FAPT 2015 Conference
March 20, 2015
"Playing with Resilience and Strength:
Narrative and Solution-focused Brief Play Therapy"
presented by
Lawrence C. Rubin, Ph.D., LMHC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
&
March 21, 2015
"Multi-Sensory Attachment-Based Storytelling in Parent-Child FirstPlay™
Therapy Including Ethical Considerations of Touch in Play Therapy
An Ericksonian and Developmental Play Therapy Model"
presented by
Janet A. Courtney, Ph.D., LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
March 20, 2015 "Playing with Resilince and Strength: Narrative and Solution-focused Breif Play Therapy"
Description: Over the last two decades, the fields of psychotherapy and counseling have embraced what has come to be called postmodern theory and practice. Linked by an emphasis on personal agency and choice; a focus on resilience, strength and success; collaboration and relationship, as well as the notion that the (child) client is the expert, arrative Therapy and Solution-focused Brief Therapy have found increasing utility in the play room with children and teens. Each of these theoretical schools further emphasize the importance of future orientation and a re-authoring events of the past in order to move more healthily, adaptively and successfully into the future. Further, the concepts and techniques of both Narrative and Solution-focused Brief Therapy nicely lend themselves to playfulness, creativity and spontaneity, while remaining faithful to evidence-based practices (EBP’S). This workshop will combine didactic information, opportunities for conversation and engaging experiential play-based exercises centered on the application of these two approaches with children and teens struggling with a broad range of challenges.
Learner Objectives:As a result of attendance at this one-day workshop, attendees will, with regard to the respective subtopics below:
Resilience: 1- Appreciate the role of resilience in children’ psychosocial adjustment 2- Understand the developmental relationship between resilience and play 3- Value the importance of a strength-based approach to play therapy 4- Develop a useful awareness of their own resilience and adaptability, and how they may be applied to their play therapy work
Narrative-based Play Therapy: 1- Understand the basic theoretical principles of Narrative Therapy 2- Understand the basic clinical principles and techniques of Narrative Therapy as applied to Play therapy 3- Value the role of empirical evidence in the practice of Narrative-based Play therapy 4- Develop appropriate experience in the practice of Narrative-based Play Therapy
Solution-focused Brief Play Therapy: 1- Understand the basic theoretical principles of Solution-focused Brief Therapy 2- Understand the basic clinical principles and techniques of Solution-focused Brief Therapy as applied to Play therapy 3- Value the role of empirical evidence in the practice of Solution-focused Brief Play Therapy 4-
Develop appropriate experience in the practice of Solution-focused Brief Play Therapy
About Lawrence C. Rubin, Ph.D., LMHC, RPT-S: Lawrence C. Rubin, Ph.D., LMHC, RPT-Sis a Professor of Counselor Education at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, where he directs the Mental Health Counseling Program and is a Psychologist, Mental Health Counselor and Play Therapist in private practice. Dr. Rubin is former president of the Florida Association for Play Therapy, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Play Therapy as Chair. His research interests and publications lie at the intersection of Psychology and Popular Culture. His books include 'Play-based Interventions for children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders', 'Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Skills for Mental Health Professionals: A Popular Casebook Approach', 'Popular Culture in Counseling, Psychotherapy and Play-based Intervention' and 'Using Superheroes in Counseling and Play Therapy.
March 21, 2015 "Multi-Sensory Attachment-Based Storytelling in Parent-Child FirstPlay™ Therapy Including *Ethical Considerations of Touch in Play Therapy An Ericksonian and Developmental Play Therapy Model"
Description: Tap into the storyteller within you! This skill enriching workshop will teach you the seven-step method of creating multi-sensory, attachment-based stories that can decrease anxiety, improve overall joy and well-being, and deepen connections in parent-child relationships. FirstPlay™ Therapy, which integrates the theoretical foundations of Developmental Play Therapy, Ericksonian play therapy (StoryPlay®), and Attachment Theory, is a new preventative and treatment model of play therapy that enhances the parent-child attachment relationship through interactive storytelling while building upon a children’s inner strengths to calm, focus and increase joy in their lives. After learning the foundational ingredients, you will be guided to create a multi-sensory attachment-based story. Through a role-play experiential, you will then practice how to actually implement and facilitate a parent-child directive storytelling session. FirstPlay™ storytelling can be integrated along with other forms of play therapy methods and can be applied in many areas including family play therapy sessions, parental reunification and residential settings, with adoptive and foster parents, as well as children exposed to domestic violence, or who have been diagnosed with autism, anxiety, behavioral challenges and attentional problems. The emphasis of this
workshop will be on the healing value of “first-play” (the pre-symbolic joyful touch-based play that happens between parents and infants/children before the use of play materials). Because FirstPlay™ storytelling can involve practitioner facilitation of parent-child respectful and caring touch activities, the ethical considerations of touch in play therapy will be extensively examined throughout the training day and will include a review of the APT recommended guidelines of touch in clinical practice. *Attendance
at this workshop will meet the state of Florida licensure requirements for training in Ethics.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this training participants will be able to: 1. Describe the seven-step method of multi-sensory attachment-based storytelling. 2. demonstrate how to facilitate and direct a parent-child interactive FirstPlay™ storytelling session. 3. List the key theoretical elements of Developmental Play Therapy, Ericksonian Play Therapy, and Attachment Theory that are applied in FirstPlay™ storytelling. 4. List at least 10 guidelines related to touch in play therapy. 5. Describe how to manage three ethical considerations surrounding touch in a Play Therapy session. 6. Examine the significance of touch training to the play therapists own self-awareness and biases. 7. State current research related to touch and its benefits.
About Janet A. Courtney, PhD., LCSW, RPT-S: Janet A. Courtney, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S is the founder of FirstPlay™ Therapy—an attachment-based parent-child multi-sensory storytelling approach. She is past president of the Florida Association for Play Therapy (FAPT); is a Certified StoryPlay® Facilitator, a TEDx Speaker, and an Adjunct Professor in the Barry University School of Social Work, Miami Shores, FL. Her therapeutic children’s story, The Magic Rainbow Hug, was inspired by her years of clinical experience in Ericksonian play therapy (StoryPlay®) and research in Developmental Play Therapy, and Attachment Theory. FirstPlay™ Therapy merges these distinct theories together and meets the developmental needs of children ages 4 weeks to eight years. She is a contributing author for the chapter, Touching Autism through Developmental Play Therapy in the book, “Play-based Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” and her research in Developmental Play Therapy is published in the International Journal of Play Therapy and the American Journal of Art Therapy. Janet believes that children’s lives are profoundly enriched through contact with nature, caring touch and the power of metaphorical and multi-sensory storytelling. For more information visit: www.FirstPlaytherapy.com