Play therapy is a beneficial and fun approach that supports the ability of children, teens (and at times, adults) to work through emotional and behavioral challenges. Play therapy normally takes place in a physical therapeutic space filled with an array of toys, sand and expressive arts materials that support the client’s ability to work through and resolve the issues that brought them to therapy.
Although teleplay therapy has been offered as a modality since 2014, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted most therapists from familiar playrooms to on-line sessions. For many, the shift in format created a variety of new challenges to engaging clients in therapeutic play. The workshop outlines the requirements for successful and ethical on-line play including benefits and challenges, considerations for culturally sensitive care and effective interventions.
Participants will review a broad intervention toolbox that includes no or low cost, hands-on activities as well as on-line activities that can be used to engage clients and address the concerns that brought them into therapy. Portions of the course will include hands-on learning in small breakout groups.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe five benefits and challenges to providing play therapy on-line.
- Identify three challenging client behaviors and interventions/ways to manage them
- Identify five play therapy interventions that can be done in video sessions which do not require a computer or smartphone.
- Identify five on-line play therapy interventions to help children express feelings and learn coping strategies
- Identify the steps to set up and use on-line play interventions.
PRESENTER
Jeannette Harroun, LMFT, RPT-S is a Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. She has a private practice in Lafayette, CA where she provides psychotherapy and individual consultation and supervision. Her approach to therapy is described as positive, warm and playful. She strongly believes in the power of play in helping children and teens better understand and express themselves. She regularly uses play to address a variety of concerns including anxiety, self-regulation, self-esteem, attachment, tantrums and impulsivity, anxiety, depression, school and motivational issues, trauma, and divorce. She also enjoys supervising and mentoring others, providing consultation and supervision to other professionals. She is currently a collaborative supervisor for the Wright Institute and has taught at both the University of Phoenix and John F. Kennedy University.
Her practice is located within the Bay Area Psychotherapy Institute (BAPTI) non-profit and professional community and she has served in several roles on the BAPTI Board of Directors including Marketing Director, Vice President and Treasurer. She is a member of both the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the Association for Play Therapy. She was the 2014 President of the San Francisco Chapter of the Association for Play Therapy and served on the SF-CALAPT Board from 2013 – 2015.
Her play therapy training includes child-centered play, sandtray, and filial therapy (both intensive and advanced coursework). In addition, she has a certificate in Mindful Schools K-12 Curriculum Training and in Neuroscience and Somatic Skill Building. She is a Positive Discipline Parent Educator and an American Psychological Association Adults and Children Together (ACT) Program facilitator (both parent educator and provider trainer).
Prior to becoming a therapist, Jeannette worked for the University of California where she became known both for her HR expertise and the collection of toys she kept in her office for colleagues’ use in stress relief. Her slingshot animal collection was particularly popular. She continues to love toys and often adds to her current playroom collection. In addition, she’s an avid videogamer.
Advanced registration is required for this CE event. Have questions? Please contact Cheryl Clift at (925) 257-2412 or send an email to [email protected].
Refunds for cancellation with 72-hour notice.
*3 CE credits will be provided to qualifying participants. BAPTI is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. BAPTI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CPA Provider # BAY 012. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) now recognizes CPA continuing education credit for license renewal for LCSWs and LMFTs.
Participants must attend entire training to receive CE Credits. No partial credit will be provided.
All proceeds from this event will benefit BAPTI Associates training program which provides support for training prelicensed clinicians obtain licensure while providing sliding scale therapy to the community. To make referrals or to learn more about us, please visit www.BAPTI.org.
