Being a Responsible Play Therapist: Ethics, Supervision,

and Self-Care

Description

In practicing play therapy, it is critical for the clinician to be aware of specific ethical considerations in working with minor clients. Additionally, play therapists are ethically responsible when they monitor for and respond to potential impairment as a result of burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. The focus of this workshop will be on helping play therapists understand legal and ethical issues in play therapy and methods play therapists can use to minimize the negative impacts of working with difficult client material, as well as supervision strategies to help play therapists navigate ethical decision making and self-care needs.

Learning Objectives

1. Compare and contrast the legal and ethical issues that are unique to play therapy and those shared with other modalities (i.e., documentation, competence, informed consent, confidentiality, cultural competence, boundaries, and duty to warn and protect).
2. Increase awareness of the impact of client material on the clinician.
3. Identify legal requirements and limitations of working with minor clients.
4. Understand the distinctions between burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma.
5. Increase understanding of counselor impairment that can result from burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma.
6. Gain awareness of self-care methods to minimize the impact of traumatic client material.
7. Learn creative methods of processing through client experiences.
8. Using play approaches in supervision to conceptualize cases and identify interventions.

Presenter

Robyn Trippany Simmons received her Ed.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Alabama in 2001 and has been a practicing counselor since 1996. She serves as Professor and Director of Faculty Development in the Department of Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Simmons has also served in programmatic administrative and leadership positions for much of her career. Dr. Simmons’s research and clinical interests include sexual trauma, vicarious trauma, play therapy, and professional identity issues. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in Alabama and is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Dr. Simmons publishes and presents locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on play therapy, creative approaches to therapy and clinical supervision, counselor education, and trauma counseling.

Schedule

Continuing Education Credit

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance.  

Counselors:  Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Registration Fees:

Group Discount:

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. Email the Registration Chair (ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org) to complete a Group Registration. Credit Cards are accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Scholarships:

Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, April 6th, and all-day Friday, April 7th to assist with the conference. Volunteer duties may involve working registration, assisting with setup prior to the event, cleaning up after the event, selling books for the presenter, and preparing materials for the workshop. Students interested in volunteering for the event should contact Sarah Knapp at studentrep@alabamaplaytherapy.org and submit proof of enrollment in a counseling or related program (SW, MFT, etc). 

Location: Blue Spring Road Church of Christ 2150 Blue Spring Road NW, Huntsville, AL 35810

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee (per day). All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds will be issued for any reason after April 4, 2023.  In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Membership Information:

To join the Association for Play Therapy click here.

Register Now to secure your spot!

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Creative Play Therapy Interventions for Counselors

Live In-Person Workshop

Troy University-Dothan Campus

500 University Dr, Dothan, AL 36303

Malone Hall-Thomas Harrison Room (#115)

6 Contact Hours

        Millie Dawson-Hardy, PhD, LPC, MAT, Registered Play Therapist

Description: This workshop is designed to give you knowledge as well as some hands on experience in working with the creative therapies.  We will have time for information gathering and sharing about the history of creative therapies as well as some specific knowledge about play and art therapy.  Beyond that we will also spend time playing and creating ourselves.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Participants will be able to effectively identify and describe creative therapy, list its background history, and understand how it can be utilized with play therapy. 
2. Participants will be able to explain and demonstrate techniques of art and creative therapy in a play therapy setting.
3. Participants will effectively utilize skills in recognition of application in their individual setting and practice incorporating creative therapy interventions.

Presenter: Millie Dawson-Hardy, PhD, LPC, MAT is a Licensed Professional Counselor (#4103) and a Registered Play Therapist who specializes in creative expressions in therapy. She is a counselor educator at the University of Alabama with over 25 years of experience as a school counselor in Georgia. Millie earned her PhD in Counseling from Georgia State University and Master of Art Therapy from Georgia College and State University.  

Millie is a Humanistic and Adlerian trained counselor who describes herself as highly creative. She often uses creative means such as art and play in her work for both children and adults. Millie believes creative therapies allow for deep exploration. She also believes therapy is not an art or dance class, but the use of creative expression moves us into a deeper place within ourselves so the use of these modalities are for all not just those who identify as artists.

Schedule: 

Registration 8:00-8:30 

Morning Session Part I 8:30-10:00  

Break 10:00-10:15 

Morning Session Part II 10:15-12:00  

Lunch Break (on your own) 12:00-1:00 

Afternoon Session Part I 1:00-2:30

Break 2:30-2:45 

Afternoon Session Part II 2:45-4:00 

Continuing Education Credit: 

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance. No partial credit will be awarded. 

Counselors: Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified. Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.  

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Group Discount: A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. When registering a group online, please register all group members at one time using the add additional attendee link that appears at the end of the registration. Check or money order only if registering by mail. Credit Cards accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Special Needs: Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations: Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee. All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds issued for any reason after September 14, 2022. In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop. 

Registration Information: 

SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships will be offered to two full-time students who can be available Friday prior to, during, and after the workshop. Interested applicants should contact us at studentrep@playtherapyalabama

For REGISTRATION questions contact: CE and Registration Coordinators ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org

For workshop QUESTIONS contact: Shay Dobbins at (256) 525-5416 or regionalworkshops@alabamaplaytherapy.org

Membership Information: Membership applications are available online at http://www.a4pt.org/default.asp?page=membership or by emailing the membership chair at membership@alabamaplaytherapy.org 

Assisting Clients in Rewriting Narratives through Art, Bibliotherapy, and Other Play Therapy Based Directives

Mindi Amberson, LPC-S, EdS, NCC, RPT-S, School Counselor

Live In-Person Workshop

Friday, April 15, 2022

Oxford Civic Center

401 McCullars Ln, Oxford, AL 36203

6 Contact hours (including 2 ethics hours)

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to effectively identify and describe narrative therapy, list its background history, and understand how it can be utilized with play therapy. 
2. Participants will be able to discuss, explain, and utilize play therapy techniques to assist clients in rewriting narratives through art, bibliotherapy, and other directives.
3. Participants will be able to explain and demonstrate techniques of ethically sound holistic counseling through use of narrative therapy in a play therapy setting.
4. Participants will effectively utilize skills in recognition of application in their individual setting and practice incorporating playful narrative interventions.
5. Participants will be able to describe and demonstrate techniques of art play therapy directives for use in narrative counseling.

Presenter

Mindi​ ​Amberson​, LPC-S, EdS, NCC, RPT-S, is a Licensed​ ​Professional​ ​Counselor Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Mindi earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Jacksonville State University. She earned her Master’s Degree and Ed. S. in Community Agency Counseling from Jacksonville State University. She also maintains her school counselor certification, Relaxation Based Pain Management Certification, and National Counselor Certification. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Baylor University, focusing on organizational change and leadership in Education. She is currently working on her dissertation titled: A Case Study: Elementary Teacher’s Perceptions of Play Based Learning and Its Impact on Students’ Physical, Social, Cognitive, and Emotional Development. 

She owns and directs Orchard Road Counseling and Consulting, where she provides therapy, supervision, and consulting services. While a diverse background in social work and counseling may not seem like a perfect fit for a school counselor position, it has made the transition a beautiful experience for her. She believes in the power of community partnerships, and has used her professional experience in play therapy as means to meet both individual and small group needs in a school setting. Mindi is in her eighth year as the school counselor at Wellborn Elementary and has over 17 years of social work and counseling experience. Mindi was awarded the Alabama School Counselor of the Year Award for 2017, as well as Teacher Hall of Fame for JSU 2016-2017 school year. She enjoys speaking to counselors and educators on several topics, in particular on ways to incorporate play with all ages.

Mindi is married to Justin Amberson and they have four children. Self-care is always a must for counselors and she enjoys this time by being a bookworm, a google nerd, and finding any way to enjoy nature. She also coaches the girls’ Varisty Basketball team at Wellborn High School, and ends up most nights (no matter the sports season) cheering on the Wellborn Panthers! 

Schedule

Continuing Education Credit

Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance. No partial credit will be awarded.

Counselors:Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists:The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists:AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers:AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Registration Fees:

Space is not Guaranteed Until Your Registration is Processed.

** ONLINE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS Friday, April 8th, 2022 2 11:59 PM CST*

Group Discount:

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of  or more registering together. When registering a group online, please register all group members at one time using the add additional attendee link that appears at the end of the registration. Check or money order only if registering by mail. Credit Cards accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee (per day). All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds will be issued for any reason after April 13, 2022.  In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Membership Information:

Membership applications are available online http://www.a4pt.org/default.asp?page=membership or by emailing membership@alabamaplaytherapy.org

Register Now to secure your spot!

Do you have an idea for a future Workshop? Please provide details!

PRESENTER: Dr. Rick Gaskill, LCPC, Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor 

WHEN: (Two Sections) June 18th, 2021 & June 19th, 2021 (Both are at capacity)

WHERE: Online (Zoom)

Description:

Over the past two decades, research has clearly documented the vulnerability of the developing brain and the negative impact of social and emotional trauma on brain functioning.  It is now apparent that traumatic and neglectful developmental experiences negatively impact normal brain growth in all areas of the brain depending on the nature of the maltreatment, developmental stage of the child, and the quality of the nurturing environment. Science now informs us that these factors cause disorganization in specific areas of the brain and that traditional play therapy interventions may not be equally effective in each region.  While play therapy embodies many neurobiological principles, a “one size fits all” therapeutic approach will be less effective than treatments designed for specific affected brain regions.  As play therapists learn fundamental concepts regarding brain development, brain organization, and the impact of trauma, we become better able to identify effective play therapy treatment options. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Participants will be able to identify neurobiological concepts vital to understanding brain processing 
2. Participants will be able to discuss misperceptions of brain functioning which impair treatment outcome
3. Participants will list the six key neurological concepts  (6 R’s) present in successful play therapy interventions 
4. Participants will identify crucial play therapy intervention strategies for trauma encoded in different brain regions
5.  Participants will integrate treatment strategies into play therapy using the regulate, relate, reason paradigm 
6. Participants will design patterned and repetitive play therapy activities into episodes into successful  treatment outcomes 

Presenter Bio:

Dr. Gaskill holds a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and has worked in community mental health for 45 years. Currently, he is Executive Director of Sumner Mental Health Center in Wellington, KS. Rick also served as Children’s Director and Clinical Director before becoming the Executive Director.   He is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and an Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor. Rick was a founding member and past president of the Kansas Association for Play Therapy and is a pass Chair of the Board of Directors for the national Association for Play Therapy as well have serving as a reviewer for the International Journal for Play Therapy.

 Dr. Gaskill is an adjunct faculty member at Wichita State University, teaching play therapy and supervising play therapy practica since 1995.  He cofounder of the WSU Approved Play Therapy Center in 2010.  Dr. Gaskill has published 4 book chapters (3 with Dr. Bruce Perry Senior Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy), a research article, as well as multiple articles involving the neurobiology of trauma, the use of play therapy, and NMT guided play activities in treating trauma.  He has designed, operated, consulted, and lectured on children’s therapy, therapeutic preschools, trauma informed schools, and the integration of school based mental health services throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia over the past 30 years.  

He received the Chairman’s Award from Future’s Unlimited in 1997 for his work with at risk children and was named the Kansas Head Start Partner of the Year in 2005 for his work with therapeutic preschools. Dr. Gaskill was named a Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas, in 2004. In 2006, he was named one of the Regional Administrator’s Leadership Award Winners for ACF Region VI of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding trauma informed care, and in 2013 served on the Governor’s Mental Health Task Force for the State of Kansas.  In 2014, Dr. Gaskill was honored with the Exemplary Service to Children and Families Award at the Kansas Governor’s Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. In 2015, he was also recognized for his consultation and work with traumatized preschoolers by the National Association to Protect Children and in 2017 Wichita State University awarded him the College of Education’s Champion of Education Award.  Also in 2017, Dr. Gaskill was presented the Alice Eberhart-Wright Visionary Award for his outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of early childhood mental health by the Kansas Association of Infant Mental Health.  Finally, the Kansas Association for Play Therapy named Dr. Gaskill the first recipient of the Rick Gaskill Luminary Award for his contributions to play therapy in the State of Kansas in 2018 naming the award in his honor.  In 2020 Rick was selected for the Wichita State University Hall of Fame.

Schedule:   

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT:

Due to COVID-19 health concerns, this one-time online event has been approved by APT for (6 hrs) CONTACT CE Hours.  Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance. Attendees  must successfully complete a post-test and an evaluation. No partial credit will be awarded. 

Counselors:  Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified.  Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit. 

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.   

Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284. 

Group Discount

A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. When registering a group online, please register all group members at one time using the add additional attendee link that appears at the end of the registration. Check or money order only if registering by mail. Credit Cards accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.

Special Needs:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org, Registration & CE Coordinator if you have special needs for the workshop.

Registration Information:

Early registration is recommended as space is limited to 40 attendees. Spaces are not guaranteed until your registration is processed and the registration fee has been paid. 

Membership Information: 

Membership applications are available online http://www.a4pt.org/default.asp?page=membership or by emailing membership@alabamaplaytherapy.org

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee. All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds issued for any reason after June 15, 2021.  In the unlikely event, the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Questions?

For REGISTRATION questions contact: CE and Registration Coordinators at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org 

For workshop QUESTIONS contact: Amy Davis (256) 577-3428 or pres-elect@alabamaplaytherapy.org 

National Play Therapy Week 2021 is quickly approaching! This year, the Association for Play Therapy has designated February 7^th thru 13^th as National Play Therapy Week. In response, your AAPT board has decided to sponsor three “Meet and Greet” sessions to celebrate this week dedicated to play therapists and the power of play.

These sessions will be held via Zoom so that everyone can attend safely!  Links to these meetings will be sent out via AAPT newsletter. So, check your in-boxes.

• Meeting #1 Monday, February 8^th at 9am 
• Meeting #2 Wednesday, February 10^th at 12noon  
• Meeting #3 Friday, February 12^th at 6pm 

During these meetings, you will be able to meet some of your AAPT board members and network! You will also discuss some of the requirements for becoming a Registered Play Therapist and learn how to find a supervisor. Suggestions for upcoming workshop topics and presenters will be also be polled.

Lastly- everyone who logs on and participates in a session will be entered to win a play therapy item that can be used in your practice OR a discount on an upcoming workshop!!!

So, don’t wait! Put one of these dates and times on your calendar and set an alarm – you don’t want to miss out!