1. The Play Therapist is here…. Now what???
Dianna Sawyers MSW, LCSW

2. Objectives Learn how play therapy can benefit your students
Identify ways for school personnel to join with play therapist for effective treatment
Understand what is happening during a play therapy session and how you can help

3. 1.
Play Therapy Basics
What is a play therapist, what is play therapy, and how does it benefit my students?

4. History of Play Therapy
Early philosophers recognized the importance of play both in life and for children
Freud and “Little Hans”
1920’s and 1930’s- Hermine Hug-Hellmuth, Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, David Levy- use of free play, analysis of children play as intervention
1940’s and 1950’s- Clark Moustakas, Virginia Axline, and the emergence of humanistic psychology
1960’s to present- Garry Landreth “Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship,” directive vs non directive approaches, Theraplay

5. What is a play therapy?
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as: the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development
Play therapy is an additive model
Play therapy utilizes the “natural” language of children
Play therapy aims to respect the developmental level of each child by building a relationship and creating naturally.

6. Who is a play therapist?
Licensed mental health provider who has received additional specialized training according to the requirements of the APT.
Licensed Mental Health Provider- LCSW, LPC, PsyD.
Additional training required:
150 post licensure hours in play therapy
500 hours supervised intervention
18 hours continuing education per cycle

7. 2. Creating a Successful Partnership
What can you do as a school personnel to create a successful working relationship with the play therapist and increase success for students?

8. The role of the school COMMUNICATION! Between team members
School culture and expectations
Establish a contact point/liaison to the play therapist
Providing physical elements
Consistent space
Technology needs
Active member of the treatment team
Provide a safe space for children before, during, and after therapy sessions

9. Administrative Elements
Funding-
Grants, Third Party, School Budgets
Legal Requirements
Consent to Treat
HIPPA
Professional Requirements
Continuing Education
Case Maintenance
Maintaining professional boundaries

10. Helping Students become Successful Therapy Clients
Respect privacy
Be open to changes/accommodations
Communicate!!!
Consult with the therapist in your school
Ask questions
Be flexible
Remember
Therapy is NOT a punishment
Success and positive change takes times
Therapy looks different for every person

11. 3. The Play Therapy Session

12. How does a play therapy session look?
Session Length: ideally 45 minutes
Welcome to the playroom: 5-10 minutes of exploring/engaging with the playroom/therapist
Let’s get to work: 30 minutes engaged in directive or non-directive work
Exiting the playroom: 5-10 minutes, 5 minute warning, exiting ritual, transition object

13. What is the progression of play therapy?
Stages of Therapeutic Progress (J.L.G. de Rivera, MD, 1992)
Commitment- initiating services, building therapeutic rapport, motivation for change
Process-the working phase- searching for patterns, gathering new information,
Change-creating new healthy patterns, developing lasting insight and changes
Termination- successful completion of therapeutic intervention, client gains autonomy from therapist, healthy termination of therapeutic relationship

14. Who does play therapy benefit?
The ideal population are those 3-12 years of age
Those older than 12 can benefit from aspects of play therapy, modified play therapy interventions, or shorter play therapy services
Play therapy addresses many mental health and behavioral concerns

15. Birds fly, fish swim, children play.
-Garry Landreth

16. THANKS!
Any questions?
You can me at: