Play Therapy for Children: Techniques and Applications
Program Description
Due to psychological, physical or environmental events, many children experience crisis.
It is often difficult for them to communicate their needs verbally to a mental health
practitioner. Play therapy is an effective way to engage and help these young children.
This workshop will discuss in detail all the phases of play therapy from the initial
referral, engaging the child and caregivers in the treatment process, the middle phase of
treatment, and how to plan for or deal with endings and disruptions in the treatment. It
will also address the therapist's interventions including a variety of play therapy
techniques, limit setting, confidentiality, and communicating effectively with caregivers
and treatment team members. Case vignettes, videotapes, as well as advice from children
in play therapy will be shared throughout the day.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will have increased knowledge about:
1. The application of specific play therapy techniques for working with children of
various diagnoses;
2. Integration of theory with practice to understand the complete therapeutic process
from referral through planned termination;
3. How to effectively engage and establish a therapeutic alliance with children;
4. Strategies for engaging and communicating with caregivers and treatment teams;
5. Examples of specific advice and requests of children in play therapy treatment.
Target Audience
Social workers, case managers, clinicians, counselors, early childhood interventionists,
psychologists, educators, health and human service practitioners.
Contact Hours
5.5 hours
Program Agenda
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
What is play therapy?
Differences between child and adult therapy
Techniques of play therapy
Assorted responsibilities of the play therapist
Beginning phase of therapy
Middle phase of therapy
Ending phase of therapy
Issues specific to the play therapist/clinician
Advice from children in play therapy
Faculty
Dayna Guido, MSW, ACSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker who has been working
with children, adolescents, adults and families since 1979. She is in private practice in
Asheville, NC where she practices individual, family, group and play therapy, as well as
providing extensive clinical supervision. Dayna has served as a Clinical Instructor and
Field Advisor for the School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
for 15 years. Dayna’s love for training is evidenced by the fact that thousands of
participants over the years have rated her as an excellent presenter.