1. Using Play therapy for more effective communication in advising
Allison Ewing-Cooper, PhD
University of Arizona

2. Objectives
Learn briefly about play therapy and the potential benefits of play
Explore and practice ways play can be used in advising to help our students
Play!

3. What is Play Therapy? Use play to facilitate
communication and help others
Not just for children!
Effective for all ages and populations
Useful in all fields (not just therapy), including business, education, and advising

4. What are the Benefits of Play?
Mind-body integration
Uses the whole brain
Helps us relax, feel better physically
Problem-solve
Better academic performance and social skills
Drops filters

5. Lego Duck
Instructions: Take the Lego blocks out of your activity bag. Construct a duck using the blocks provided and your imagination.

6. What does your duck look like?

7. Play Dough Activity
Take your play dough out of your box. Find a partner you don’t know. Talk about the following:
What do you like best about advising/working with college students?
What play do you like best?
What play have you used with your students?

8. What did you make with your play dough?

9. Paper and Crayons
Draw the line of how you got to where you are now.

10. My Coat of Arms

11. Games!
Get into groups of 5-6.
You are lost at sea…

12. Play… Disarms students Relaxes students
Helps students share, plan, think, decide, and dream
Is fun

13. Thank you!