Parents can be powerful allies in the play therapy process, especially when working with traumatized children. TraumaPlay™ principles for helping caregivers become more connected co-regulators, stronger storykeepers, and safer bosses set the stage for a host of play therapy interventions that target treatment goals for parents. Clinicians will leave this training with new ways to provide playful psychoeducation, in vivo doses of delight between parent and child, help parents with their own negative activation, and co-create coherent narratives about hard things. Person of the play therapist reflection and self-care will also be addressed.

1. List the three embodied roles that play therapists can help parents expand.
2. Describe one play therapy prompt for helping parents expand their reflective capacity.
3. Execute five play therapy interventions that support attachment enhancement in parent/child dyads.

This presentation will focus on the function and necessity of aggression during play therapy and in the playroom. Ways to handle possible destructiveness and how to assist the child to convert aggression into creative energy will be handled, with an emphasis on how to assist the child to move from chaotic aggression, to focused aggression, to integrated aggression. The role of the therapist when dealing with aggression will be explained, followed by a short case study to illustrate certain key concepts. Four directive play therapy activities that can be used to facilitate and channel cathartic aggression to self-assertiveness as positive aggression, will discussed and illustrated with video demonstrations and photographs.

1. Describe the function and necessity of aggression in the playroom.
2. Demonstrate the role of the therapist to assist the child to convert aggression into creative energy.
3. Implement four directive play therapy activities that can be used when dealing with aggression in the playroom.

We will touch on theories from interpersonal neurobiology, including experiencing Nature as co-regulator in Play Therapy, exploring applications of key concepts from Polyvagal Theory, and the link between attachment and developing a sense of place. We will discuss how to bring Nature into the Play Therapy room and examine a case study that reflects on how a child played within the liminal space between inside and out. I will then share a video of sensory exploration of outdoor therapeutic space, giving participants ideas for activities they can take away with them.

1. List the three embodied roles that play therapists can help parents expand.
2. Apply theories of interpersonal neurobiology and regulation to nature-based Play Therapy practice.
3. Utilize activities for bringing nature into the Play Therapy room

Many play therapists apply their skills and knowledge in working just with children and youth individually. As well, many family therapists who work with families as a whole do not utilize play therapy or play based interventions in their therapy. Learn how to integrate play therapy tools, techniques and activities into the family therapy model and have your families benefit from increased engagement, retention as well as positive outcomes. Greg’s creative and interactive session, “A New Big Bang Theory.….” will provide participants with some of Greg’s most effective activities and tools to utilize in Family Therapy. All of the presented activities and tools can be used in person or virtually.

1. Cite at least 3 benefits of family play therapy.
2. Use at least 3 activities with families which are engaging and playful.
3. Explain how to introduce the concept of play into family therapy.

Play is essential for human development and Play Therapists understand that play is used to access the conscious and unconscious sensations, thoughts, feelings of children. Within the context of the medical and health settings a range of normative, educative and therapeutic play may be available and provided by Hospital Play Specialist or Child Life Professionals. However, for children who have experienced acute or chronic diseases, illnesses, injuries or iatrogenic trauma there may be a need for longer-term medical play therapy. This 50 minute presentation will link both therapeutic play and play therapy with the therapeutic powers of play. A range of psychoeducational preparation techniques for medical procedures will be showcased to reduce anxiety and increase personal strengths to cope with medical encounters.

1. Describe medical play therapy.
2. Identify the therapeutic powers of play relevant to medical play therapy
3. List a range of psychoeducational preparation techniques and give a brief description of each.

Children worldwide are traumatized by natural disasters. Many of these children will be able to cope over time with the appropriate help of parents and caring adults, while some children may be at risk of reactions impacting the development of the child, and increasing the risk of emotional, behavioral, academic, social, and physical problems throughout the child’s life span. The use of play in healing from trauma in a safe environment changes the trauma network in a child’s brain. As play “speaks” directly to the areas of the brain impacted by the trauma experience, utilizing the therapeutic powers of play is effective and appropriate in dealing with and treating the effects of trauma in children. This webinar will highlight how one can conduct effective play therapy with young children traumatized by a natural disaster through lecture, demonstrations of activities, and presentation of case examples.

1. Identify trauma due to natural disasters and trauma reactions/symptoms in children.
2. Explain the importance of considering the neurobiological effects of trauma in planning appropriate play therapy interventions.
3. Describe at least 3 play therapy techniques that help children traumatized by natural disasters

Liana Lowenstein is a Registered Clinical Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT Therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto since 1988. She presents trainings across North America and abroad. Recent speaking engagements include China, South Africa, Israel, England, and Australia. She provides clinical supervision to mental health practitioners and consults to mental health agencies. Liana's 13 books on child and family therapy are known internationally for their innovative and practical techniques. She is a winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada.