The California Branch of the Association for Play Therapy Presents

Involving Caregivers and Families in the Play Therapy Process:
Why, How, and Which Cases​

Sarah Wright, MFT, Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor

Saturday, 2/11/23 – 10:00am- 5:30pm PST

6 CEs In Person

Cost:
* APT Members: $99 ($89 before 1/20) with coupon code APTMEM
* Non Members: $119 ($99 before 1/20)

Location: The City of San Diego College-Rolando Library
Community Room, 6600 Montezuma Road San Diego, CA 92115
You are required to read and consent to the COVID waiver at the bottom of this page.

Workshop Description:

This course imparts to play therapists approaches to working with parents and caregivers to best support treatment of children engaged in play therapy from the very first phone contact through the conclusion of treatment. We examine many clinical considerations that inform how and when to involve parents in play therapy sessions and how and when to address parenting and behavioral concerns. Common clinical challenges to working with caregivers are addressed, including work with foster- and adoptive-parents, caregivers low in psychological-mindedness, caregivers with high levels of frustration or anger, and caregivers in high-conflict, separated, divorced, and blended families, and related legal and ethical considerations.

“Parenting is the hardest job in the world” (Goodyear-Brown, 2020, p. 1). With that as a jumping off point, it is important that play therapists are able to effectively communicate with the caregivers who are reaching out for help. Many parents are reaching out amidst their own struggles. According to Chen, Roller, and Kottman (2021), out of 130 countries and territories researched, the United States has the highest rate of single-parent households in the world. This is just one of many stressors that can occur in families who seek a play therapist’s help. It is important to develop a foundation of trust and safety with the caregivers before learning and real change can occur. As Bornsheuer, J. and Watts, R., (2012) state, when parents view the parenting consultation as threatening, they are likely to be hesitant to make any changes. Therefore, it is key that play therapists help parents see themselves as partners in the counseling process in helping their child. It is the goal of this workshop to help play therapists be able to explain the play therapy process in a clear way, what a play therapist does, limitations of play therapy, and communicate meaningful feedback that can assist in helping children and their families.

Presenter:

Sarah Wright LMFT, RPT-S has been in the private practice setting utilizing play therapy since 2017 in the San Diego area. During this time, Sarah has taken on local roles in the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) San Diego Chapter and has moved into roles of President–elect, President, and currently Immediate past–president of the CALAPT state board. From 2011-2017, Sarah worked with children removed from their homes by Child Protective Services and assisted children in adjusting into their new home environments as well as assist the caregivers in assisting the children to acclimate under often difficult dynamics. 

• Financial: Sarah Wright receives a speaking honorarium from the California Branch of The Association of Play Therapy.  Sarah has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
• Non-financial: Sarah Wright is the immediate past president of the California Branch of The Association of Play Therapy.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to list the beginning stages of involving caregivers in the play therapy process, including educating parents about the process and efficacy of play therapy based in the therapist’s treatment model and helping caregivers prepare children for the first play therapy session.
2. Participants will describe means of preserving the play therapy process with caregivers and parents who have a primary focus on behavioral concerns and how and when to discuss behavioral and parenting issues.
3. Participants will describe at least one approach to provide empathic support, insight, and psychoeducation to caregivers about issues they raise concerning their children’s needs, symptoms, and behaviors.
4. Participants will be able to identify at least two potential risks in the treatment of children of high-conflict, separated, divorced, and blended families and parameters to preserve the sanctity of the play therapy process for these children.
5. Participants will be able to identify case considerations used to determine the relative benefits of providing family play therapy vs. individual play sessions in conjunction with parent sessions.
6. Participants will identify the variables that inform decisions about how much information to share about children’s play therapy themes and dramas with parents and caregivers.
7. Participants will be able to demonstrate through discussion the laws and ethics concerning minor clients’ confidentiality in play therapy and involvement of their parents and caregivers.

Schedule

10:00 Discuss concerns about involving caregivers in the play therapy process

10:30 Discuss the importance of involving caregivers

11 Break 

11:15 Discuss how to engage caregivers in the play therapy process

12 Utilizing play therapy theory to work with caregivers

1 Lunch

2 Legal considerations when involving caregivers in the play therapy process

3 Utilizing Adlerian Play Therapy theory to provide example of following a theory model when involving caregivers

3:45 Break

4 Communicating effectiveness of play therapy to concerned caregivers

4 Caregiver toolkit

5:15 Q&A

Continuing Education: This workshop meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit per day for Psychologists, MFTs & LCSWs and LPCC’s. The California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Approved Provider # 00-094). The California Association for Play Therapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The California Association for Play Therapy maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. NO CREDIT FOR PARTIAL ATTENDANCE.

Who Should Attend: Social Workers, Marriage, Family & Child Therapists, School Counselors, Psychologists, Students, and Interns.

Instructional Level: Intermediate – requires a working knowledge of the fundamental principles of play therapy.

Cancellations & Refunds: Requests for refunds must be made in writing by e-mail to president@calplaytherapy.org. Requests must be made at least two weeks prior to the training to receive a refund. There is a $25.00 administrative fee for refunds. There are no refunds for cancellations after the deadline, however, registration may be transferred to another individual. There are no price breaks for partial attendance.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by presenters at the CALAPT events do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CALAPT Board of Directors or its membership. CALAPT reserves the right to make changes to the conference schedule, speakers and presentation, if this becomes necessary.

ADA Needs: If you have a disability and need accommodations per ADA/504, please provide notification 2 weeks prior to the workshop date.

Questions and Concerns: Contact us at calplaytherapy@gmail.com with any event or registration related questions or concerns.

Release and Waiver of Liability Relating to COVID-19 (In-Person Attendees Only)

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT HAS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND WILL AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND ABILITY TO BRING FUTURE LEGAL ACTIONS. THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO BRING A CLASS ACTION.

IN CONSIDERATION of being permitted to enter and remain at an event provided or hosted by the California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) or its Chapters, hereinafter referred to collectively as CALAPT, I, on behalf of myself and my heirs, assigns, executors, administrators, next of kin, and personal representatives (collectively, “Related Persons”), hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

The novel coronavirus SARS- CoV-2 and any resulting disease (together with any mutation, adaptation, or variation thereof, “COVID-19”) is an extremely contagious disease, and there is an inherent danger and risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any place where people are present.  Evidence has shown that COVID-19 can cause serious and potentially life-threatening illness and even death.

The California Branch of the Association for Play Therapy (which includes its directors, leaders, employees, volunteers, sponsors, representatives, and affiliates, collectively, “CALAPT”, or “Released Parties”) cannot prevent you from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID‑19 while attending its events and/or entering onto premises where CALAPT events are held.  It is not possible to prevent against the presence of COVID-19.  Therefore, if you choose to attend an event organized by CALAPT and enter onto premises where its conferences are held, you may be exposing yourself and others to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, which can result in subsequent quarantine, illness, disability, other short-term and long-term physical and/or mental health effects, and/or death, regardless of age or health condition at the time of exposure and/or infection. You acknowledge that CALAPT expects all event participants, exhibitors, vendors and guests to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated, if eligible, prior to traveling to its events and to adhere to mask-wearing mandates by state, local, and event premises authorities to minimize exposure to or spreading of COVID-19.

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WAIVER OF LAWSUIT/LIABILITY:  I, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND RELATED PERSONS, HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, IRREVOCABLY, AND FOREVER RELEASE RELEASE, WAIVE, AND DISCHARGE (AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE), EACH OF THE RELEASED PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT I AND ANY OF THE RELATED PERSONS MAY HAVE (OR HEREINAFTER ACCRUE) AGAINST ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES THAT RELATE TO ANY OF THE RISKS, HAZARDS AND DANGERS DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE IN ANY WAY TO (I) MY EXPOSURE TO COVID-19; (II) RELATED PERSON’S OR RELATED PERSONS’ EXPOSURE TO COVID-19, (III) MY TRAVEL TO AND FROM, ENTRY INTO, OR PRESENCE WITHIN, THE EVENT PREMISES; (IV) ANY INTERACTION BETWEEN ME AND ANY PERSONNEL OF ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES PRESENT AT THE EVENT; OR (V) ANY OF THE RISKS IDENTIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT (ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF COVID-19 AND OTHER RISKS) (COLLECTIVELY, THE “CLAIMS”), IN EACH CASE WHETHER CAUSED BY ANY ACTION, INACTION OR NEGLIGENCE OF ANY RELEASED PARTY OR OTHERWISE.

I understand that this waiver means I give up my right to bring any claim based in negligence, including for personal injuries, death, disease or property losses, or any other loss, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen.

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CLASS ACTION WAIVER: I hereby agree that any and all disputes, including any Claims made by me against any of the Released Parties must be brought on an individual basis only. By signing this Agreement, I hereby waive any right to litigate or arbitrate any Claim as a class action, representative action or class arbitration against any of the Released Parties.

SEVERABILITY:  I hereby agree that if any provision or part thereof contained in this Agreement is declared illegal, unenforceable, or ineffective, such provision or part thereof shall be deemed severable, such that all other provisions contained in this Agreement shall remain valid and binding.

WAIVER OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542:  I specifically and expressly waive all rights under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, to assert a claim that may now exist or that may arise in the future based on facts that may be unknown to me now.  Section 1542 of the California Civil Code states “a general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.”  By waiving this provision, I expressly have, fully, finally, and forever settled and released any and all claims arising from my participation in CALAPT events.

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By registering for this in-person event I….

1. • Assert that I have read this waiver in full and understand its content
   • Consent to the COVID waiver
   • I will follow any safety protocols set forth by CalAPT
   • Understand that vaccination is required and I will be asked to present my vaccine card.