1. Illuminating the Need for School-Based Play Therapy
Let’s Play!
Illuminating the Need for School-Based Play Therapy
Sara Rambo, M. Ed.
Doctoral Student at University of Missouri-St. Louis
Dr. Holly Wagner
Southeast Missouri State University

2. Scope of Trauma
25% of U.S. children experience at least 1 potentially traumatic event in their lifetime. (Pynoos & Fairbank, 2003)
More than 5 million U.S. children experience a traumatic event each year. (Levine & Kline, 2007)
Up to 40% of those children are at risk for developing a chronic neuropsychiatric problem (Margolin & Vickerman, 2007)
Sara

3. Effects of Trauma
Trauma can result in significant disruptions in development and is associated with long-term consequences:
(Ko et al., 2008; van der Kolk, 2005; Margolin & Vickerman, 2007)
Low academic performance
Difficulty processing information
Difficulties in relationships with trust and intimacy
Engagement in high-risk behaviors, including aggression and substance abuse
Difficulty with affect regulation
Sara

4. Responding to Trauma in School
20% of American children with mental health needs receive treatment or support
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014)
Schools are often the first agency to provide mental/emotional services to children
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Calls for more Trauma Informed Services
More services for mental health
Sara

5. “Simply talking about traumatic experiences does not necessarily assist the mind and brain to integrate the dissociated images and cognitions into a cohesive whole so healing may activate.”
(Green, 2012)
Sara

6. Play is: Way to organize a child’s experience
Concrete expression of the child
Child’s way of coping with their world
A way for the therapist to enter the inner emotional life of the child
(Drewes, 2009)
Holly

7. Play Therapy
Natural method of expression, learning, and interacting. (Axline, 1947; Landreth, 1982; Moustakas, 1953)
Encourages children to increase their understanding of the world as they explore objects, language, social roles, and feelings without imminent risk. (Griffith, 1997)
Symbolic understanding (Piaget, 1951)
Organizer of children’s experiences and may be one of the few times in their lives that they feel more in control and more secure. (Landreth, 2002)
Holly

8. Natural Healing After Trauma
Through play and art, children can reconstruct the trauma and create alternate endings
Dynamic posttraumatic play: creates a sense of mastery and control for the child
(Gil, 2010)
Holly

9. Integrating Play & Evidence-Based Interventions
Cognitive-Behavioral Writing Therapy
Write about thoughts and feelings related to trauma. Then depict them through sandtray, art or other play media.
Sara

10. Imagery with Story
Use of acrylic art on canvas, producing abstract imagery with a story written about adolescent’s interpretation of the art
Sara

11. Imagery with Story
Create and paint something meaningful for student to tell “their story”
Student can also write an interpretation of their story after creating story stones
Can reorganize stones
Sara

12. M Mandalas
Individually constructed multi-colored sand mandalas or coloring pre-drawn mandalas on paper using pencils and markers with the story of the mandala written (based upon the adolescent’s internal framework)
(Gil, 2010)
Sara

13. School Based-Registered Play Therapist Credential
Association for Play Therapy (APT)
SB-RPTs are school counselors or school psychologists who hold a license from their state's department of education, and who have satisfied APT’s credentialing requirements
Sara

14. Becoming a School Based RPT
Master’s degree with courses in:
Child Development
Theories of Personality
Psychotherapy
Child & Adolescent Psychopathology
Ethics
150 hours of Play Therapy instruction through a higher education institution or an APT Provider
Supervised Play Therapy Experience
600 hours of supervised experience with an RPT-S (50 hours of concurrent supervision)
2 years continuous employment post-certification
Sara

15. Integrate Play Techniques Within Master’s Courses
Counseling Children and Adolescents course
School Counseling Practicum course
School Counseling Field Experience
Play Therapy courses
Community-based events
Ferguson October play/expressive tent
Holly

16. Community Storytelling through Play
Holly

17. Implement Play Therapy Sequence
Two 3-hours courses per academic year fulfill 135 hours of educational requirements
RPT or RPT-S as an adjunct professor
Can be achieved in a couple of ways, dependent on program:
Intro to Play Therapy in Fall/Advanced Play Therapy in Spring
Courses offered as electives
Build sequence into required hours (pay attention to CACREP guidelines!)
Holly

18. Thank you!