Prerequisite Training

• Participants should have completed or be enrolled in a Master’s Degree program in counseling, social work or education.
• Previous experience working with children and families is also required.

Training Objectives

• Be able to facilitate the broadening of a child’s emotional window of tolerance and self-regulation by utilizing mindfulness and self-awareness in the playroom.
• Understand how the therapist’s authenticity and attunement supports the attachment process in play therapy.
• Understand ways that a play therapist can model to the child ways to regulate himself in a play therapy session.
• Understand the neuroscience behind identifying a child’s state of dys-regulation and how the child uses play therapy to re-pattern his nervous system.

Training Methods

This Play Therapy Training Program is limited to four people 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.

Participants will be required to:

• Attend all six days of the training–49 hours total
• Complete eight videotaped play therapy experiences with client
• Review all eight videotaped play therapy experiences with instructor
• Observe a minimum of 12 play therapy experiences with other intensive participants
• Attend all didactic and play therapy instruction sessions
• Attend and participate in daily group supervision
• Communicate with the child client’s parents/guardians daily
• Complete all required paperwork- intake, treatment plan, case notes, termination, etc.