Healing Childhood Trauma, Loss and Grief through Play Therapy
Email
PrintIn this workshop, you will learn how trauma impacts children and how play therapy allows children to use the language of play to resolve these issues and return to the necessary tasks needed for healthy development. The historically significant approaches to trauma research and play therapy treatment are essential to understanding and practicing in the field of play therapy. Treatment protocols have been developed based on theoretical approaches that include Trauma-Focused Integrated Play Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, and Expressive Play Therapy for addressing trauma in children and adolescents.
You will learn how to develop a safe and protected space in the playroom through play therapy techniques that include directive, non-directive, expressive, and sand tray work. The importance of offering both verbal and non-verbal approaches to working with trauma in children through play therapy interventions will be explained. You will be able to identify the recognized phases of play therapy treatment and implement interventions for different age groups and developmental levels for each of the three phases. Ways to work with parents and guardians in conjunction with play therapy treatment will also be presented, including different family systems and cultural considerations.
This workshop is designed to help you:
- Discuss the theoretical approaches that comprise the history of trauma-informed play therapy with children.
- Develop and maintain a trauma-informed, safe, and protected play therapy environment for treatment purposes.
- Compare the three major play therapy protocols being used for treating children with traumatic histories.
- Describe the three phases of play therapy treatment utilized for children and adolescents.
- Explain the different treatment needs of children according to their developmental level within a play therapy framework.
- Practice play therapy interventions utilizing directive, non-directive, expressive, and sand tray work.
- Recognize family and cultural issues in play therapy treatment for trauma.
- Discuss parent/guardian sessions and support of parents/guardians during play therapy with children and adolescents.
This offering is ineligible for coupon use. Discounts are available on individual courses for active-duty military, reservists, Guard members, veterans, and military spouses. Please note, coupon codes cannot be combined with other discounts/coupons, and will not be retroactively applied.
VCU Continuing and Professional Education is an Association for Play Therapy (APT) Approved Provider #15-397.
This in-person training is approved for 16 APT contact training hours.
(1 hour = 60 minutes of instruction; breaks/meals excluded). Effective April 1, 2025, APT’s instruction requirements specify a minimum of 75 contact (in-person) hours toward the 150-hour total, and allow up to 75 non-contact hours, which include all other formats such as live webinars. For definitions and details, see APT’s guidelines at https://www.a4pt.org/
Synchronous In-Person Sessions
Our in person sessions are typically held at ChildSavers in Richmond, VA and offer an opportunity to interact with the instructor and other participants. There will be a one-hour break per day. Please bring your own lunch for the sessions. If an alternate location is selected, it will be listed in the registration link.
Attendance & CE Hours
Participants must attend the full workshop to receive APT continuing education hours from VCU, the certificate of completion, and the digital badge.
Required Assessments
VCU conducts a two-part assessment in each workshop. To earn educational hours toward an Association for Play Therapy (APT) credential, participants must pass two assessments. The activity assessment (scored rubric) is completed during the workshop through small- and large-group activities and discussion. The second assessment is a multiple-choice test that is sent after the training and completed online. Only participants who pass the activity rubric will receive the link and be eligible to take the online test. Both assessments must be completed within 30 days of the workshop date.
Creative Materials
ChildSavers staff will provide all creative materials for experiential work during this workshop.
Health & Attendance
To help maintain a healthy learning environment, participants who are ill (e.g., fever, new/worsening respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms) should not attend in-person training. If you become ill before the workshop, please notify ssschuetz@vcu.edu as soon as possible to discuss transfer options. Requests made after the workshop has started will not be accommodated.
Program Format Changes
If the training needs to move to a teleconference format, participants will be notified at least 48 hours before the start date to adjust travel plans..
Questions?
Should you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Shelly Schuetz at ssschuetz@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322.
Cancellation and Refund Policies:
You may cancel your registration up until two weeks before the workshop start date, and receive a full refund minus a $35 credit card processing fee. After that date, no refunds will be given. Cancellations must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu
In the unlikely event that this workshop is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.
Transfer Policy:
Workshop registrations may be transferred to a different workshop or person if requested in writing via email at ocpe@vcu.edu by the cancellation deadline. The participant must meet all prerequisites or qualifications required by the program.
Student/Participant Conduct:
Participants are subject to all university policies applicable to students, unless a specific university or VCU Continuing and Professional Education policy explicitly states otherwise. University policies governing students are available at https://vcu.public.doctract.com including:
Student Code of Conduct
Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct
Preventing and Responding to Discrimination
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy-Interim
Sex-Based Misconduct Policy-Interim
For Academic Accommodations, please visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/courses/policies.html#accommodations
There are still openings remaining at this time.