning clinicians can unintentionally create harm when working with this population if they’re unaware of certain blind spots. Gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to provide this much-needed support. This presentation will empower you to leverage play therapy as a dynamic and effective approach to support these children and their families in understanding and expressing themselves in a safe and affirming environment. For more information keep scrolling! Use the dropdown menu below to select your attendance option. You may select to attend the Morning Session courses, Afternoon Session courses, or Full Day to attend them all! *If you are attending live, select the "Live Event" option from the dropdown menu below. *If you are unable to attend live, select the "Home Study" option from the dropdown menu below. (Must be completed within 7 days following the live event)
Supporting a child struggling with obsessive compulsions and perfectionism can be incredibly challenging as the desire to move the child out of their rigidity and rituals can overshadow the deeper issues and stressors driving the behaviors. In this course, you will gain an understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the behavior of perfectionism, and how play therapy can support the integration of the underlying drivers of the behaviors so as not to intensify the inner struggle that is often experienced by these children as they attempt to stop, control and even deny the urges in their bodies.
