Welcome to Play Therapy Institute of Colorado’s E-Learning Site
Please select a course below to get started.
-
Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy (Affiliate Course)
"The neuroscience behind this training will blow your mind!" - Keri Sawyer "I used to struggle with explaining how play therapy "works" to fathers who were more "left brain" (e.g., Lawyers, accountants, Google employees, etc). But that's not an issue for me anymore. Lisa taught me how to work with resistant fathers so they can confidently "buy" into the play therapy process!" - Susan StutzmanIn this thought-provoking yet practical workshop, participants will explore what it really takes to partner with parents. They will have the opportunity to understand how to have a successful intake session setting the stage for a higher level of investment and commitment, how to communicate to parents so that they understand what play therapy is and how it works, how to translate what is happening in the playroom so that parents understand how the goals are being worked on, what to do with resistant parents and what to do when parents just want to drop their child off to be "fixed".
Through new skills, insights and a framework rooted in relationship theory, therapists are guaranteed to leave feeling inspired to work with parents.
This course helps play therapists strengthen their work with parents so they can:
- Get More Clients
- Understand the Parent's Brain
- Be More Authentic with Parents
- Have Successful Parent Intakes
- Level-Up Their Parent Coaching Skills
Please see course details below. For a list of all available products, please go here. 
"Although I have been utilizing mindfulness for years in the therapy room, this training opened my eyes to the opportunities and benefits that I was overlooking. I am able to more intentionally track the content AND processes occurring in session, leading to more richness and depth in the work." -Dr. Alana Roth
Neuroscience is revealing that mindfulness is a key component for integration, so what is it, what is it not and how to incorporate it into the playroom are important questions to consider as a play therapist. If you are curious about understanding mindfulness and developing a more mindful approach to your work, join Lisa Dion in an interactive workshop on becoming a mindful play therapist.
In this course, you will explore some of the neuroscience behind mindfulness as you learn how to cultivate it within yourself and within your child clients. You will also learn the importance of bringing mindfulness into the playroom as a way to avoid compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. This course is applicable to all play therapy theories.
https://youtu.be/jwCo52TKE2I This course helps play therapists to:- Connect mindfulness and trauma integration
- Reduce compassion fatigue
- Help children cultivate mindfulness
- Understand the neuroscience behind cultivating mindfulness
"This was the most significant sand tray training which help me better understand the ways sand can assist in helping regulate/co-regulate our nervous systems. I highly recommend this training to anyone who works with children and adults." -Helen Wilson "Although I consider myself a seasoned play and sand tray therapist I learned so much in just one hour of this course. Highly recommended!" - Marina Keukens Terrell Have you ever wondered how to help children facilitate their processing in your playroom through the use of sand in a nontraditional way? If so, this workshop is for you! The sand tray is a common fixture in play therapy. But thinking outside the “sandbox” allows therapists to use sand in a nontraditional way, fostering regulation. In this engaging workshop the play therapist will learn the 5 toys needed to turn a sand tray into a regulation tool, gain an understanding of how a child can use the sand and the activation in their nervous system as well as be exposed to various ways to bring regulation into the sand tray to help deepen the child’s experience. Join us as we explore the link between sand and the nervous system and discover how the proper tools can deepen both the child’s experience and their healing. https://youtu.be/x4Z4xlOANwU Please see course details below. For a list of all available products, please go here. By clicking "Buy Product" you will be redirected to a payment link provided by Kid Matters Counseling. All payment or course-related questions should be redirected to the affiliate organization, Kid Matters Counseling. Synergetic Play Therapy Institute does not process payment directly for this course.
"This was very helpful in allowing to learn ways to integrate neuroscience and transitions to help promote regulation for the child!" - Fernando Gonzalez III "This class was so informative with great concrete tools. Awesome class!" -Lauri Levitt Transitions are everywhere, in the expected and the unexpected. As a play therapist, it's important to be prepared to help our clients with transitions - such as divorce, death, a move, new sibling, or sensory challenges - that often bring them to our playroom. In this course, Lisa Dion and Susan Stutzman explore how to navigate transitions and change in the play therapy setting. Participants will walk away having gained an understanding of current neurobiological research that supports an understanding of how transitions can trigger a threat response in the brain causing activation of the autonomic nervous system. From a neurobiological lens, the therapist will gain knowledge of how to best navigate the challenges of transitions that bring clients to play therapy and learn ways to navigate change and transition that happens during the therapeutic play process itself. Clinical applications for working through transitioning within professional working relationships will be touched on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGUlmjyn2Js This course is for you, if you want to:- Help children through divorce
- Process death & loss
- Help a child transition to a new school
- Help children learn emotional balance and regulation
- Help kids with sensory challenges
"I could watch Lisa talk about play therapy all day. This workshop gives you really helpful, crystallized ideas and nuggets about the play therapy process and how it allows children to heal. Definitely worth a watch when you're maybe feeling stuck with a specific client, or running out of metaphors to communicate the efficacy of play therapy with colleagues or parents." -Malia Segal Lisa unlocks the therapeutic powers of play in this foundational neuroscience-rich training .... In a profession that is fighting for recognition and to be taken seriously, not fully understanding exactly how play therapy transformation takes place is a void. Without really understanding how attuned play works to bring about lasting change, therapists are left feeling uncertain and missing the language to effectively talk to parents, teachers and other influential people in children’s lives. The therapist's ability to influence other professions to see the value in play therapy is also impacted. This presentation is designed to fill in gaps in the play therapist’s understanding by addressing the answer to this very important question- how exactly does play therapy work? Through presentation and discussion, participants will be taken into the minds and biology of children for an inside look at what goes on that leads to their transformation and healing. With the help of neuroscience, brain development, and interpersonal neurobiology, the “how” will be answered allowing participants to truly understand the process and what exactly is going on in the playroom. This dynamic, eye-opening and thought provoking presentation will empower therapists to begin to move beyond their current framework. This course is for you if you want to ...- Integrate the neuroscience behind the therapeutic powers of play therapy
- Better articulate to parents why play therapy works
- How children use toys to understand themselves
The Six-Day Synergetic Play Therapy® Intensive allows you to jump in and really experience the magic of Synergetic Play Therapy®! We hold these intensives regularly throughout the year, limiting this program to four people in order to permit extensive skill practice with individualized coaching and feedback. Each participant will be paired with a child client with whom they will work every day during the training under direct supervision as part of a therapeutic observation team. Dive into SPT and see if it's right for you!
Six-Day Synergetic Play Therapy® Intensive Prerequisite Training:- Participants should have completed or be enrolled in a Master’s Degree (or equivalent) program in counseling, social work, or education.
- Previous experience working with children and families is also required.
- A basic understanding of play therapy and play therapy skills is required.
***Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a complete list of the course details and objectives***
"Clear, to the point information on how to set up play therapy in a home, how to set boundaries (literally and figuratively speaking), and how to work with parents." -Marina Keukens Terrell "Love the ideas and talking about setting up a space for boundaries if it is a shared space within a home!" -Carly Schrimpl Take the guesswork out of doing play therapy in the home! .... Are you an in-home play therapist finding yourself confused and even overwhelmed about how to bring play therapy into the home? Do you ever wonder where boundaries are? What toys to bring? How to structure your time? What to do with the parents when they are also there? How to talk to the parents about what you are doing? In this training you'll explore how to make your time in the home the most therapeutic experience possible while bringing clarity and certainty to your role. https://youtu.be/jP0W4Rs3AMk This course is for you if ...- Struggle with setting boundaries and structure your time for in-home play therapy sessions.
- Lost on what toys to bring with you into the home.
- Confused on how to explain play therapy sessions to parents.
- Practice in places like hospitals & schools
"The experience of becoming a Synergetic Play Therapist Supervisor has been a journey in deepening my relationship and attachment to myself and therefore to those around me. I feel better resourced and skilled to support play therapists in their work and their own journeys. This course connected me to a community that I feel deeply privileged to be a part of. During a challenging time for our planet, I felt a connection to others that sustained me." -Katrina Bevelander Are you ready to become a Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor? For Certified Synergetic Play Therapists who meet the prerequisites we offer a path to becoming a Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor*. These courses also count towards Registered Play Therapy Supervisor requirements (please check with APT to determine full requirements). In this training, students will learn how to apply the Synergetic Play Therapy philosophy and tenets to the supervisory relationship. Through video observation, didactic learning, group discussion, and self study (this course is heavy on independent study), students will learn how to step into the role of supervisor- one of the most important and influential roles in a play therapist's journey. Hear what other Certified SPT Therapists/Supervisors had to say about the course Application Deadline September 1st, 2022! Please note: Completion of a Legal and Ethical Issues in Play Therapy Supervision course is not a prerequisite for this course. However, it must be completed before you can obtain the designation Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor. You will be asked to provide documentation of completion of a Legal and Ethical issues in Play Therapy supervision course. You will also need to have two supervisees during the six months of the course and that are willing to be video-taped. *Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor is a protected title held by those who have taken this training Please scroll down for class details and objectives. [aelia_currency_selector_widget title="Select your currency based on your location and wait for the page to refresh before adding to cart." widget_type="dropdown"]
Have you been looking for the perfect opportunity to market to a community of over 13,000 play therapists and mental health professionals who all want to increase their income and showcase their talents!? Come join us at The Business of Therapy Conference, Featuring award-winning play therapist and international speaker Lisa Dion in Denver, Colorado, November 11th-13th, 2022.For further questions regarding these sponsorship opportunities please email Jen: info@jentaylorplaytherapy.com or scroll below for a description of the Sponsorship Opportunities.
want ongoing support to continue to learn and grow in the application of Synergetic Play Therapy® or you would like to receive consultation from an SPT lens, we've got you covered! ... **Groups must consistent of 4 individuals. This 6 month Consultation Group is for you, if:- You feel alone in your practice of SPT and want to be a part of a SPT community
- You sometimes feel “stuck” with your clients
- You want feedback regarding your skills so that you can take them to the next level
- You want support in learning and integrating various applications of SPT to your clinical work
- You want to keep learning and growing as a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist
- You want to hear other cases and learn from others
"I am always excited to repeat the retreats as an alumni for three reasons. First, there is always new information to be had. Second, each time I hear the information that Lisa imparts, I hear it in a different way. Lastly, it is so wonderful to be in such a supportive environment with like-minded people. I can’t get enough!" - Johanna Simmons Ask and you shall receive! After much feedback from Certified SPTers like you, we have broadened the Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification learning retreats and, now, the live webinar classes. As an esteemed alumni, you are invited to return and be a part of the upcoming 2024-2025 Synergetic Play Therapy® Certification Program. Embark on a one-of-a kind experience of connection and community - mentor, master, and make new memories! Choose the option that feels most congruent for you (details below) and come be yourself over and over again! In addition to the learning retreats, you also have the option of purchasing access to all of the program's bimonthly, live webinar classes! Registration closes August 1st, 2024, for the 2024-2025 Retreat Dates! For class details and objectives, please see below.
CLARIFYING! ENERGIZING! EYE-OPENING! INSPIRING! AMAZING!!!!
These are just a few words students have used to describe this course!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COURSE DETAILS!!
Back by popular demand - revised, energized, and with an in-person and virtual option, join us November 9th-11th, 2023, for the next The Business of Therapy course! Custom designed for therapists, coaches, helpers and healers like yourself, who are deeply committed to making an impact and want to be of greater service - whether it's one-on-one in private practice, launching a product or program, or running a company - Elevate and take your entrepreneurial dream to new heights! This course teaches you the steps involved in building a dream, as well as helps you understand the why behind them so you can think like a business entrepreneur. Plus, for 2.5 days, Lisa Dion, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy®, President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute and co-founder of the Synergetic Education Institute, will give you the key ingredients she's learned and discovered along her own entrepreneurial journey. "This weekend was one of the best investments in myself I have ever made." - Bianca Kisselburg This course is for you, if you:- Have a business idea and don't know where to start
- Have a successful business and want to take it to the next level
- Have launched a dream and can't seem to get traction
- Feel overwhelmed by the many to-dos and responsibilities of your business
- Feel alone, confused and filled with self doubt as you think about building and growing your dream
- Keep finding yourself in-debt and/or not able to grow your finances
- Keep finding that your fears and limiting beliefs are stopping your growth
- Want to become more efficient with the business you have (no matter the size of your business) so that your business is working for you, not you having to keep working your business
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COURSE DETAILS!!
Keep scrolling to learn more about this course and the In-Person Experience! If you know that you would like to attend the course online, click here!Title