Target Audience:
This training is good for social workers, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and case workers.

Level One training prepares participants to begin using Theraplay Informed Practice in their work. We recommend beginning with an easier case to get practice and confidence before trying to work with complex families or trauma. Professional development opportunities to improve Theraplay skills are available, including Level Two training with its modular options.

• Principles of attachment theory on an intellectual and experiential level
• The Four Dimensions of Theraplay
• The Theraplay protocol
• An introduction to the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM): administration, analysis and as a guide for treatment planning
• Adapting Theraplay for working with children and families impacted by complex trauma and other populations
• Managing resistance throughout the treatment process
• Managing countertransference in your work with children and families
• Implementing Theraplay into your practice

• Differentiate three play, attachment-based theories and how they support the work of Theraplay
• Differentiate how children with various attachment styles present in play therapy sessions
• Explain the benefits of using the MIM in your play therapy practice
• Arrange the MIM play therapy assessment tool
• Analyze the MIM at a beginning level to benefit families in play therapy
• Construct a play therapy treatment plan based upon the MIM analysis
• Classify three play therapy goals to be achieved during a MIM feedback session with parents
• Describe the four dimensions of Theraplay, a modality of play therapy
• Demonstrate one play-based activity from each dimension: Structure, Engagement, Nurture and Challenge.
• Describe three possible ways of adapting Theraplay into play therapy treatment to meet the needs of a child with complex trauma
• Describe how to guide parents to participate in a Theraplay, a modality of play therapy, in treatment session
• Show how to prepare parents to use Theraplay play therapy techniques at home to further therapeutic goals
• Describe how various parent attachment styles present in play therapy sessions
• Demonstrate adapting Theraplay play therapy techniques to three different populations of families
• Apply Theraplay techniques to work through resistance in play therapy sessions
• Show how to adapt Theraplay activities for children of different ages
• Explain how to prepare for termination of Theraplay treatment
• Analyze how the clinician is impacted by the functioning of parents and children in play therapy sessions
• Identify two types of clients for whom Theraplay would not be an appropriate play therapy modality

Target Audience:
This training is good for social workers, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and case workers.

This workshop will cover three main areas of content: Core Concepts In-Depth and MIM Skills Development, Working with Parents and Building Your Theraplay Skills, and Adapting Theraplay to Work with Trauma and Complex Families. The first module will focus on several examples of MIMs and their interpretation to improve your comfort and skill in administering and interpreting this play therapy assessment. There will be in-depth application of the core concepts of Theraplay and current relevant play therapy research to case material, greater analysis of the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) by Dimension, and an observation and analysis of MIM using case material. Participants will also learn greater skills about play therapy treatment planning in through delivery of parent feedback sessions.

During the second day, participants will improve the breadth of their Theraplay play therapy skills by assessing complex parents using case materials, learn how to work with caregivers’ attachment history in treatment planning, and learn implementation of the parent demonstration session. Participants will learn how to manage resistance throughout the play therapy treatment process.

Lastly, participants will learn how to better work with children who have experienced trauma, have attachment disorders, or are seen as having complexities. Participants will gain a greater understanding of developmental trauma and how it applies to clinical decision-making in Theraplay. Further, participants will learn how to adapt play therapy activities for clients who have been impacted by trauma and how to engage parents who present with their own trauma histories.

Registrants should have experience using Theraplay in their work before attending this training. Each module will include at least one case presentation. Making a case presentation is not required, but is an option if you would like to receive supervision.

CORE CONCEPTS IN-DEPTH AND MIM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

This module will focus on several examples of MIMs and their interpretation to improve your comfort and skill in adminstering and interpreting this assessment.

• In-depth application of the core concepts of Theraplay and current relevant research to case material
• Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) by Dimension: an in-depth analysis using case examples
• Observation and analysis of MIM using case material
• The Parent feedback session: preparation and implementation to enhance the therapeutic relationship with caregivers

WORKING WITH PARENTS AND BUILDING YOUR THERAPLAY SKILLS

This module will help improve the breadth of your Theraplay skill set to bring your Theraplay work to a higher skill level.

• Assessment of complex parents using case material: clinical decision making related to contraindications for Theraplay
• Working with caregiver’s attachment history in Theraplay treatment planning, feedback sessions and progress
• Implementation of the parent demonstration session
• Managing resistance throughout the treatment process
• Managing countertransference in your work with children and families
• Role play and practice of activities

ADAPTING THERAPLAY TO WORK WITH TRAUMA AND COMPLEX FAMILIES

If you work with children who have been traumatized, have attachment disorders or complex families, this program will help you sensitively adapt Theraplay to work with this population.

• Developmental trauma and Theraplay: Clinical decision making
• Adaptation of activities for clients and families impacted by trauma
• Engaging caregivers with their own trauma history in treatment process
• Integration of Theraplay with other modalities to meet the needs of children and families
• Adaptation of activities for different populations

• Describe the underlying principles of Theraplay, a modality of play therapy, and their relationship to current attachment and brain research
• Administer and analyze the MIM and an intermediate skill level
• Develop skills in the use of the MIM for play therapy treatment planning
• Describe how to use feedback sessions with parents to transmit a sense of hopefulness and trust in play therapy treatment
• Describe play therapy methods for overcoming parental resistance
• Describe factors that influence the decision of whether to include parents in play therapy treatment sessions
• Demonstrate how to use a wider range of Theraplay activities and techniques
• Describe how to adapt Theraplay, a modality of play therapy, to work with a wider range of populations, such as children with autism and older children
• Describe play therapy strategies for dealing with resistant clients
• Describe the concept of complex trauma and how it applies to play therapy
• Describe three modifications to Theraplay, a modality of play therapy, to meet the needs of traumatized children
• Assess when to use Theraplay in the overall play therapy treatment course of a client
• Describe how to adapt treatment to meet the needs of parents who may have been traumatized