Play Therapy Basic Training
Foundational Principles and Practical Interventions for Working with Children
- Speakers:
- Dhruti Dholakia, PhD, MEd, LCMHC, RPT | Casey Kenny, LCMHC, RPT
- Duration:
- Full Day
- Product Code:
- LWC151119
- Brochure Code:
- PWZ96984
- Media Type:
- Live Webinar - Also available: Digital Seminar
Description
- The difference between Play Therapy and play-based activities
- Discover Child-Centered Play Therapy, Directive Play Therapy and Theraplay-informed approaches
- Integrate play-based techniques into the therapy approach you already use
Play therapy is one of the most powerful tools available for treating young clients.
Now in this one-day basic training you can get a foundational understanding of play therapy and how you can use it to create opportunities for communication, emotional expression, and relational growth in your work with children.
You’ll join Dr. Dhruti Dholakia, registered play therapist with over 30 years of experience in early childhood development and registered play therapist and certified Synergetic Play Therapist Casey Kenney, MA, LCMHC, RPT.
From the core principles and theoretical foundations to developmentally appropriate interventions you can integrate immediately into your work with children and families, they’ll give you the framework, techniques, and clinical reasoning behind effective play therapy.
Special attention will be given to understanding what play therapy is – and what it is not – helping you recognize how it differs from general play, behavioral management, or talk therapy adapted for children.
You’ll leave this program ready to:
- Recognize when play therapy is the right fit vs. therapeutic play activities
- Explain how attachment, co-regulation, and neurodevelopment influence play therapy practice
- Integrate play-based techniques into the therapy approach you already use
- And much more!
This is your chance to get grounded in the foundational concepts and techniques of play therapy in just one day.
Register now!
Credit
Speaker
Dhruti Dholakia, PhD, MEd, LCMHC, RPT Related seminars and products
Integrative Wellness Services, PLLC
Dhruti Dholakia, PhD, MEd, LCMHC, RPT, has spent more than 30 years at the intersection of early childhood development, education, and mental health. She is a Registered Play Therapist, a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, and holds certifications in Theraplay, Trauma-Informed Therapy, CBT, and Mindfulness and Yoga for Children.
Dr. Dholakia earned her PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development from Fielding University, where her research focused on self-awareness in early childhood educators.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dhruti Dholakia is the founder and director of Integrative Wellness Services, PLLC. and is a consultant with North Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dhruti Dholakia is the founder of HUGS Foundation.
Casey Kenny, LCMHC, RPT Related seminars and products
Casey Kenny, MA, LCMHC, RPT, is a Registered Play Therapist with over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, caregivers, and families in community-based and outpatient settings. She is a certified Synergetic Play Therapist, specializing in nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment theory, and mindfulness. She also integrates EFT (tapping), expressive arts, and CBT into her work with children and caregivers. Casey is passionate about helping clinicians new to working with children gain confidence while discovering the transformative power of play therapy.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Casey Kenny has an employment relationship with Counseling Professionals PLLC. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Casey Kenny has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access Period for Live WebcastYou will have access for 90 days after the program for review. For live CE credit, you must watch the live webcast in its entirety at its scheduled time and complete the CE quiz and evaluation within one week. Please note that this requirement may vary by credit type. Please see detailed credit information for specific requirements for each credit type.
Webcast Schedule
Please note: There will be a 70-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunch and break times will be announced by the speaker and at their discretion. A more detailed schedule is available upon request.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at www.pesi.com/faq or contact us at www.pesi.com/info
Objectives
- Define play therapy and the foundational principles of play therapy practice.
- Determine the role of the therapist within the play therapy relationship.
- Identify how play therapy supports children’s emotional expression, communication, and regulation.
- Differentiate between directive and non-directive approaches in play therapy.
- Examine how attachment, co-regulation, and neurodevelopment influence play therapy practice.
- Apply basic observational and relational skills used in play therapy sessions.
Outline
Foundations of Play Therapy: Why Play Therapy Works, What it is and What it Isn’t
- Define play therapy
- Why children communicate through play
- Play therapy vs. play-based activities: knowing the difference
- Historical roots and evolution of play therapy
- Overview of major theoretical frameworks
The Therapeutic Powers of Play: What Play Actually Does in the Brain and the Relationship
- Emotional expression through play
- Co-regulation and safety
- Mastery, problem-solving, and resilience
- Attachment and relational healing
- Neuroscience and play therapy
Major Approaches in Play Therapy Approaches, Modalities, and When to Use Them
- Child-Centered Play Therapy
- Directive play therapy
- Theraplay-informed approaches
- Filial and family-based play therapy
- Expressive and trauma-informed modalities
- Research, risks and limitations
The Role of the Play Therapist: Skills, Stance, and Self
- Build therapeutic relationships
- Tracking, reflecting feelings, and limit setting
- Therapist presence and attunement
- Cultural responsiveness in play therapy
- Self-awareness and use of self
Play Therapy in Action: Practical Applications, Structuring Sessions, and Working with Caregivers
- Common presenting concerns in play therapy
- ADHD, anxiety, trauma, autism, grief, behavioral concerns
- Work collaboratively with caregivers
- Structure of a play therapy session
- Documentation and ethical consideration
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- School Counselors
- Early Childhood Professionals
Reviews
Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to: PO Box 1000, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1000 or call 1-800-844-8260.
ADA Needs
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.
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