Art and Play Therapy with Children

This one day workshop provides a practical introduction to counselling children using art and play therapy. As toys are children’s words and play is their language, play therapy optimises children’s self-expression and safety in counselling. Learn what play therapy involves and how to maximise success in engagement with and change for children using this method.

Case presentations are based on the presenter’s 20 years' of experience with children. Consideration is given to the types of art and play media relevant for different ages and issues being addressed.

The topics that are covered include:

• What is the difference between play and play therapy?
• What do I do when the play is over?
• How do I make sense of what the play means?
• Do I play with the child?
• What do I tell parents about what has happened in a session?
• What if the child doesn’t want to play?
• How do we know if this is working?
• When might play therapy not be useful to a child?
• What if the child wants to take toys home?
• What toys/resources do you need to do play therapy?

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Identify the theoretical basis of working with art and play media
• Consider the evidence base for these ways of working with children
• Review common issues for which children are referred for counselling
• Build skills in communicating and contracting with parents
• Practice person-centered empathic counselling skills
• Learn non-directive art and play therapy techniques in working with children
• Consider practical ways to start to build art and play media resources in your own practice
• See the world through the eyes of a child where there is wonder in all things and boredom and routine do not exist!

Who should attend?

Psychologists, social workers, counsellors, pastoral workers and case workers who have a counselling role with children 2-10 years of age (no artistic experience or skill required)