In this 6-hour workshop, play therapists will explore medical trauma from the perspective of neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology while drawing from Gestalt Play Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy and Nature Based Play principles.  Using creative play-based ways to support children and their family’s healing process, participants will learn how to create emotional and relational safety for trauma integration.  They will learn what it means to become a child’s external regulator to help integrate the activation in a child’s nervous system while safely allowing the child to access the stored trauma in their body from the medical trauma. As children are not the only ones affected by medical trauma, care for their caregivers will also be addressed, as well as an exploration of creative play-based ways to help the entire family system heal.  

In addition to learning about medical trauma and its symptoms, this workshop will also explore the difference between the role of a play therapist and the role of a Child Life Specialist in a medical setting allowing play therapists a greater knowledge in knowing how and when to collaborate with the medical team if a child is going to be experiencing a medical procedure or if the child is in on-going medical care.

If you would like your school or organization to receive training, please contact the Institute at info@synergeticplaytherapy.com