Seeing the Signs: Detect the Suicidality in Kids Ages 6-12 through Attachment-Centered Play
- Speakers:
- Clair Mellenthin, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S™ | Leanne Rohrbach-Strange, LCSW
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Jun 04, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS150720
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
Suicidality in children ages 6–12 is often overlooked due to developmental misconceptions and the limited assessment tools traditionally used. This session introduces an Attachment-Centered Play Therapy framework for assessing suicidal ideation and behaviors in middle childhood, focusing on how to recognize these signs through the child’s play. By understanding the role of attachment patterns in play, we can spot subtle indicators of distress and respond with ethical, compassionate interventions that are grounded in play therapy techniques. You’ll learn: How to recognize signs of suicidality through play-based sessions, interpreting both symbolic play and nonverbal cues to uncover underlying emotional states. The role of attachment patterns in expressing distress, and how these dynamics show up through play therapy interventions, helping to identify when children are struggling with suicidal thoughts. Practical play therapy tools for attuning to both verbal and nonverbal cues, using sandtray, art, and role-play to facilitate expression and assessment of emotional distress.
Credit
Speaker
Clair Mellenthin, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S™ Related seminars and products
Clair Mellenthin, LLC
Clair Mellenthin, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S™, is an international speaker, author, psychologist, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Throughout her career, she has specialized in providing play therapy to children, teens, and their families. She is currently the Director of Child & Adolescents at Wasatch Family Therapy. Ms. Mellenthin frequently presents professional play therapy and family therapy trainings on Attachment-Centered Play Therapy, Family, and Trauma issues both nationally and internationally.
Ms. Mellenthin is a sought-after supervisor, training graduate students and interns in play therapy, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California MSW program. She is the past-president of the Utah Association for Play Therapy and remains an active member on the Board of Directors. She is the author of the books Attachment Centered Play Therapy; Play Therapy: Engaging & Powerful Techniques for the Treatment of Childhood Disorders; My Many Colors of Me Workbookand has authored several chapters and articles. In addition to being an experienced play therapist and professor, Ms. Mellenthin also appears on local and national TV and radio as an expert on children and family issues. She holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Clair Mellenthin has an employment relationship with Wasatch Family Therapy. She is a published author and receives royalties. Clair Mellenthin receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Clair Mellenthin is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Psychological Association, and the Association for Play Therapy.
Leanne Rohrbach-Strange, LCSW Related seminars and products
Wasatch Family Therapy
Leanne Rohrbach, LCSW, is a play therapist specializing in middle childhood and family work. She supports clients and their families through disconnection, transition, and identity exploration, guiding them through moments of rupture and repair. Leanne is committed to practices that honor difference, deepen dialogue, and cultivate belonging from the inside out. She earned her degree with honors from Baylor University and co-authored the chapter Relational Trauma in the Family System with Dr. Clair Mellenthin, featured in the book Trauma Impacts. Leanne is currently working toward her Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential under the supervision of Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S™ and Valente Orozco, LCSW, RPT-S™. She serves as a board member for the Utah Association of Play Therapy (UAPT).
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Leanne Rohrbach has an employment relationship with Wasatch Family Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Leanne Rohrbach has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Additional Info
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
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Additional CE Info
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
Objectives
- Identify at least three developmentally appropriate indicators of suicidality in middle childhood observable within the context of play therapy.
- Define how attachment patterns influence the expression and experience of suicidal ideation in children ages 6-12, using play therapy assessments (such as sandtray or role-play) to identify attachment-related behaviors and emotional cues that indicate distress or suicidal ideation.
- Determine an ethical framework for assessing and intervening when suicidality is present, including considerations for parents/caregiver involvement and mandated reporting, as evidenced by implementing structured play therapy sessions that balance therapeutic needs with ethical considerations.
Outline
Suicidality in Middle Childhood
- Developmental factors (ages 6-12)
- Emotional and relational contributors to suicidal ideation and behavior
Applying an Attachment-Centered Play Therapy Framework
- Role of attachment theory in assessment and intervention
- Emphasis on relational safety and emotional attunement
Integrating Play Therapy Techniques for Assessment
- Play-based methods for identifying:
- Themes of despair
- Disconnection
- Self-harm in narratives and symbolic expression
Enhancing Clinical Practiced and Collaboration
- Communicating findings with:
- Caregivers
- Schools
- Multidisciplinary teams
- Maintaining child’s trust and security
- Ethics and mandated reporting considerations
Target Audience
- Play Therapists
- Child Therapists
- Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Physicians
- Nurses
Reviews
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