Intersectionality in the Play Therapy Space, Culturally Informed Practice
Course description:
In the context of play therapy, the cultural stance of the therapist is crucial in effectively working with children from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. The therapist's cultural stance involves being aware of the over representation of Western beliefs, values and practices in the lives of children who come from different cultural and social backgrounds. By being culturally sensitive and responsive, the therapist can create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment that promotes healing and growth. This workshop aims to explore the therapist's cultural stance and its impact on play therapy, emphasizing the importance of promoting a positive sense of self, strengthening cultural identity, and fostering exploration and overall well-being. By providing a space that is culturally responsive and inclusive, play therapy can help children from diverse backgrounds feel seen, heard, and valued, facilitating their healing and growth.
At the end of this workshop, participants will gain a deeper understanding of cultural and social diversity in play therapy and develop practical strategies to engage in reflective practice.
1. Identify Cultural biases and values and how they impact Western vs Non-Western families and their differences
2. Apply three different strategies to working with children from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, using culturally sensitive materials and techniques, the creation of a culturally responsive environment, and the promotion of cultural exploration and expression in play
3. Discuss strategies and skills that can be applied in practice to create a more inclusive and supportive therapeutic environment
Enter the Metaphorical Journey: Inquiry Skills for Play Therapists
This training program will:
- Help you to “stay out of the way” of interpretation
- Show you ways to examine scenes or product with your clients while remaining in the metaphor
- Explore working with various metaphors represented in art, clay, sand and other materials
This 6-hour master class is for Play Therapy practitioners who use expressive arts, projective activities and sandplay with their clients and introduces play therapists to an array of questions that may be utilized when engaging with children, youth and adults during an exploration phase of an expressive-based activity. Through the inquiry skills training, therapists will be encouraged to “stay out of the way” of interpretation and instead assist the client to explore their scene or product while remaining in the metaphor. Cost: $325 +GST
Advanced Supervision for Play Therapy Supervisors: The Reflective Practitioner
~ 6 hours offered in one day or over two sessions
This master class focusses on the ways to encourage different forms of reflection during play therapy supervision sessions. The course will address the phase of the supervisee development as well as the phases of supervisor development. Supervisors will have the opportunity to work with other peers and identify areas of self-reflection as a supervisor. During the course, supervisors will identify ways to address process and moments in play therapy with supervisees.
Cost: $375 + GST
Class Information (pdf)
Play Therapy Research into Practice Series for Play Therapy Supervisors and Supervisees
~ 6 hours offered over 4 /1.5 hour sessions offered in evenings and/or Friday mornings
Play Therapy research into practice Series is a special focus on 4 different play therapy research articles and their application(s) to play therapy practice. During this master class, practitioners are invited into readings and discussion to further the relationship between research and practice. Cost: $225 +GST
Play Therapy Topics into Practice Series for Supervisors and PT Practitioners
~ 6 hours offered over 4 /1.5 hour sessions offered in evenings and/or Friday mornings
Play Therapy Topics into Practice Series is a special focus on 4 different play therapy topics for consideration in play therapy. The topics are provided by way of a different chapters or articles for review and reflection. How does the topic “fit” or “not fit” with your practice or the practice of your supervisees? In this master class consider how the topic may forward play therapy practice?
Advanced Sandplay Course
Sandscenes Through the Looking Glass: A Sandplay Journey Using Case Studies for Play Therapists
During the “Through the Looking Glass” series, participants will study emerging imagery in the sandtray, and how to track, respond to and record metaphors and themes.
The course will review 4 cases: 1) Three and a half-year-old David, 2) Five-year-old Nicholas, 3) Eleven- year-old (almost 12) Qwill and 4) Thirty-Two -year-old Laura. The cases identify different ways of working in sand along an age and stage of development continuum as well as the presentation of different presenting issues.