How to Talk About Feelings with Kids
Just like a balloon filling with air, our thoughts and feelings fill us and if we don't manage the buildup, the balloon and our behaviors could explode. This is especially true for children who don’t yet have the words to articulate how they're feeling.
When we're flexible and calm, we can bend, stretch and twist like a balloon; safely releasing our feelings and emotions when we're overhwlemed, instead of exploding.
One benefit of therapy is that our clients can let their feelings out little by little in a safe environment - and you can help them by incorporating play in your sessions.
By incorporating play into our trauma treatment models, we give words to the voiceless and power to the powerless.
Watch the Balloon Metaphor demonstrated by Jennifer Lefebre, Psy.D., RPT-S
Let Jennifer Lefebre, Psy.D., RPT-S teach you the tools, strategies and techniques you need to effortlessly blend play into your clinical practice.
Join her for this comprehensive certification course, and I'll show you, step-by-step, how you can help heal unspeakable heartache and offer your clients hope through the power of play.
Get started now with your Certification in Trauma Treatment for Children & Adolescents.
Jennifer Lefebre, PsyD, RPT-S™, is a clinical psychologist, registered play therapist supervisor, and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator. She is the president-elect for the New England Association for Play Therapy. Her clinical and research interests focus on the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, adults and families whose lives have been impacted by complex trauma. Dr. Lefebre has extensive experience working with young children (0-5), adult survivors of severe childhood abuse and neglect, first responders, and combat veterans.
Dr. Lefebre is the clinical director at Healing the Child Within, a holistic trauma center in northwestern Connecticut which integrates psychotherapy, yoga, play, and expressive arts therapies into the treatment of complex trauma. She also provides clinical supervision and play therapy consultation throughout New England and online, and an adjunct faculty member at several universities, teaching both at the undergraduate and graduate level. In addition to being an experienced play therapist and professor, Dr. Lefebre is a sought-after expert for speaking engagements, podcasts and webinars on the topics of play therapy and complex childhood trauma.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jennifer Lefebre is in private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jennifer Lefebre is a member of the Association of Play Therapy.
