Program Description:
In this four day, retreat-style workshop, participants will use the power of metaphor to explore compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burn-out experienced by play therapists. Participants will explore the stress responses observed during the play therapy process for both the therapist and for the client and learn strategies to manage dysregulation. Participants will examine how attachment styles and relationships impact resiliency after a traumatic world event and use their reflections of their play therapy cases during experiential exercises, therapuetic writing/journaling exercises and group discussions. Participants will analyze the role of gratitude in overcoming challneges and create a self-care plan for use upon return to the play therapy space (whether virtual, in-person or hybrid).
Explore various components of self-compassion and discuss its clinical applications and importance for the play therapist
Implement 2 journaling interventions that foster self-reflection and case conceptualization of your work in the playroom.
Examine what regulation is and what it is not and how play therapists can use this knowledge to deal with compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma
Identify your own patterns of dysregulation and ways to regulate through the activation to support your ability to self-regulate and co-regulate
Explore ways to identify different states of dysregulation in your own body and your child client’s body
Identify and discuss at least 4 ideas from neurobiology, the creative arts, and mindfulness to help you stay present in the playroom and deal with the stress in between sessions
Examine the role that “should's" play in the development of symptoms in the therapist and the child client.
Utilize mindfulness and breath work to address stress responses and prevent burnout for the play therapist
Examine the ethics and importance of self care practices as part of the professional development of the play therapist
Create and identify at least 2 strategies to incorporate in the play therapist's self care plan
Examine the role that gratitude plays in overcoming challenges and regulating the nervous system
Learn how to notice and manage your own personal stress responses
Identify ways that your attachment styles and resources have played a role in your response to stressLearn how to process traumatic events and create a meaningful narrative in your play therapy practice using a four-part journaling technique.
Practice somatic regulation strategies to anchor yourself in the play therapy process
APT credit hours for this training are sponsored by Clair Mellenthin LLC APT Provider: 15-442
Jennifer Taylor has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6928. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Jennifer Taylor is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
