Virtual Play Therapy 101

Quinn K. Smelser, PhD, NCC, LPC, RPT

Program Goals

This three-day workshop is an introduction to the basic concepts of multiple theoretical perspectives of play therapy. Participants will learn how play is used as a therapeutic intervention and assessment tool to help children and adolescents communicate ideas, feelings, and experiences, how play therapy is used to help children rehearse and master life skills, resolve life experiences, and how play therapy may provide a window for adults into a child’s lived experience. This training will address specific techniques for guiding, participating in, observing and interpreting, play behavior. The influences of culture, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and spirituality on play therapy will be identified. Non-verbal and verbal play therapeutic modalities will be explored.

 Program Schedule

The schedule will consist of lecture, video clips, demonstrations/role plays, discussions, and experiential work.

Schedule of Day 1 – Play Therapy History & Foundations

09:00 – 09:45Miniature Introduction Expectations & Desires for the Workshop
09:45 – 10:00Play Therapy Introduction Explore Association for Play Therapy Website www.a4pt.org
10:00 - 10:30History of Play Therapy
10:30 - 10:45BREAK
10:40 - 11:15History of Play Therapy Continued
11:15 - 12:00Therapeutic Powers of Play
12:00 - 01:00Break
01:00 - 01:30Play Therapy Across the Lifespan
01:30 - 02:00Experiential – Modifying techniques across the lifespan
02:00 - 02:30The Playroom and Materials
02:30 - 02:45Break
02:45 - 03:15The Playroom and Materials Continued
03:15 - 04:00Beginning the Relationship with the Child & Family Role Play
04:00 - 04:30Wrap-Up and Questions

Schedule of Day 2 – Play Therapy Theoretical Orientations

09:00 – 10:30Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Watch Dr. Landreth’s Clinical Session Break Out – Practice CCPT Skills
10:30 – 10:45Break
10:45 - 12:00Explore Various Directive Play Therapy Techniques (e.g., Psychoanalytic, Jungian, Adlerian Cognitive-Behavioral, Gestalt, Solution-Focused, Narrative, Filial, Theraplay, Group, Ecosystemic) Discussions, Role Plays, Experientials – Practice Various Directive Skills
12:00 - 01:00LUNCH
01:00 - 02:30Explore Various Directive Play Therapy Techniques (e.g., Psychoanalytic, Jungian, Adlerian Cognitive-Behavioral, Gestalt, Solution-Focused, Narrative, Filial, Theraplay, Group, Ecosystemic) Discussions, Role Plays, Experientials – Practice Various Directive Skills
02:30 - 02:45BREAK
02:45 - 04:00Explore Various Directive Play Therapy Techniques (e.g., Psychoanalytic, Jungian, Adlerian Cognitive-Behavioral, Gestalt, Solution-Focused, Narrative, Filial, Theraplay, Group, Ecosystemic) Discussions, Role Plays, Experientials – Practice Various Directive Skills
04:00 - 04:30Wrap-Up and Questions

Schedule of Day – Diversity, Ethics, Documentation, and Termination

9:00 – 10:30Working with Diverse Populations: Children with Disabilities
10:30 – 10:45Break
10:45 - 12:00Culture & Diversity Considerations in Play Therapy Case Discussion
12:00 - 01:00LUNCH
01:00 - 02:30Play Therapy Ethics Explore Best Practices Document, Document on Touch Case Discussions
02:30 - 02:45BREAK
02:45 - 03:00Documenting Play Therapy Sessions
03:00 - 04:00Termination in Play Therapy Experiential
04:00 - 04:30Wrap-Up and Questions

Course Objectives

By the end of the course participants will be able to:

  1. Identify essential people, theorists and organizations that shaped the history of the profession of play therapy.
  2. Navigate the Association for Play Therapy website and resources.
  3. Demonstrate foundational knowledge about the prevailing theories of play therapy.
  4. Discuss the therapeutic powers of play – 20 core agents of change.
  5. Implement play therapy interventions across the lifespan, with special consideration of development stages and unique play needs.
  6. Compare and contrast the most widely accepted theoretical models of play therapy and the formats in which they are most commonly offered (individual, group, family, etc.).
  7. Apply theoretical material to specific play therapy treatment interventions and techniques.
  8. Demonstrate basic child-centered play therapy skills, including tracking, reflection of feelings, returning responsibility to the child, responding to efforts, and setting limits.
  9. Identify developmentally appropriate play therapy toys and materials that can be incorporated into either a permanent or traveling playroom.
  10. Prepare a play therapy room that focuses on developmentally appropriate considerations and carefully selected play therapy tools.
  11. Conceptualize a play therapy client’s presenting clinical problem(s) developmentally and theoretically.
  12. Evaluate the efficacy of play therapy interventions.
  13. Identify and recognize the evolving body of qualitative and quantitative play therapy research.
  14. Apply the ethical issues that are unique to play therapy and those shared with other modalities.
  15. Identify the components of Association for Play Therapy’s Best Practices Document.
  16. Analyze issues of diversity and how they impact on every facet of play therapy, from choice of materials to the relationship with the client.
  17. Write a play therapy session note.
  18. Explain several considerations and methods to terminate with play therapy clients.

General Course Information

This course is limited to 15 participants and is designed to facilitate experiential work, group discussion, and processing of clinical material.  Participants will have ample opportunity to discuss their specific needs and clinical questions.  Participant feedback will be sought out throughout the day.

Clinical case discussions will adhere to HIPPA regulations regarding client confidentiality.

Target audience is Mental Health Professionals: Social Workers, Psychologists, LPCs, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

The program is Beginning Level

This event is sponsored by Starbright Training Institute.  Starbright Training Institute is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Provider No. 96-029).

Continuing Education Credit is pending through Commonwealth Educational Seminars for the following professions:

It is the participant's responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

Psychologists:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Commonwealth Educational Seminars maintains responsibility for these programs and their content.

Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LPCs/LMHCs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Social Workers:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Social Workers. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for Social Workers. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

If applicable: Social Workers – New York State

Commonwealth Educational Seminars is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #SW-0444.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists:

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists. Please visit CES CE CREDIT to see all states that are covered for LMFTs. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

For information about continuing education credit, fees, and deadlines for cancellations/refunds, please see https://starbrighttraininginstitute.com/. It is the participant's responsibility to check with their individual state boards to verify CE requirements for their state.

Myriam Goldin, LCSW; RPT-S, is Director of Starbright Training Institute.

Phone:  703-980-2886.

Email: starbright.inst@outlook.com  

Web Page: starbrighttraininginstitute.com

Complaints and Appeals:

Complaints against an Approved Provider should first be filed in writing with the Approved Provider directly for resolution. If satisfaction is not obtained, APT’s Continuing Education Coordinator should be contacted in writing to achieve a final resolution.

Grievance Policy

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) seeks to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to make every attempt to resolve grievances in a fair manner. Please submit a written grievance to: Myriam Goldin, LCSW; RPT-S, Director of Starbright Training Institute.  Phone:  703-980-2886.  Email: starbright.inst@outlook.com   Web Page: starbrighttraininginstitute.com

Grievances would receive, to the best of our ability, corrective action in order to prevent further problems.

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

Starbright Training Institute’s training facilities are handicap accessible. Individuals needing special accommodations please contact the Director of Starbright Training Institute. See contact information above.

Course Instructor Contact Information

Name: Quinn Smelser

Bio: Quinn K. Smelser, PhD, NCC, LPC, RPT graduated with her doctorate in counseling from The George Washington University and licensed counselor in Texas and Virginia working on transferring licensure to Maryland. She has specialized play therapy and trauma training and is also a Registered Play Therapist and National Certified Counselor.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Texas State University. Clinically, Quinn’s primary background consists of work with military families in a residential treatment center for children and adolescents who experienced trauma. She also worked as a counselor for at-risk youth in rural Texas and in hospice care where she counseled youth and families who were experiencing traumatic grief and loss as well as clients in care of hospice. She has had the honor of being supervised by Dr. Eliana Gil, Dr. Linda Homeyer, Dr. Mary Morrison-Bennett, and Dr. Elizabeth Kjellstrand-Hartwig.

Quinn is a Clinical Instructor at Loyola University Maryland where she teaches school counseling students and will begin offering play therapy courses. She has published book chapters and articles on play therapy, family therapy, ethical practice, animal-assisted counseling, and spirituality. Quinn presents at conferences nationally on issues relating to ethical practice, child-centered play therapy, trauma informed care for children, LGBT and gender identity, grief and loss, and spirituality.

She lives in Maryland and is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Play Therapy, Chi Sigma Iota, and a volunteer with the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project.

Website:  https://www.loyola.edu/school-education/academics/graduate/school-counseling

Email:  qsmelser@loyola.edu

Phone: 512.739.9426