Play Therapy Courses Offered
  (Course Descriptions)
 

INTRODUCTION TO PLAY THERAPY
The purpose of this dynamic training is that of thoroughly familiarizing participants with the theory and practice of conducting play therapy with children. Of primary importance will be the application of theoretical information to actual clinical practice through discussion and experiential activities.

Though intended to be a brief course for those wishing to begin the practice of play therapy, this training is certain to provide the more experienced practitioner with appealing and practical information which can be applied when approaching children in a variety of therapeutic situations.

In this training participants will:

1. gain an awareness of the history of child and play therapy
2. gain an awareness of the foundations upon which child-centered play therapy is based
3. develop an understanding of the principles and practice of doing child- centered play therapy with children
4. develop an understanding of setting up a play therapy environment and the recommended play materials
5. be given an opportunity to practice some of the skills and techniques presented

ADVANCED PLAY THERAPY
Intended for those who have had at least a one or two day training in child-centered play therapy.

In this training participants will:

1. increase their understanding of the concepts of "directive" and"nondirective" play therapy
2. gain an understanding of selected advanced play therapy approaches including group play therapy, family approaches using play, and specific goal-directed activities
3. gain an understanding of play therapy assessment
4. be given the opportunity to practice selected advanced play therapy techniques

ASSESSING & ENCOURAGING ATTACHMENT IN CHILDREN, ADULTS & FAMILIES
Intended for participants who have a good understanding of play therapy, this training will be instructional as well as experiential.

In this training participants will:

1. gain an awareness of various ways of assessing attachment
2. gain an understanding of how to use assessment principles to encourage the attachment process
3. have the opportunity to become comfortable with some simple attachment activities
4. increase their awareness of their own attachment dynamics

NOTE: This training not eligible for play therapy credit.

ETHICAL AND LEGAL DILEMMAS IN CHILD AND PLAY THERAPY
The application of professional ethics and legal guidelines to the practice of child and play therapy will be explored. (NOTE: This training meets NM Counseling And Therapy Practice Board ethics requirement of 6hrs. ethical and legal training requirement for licensure renewal.)

In this training participants will:

1. increase their awareness of the role and importance of specific, selected practices and procedures in the provision of counseling and play therapy services to children
2. increase their awareness of the impact of real and imagined risks on the play therapy professional and to increase understanding of the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management
3. increase their awareness of selected practices in dealing with ethical and legal issues in the provision of play therapy services
4. increase their awareness and enhance their understanding of the process and progression of a lawsuit naming a play therapist as a defendant

THE MINDFUL THERAPIST: ETHICAL AND LEGAL CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH CHILDREN & FAMILIES
(Description to come)

NEW! THE CLINICAL SUPERVISOR AND SUPERVISION
(Description to come)

PLAY THERAPY SUPERVISION / CONSULTATION GROUPS
(prerequisite - Intro. to Play Therapy 2-day training with Dr. Brennan)

Level I - most suitable for those who've taken 2 day Intro. to Play Therapy in past year or have been using play therapy in your practice with children for at least one year

Level II - most suitable for those with one or more years play therapy practice experience

Discount is available for those who are currently in supervision or who have taken the most recent Intro. to Play Therapy training with Dr. Carol Brennan.
Please call or email for details.
  
PLAY THERAPY AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
A program of individual study and training for anyone wishing to “immerse” him/herself in the theory and practice of play therapy. Face to face training, one-on-one and/or small group, under the direction of Carol Brennan Ph.D., will be combined with individual study and mentoring, ongoing assessment of progress, and supervision.

This training program can extend from one week to several months and designed to be especially suitable for the long distance or international “student.”

Individual fees will be based on individual goals and needs. If interested, please contact Dr. Brennan for an initial consultation.