Description:

Dissociation is a disconnect from emotions, body sensations, thoughts, memories, and/or identity. In play therapy it can look like explosive behavior, clients presenting as “shell shocked”, self-injuring behavior, or bizarre mood and personality shifts. Oftentimes these are the children who fall through the cracks and are passed on due to their complexity with people stating “nothing works with them”. In this training, participants learn how to explain dissociation to both children in the playroom and parents in parent sessions, participants discuss how to assess for dissociation with both parents and children in play therapy, and participants demonstrate skills to work with parts of self in the playroom.

Cost:

$210.00

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain how to assess for dissociation in children, both in parent sessions and the playroom
2. Describe the major theories of dissociation and how they apply to the playroom
3. Discuss how to speak to children about parts of self in play therapy, and how to speak to parents about parts of self in parent sessions
4. Identify coping skills for children experiencing dissociation in the playroom
5. Demonstrate grounding skills for children experiencing dissociation in the playroom
6. Demonstrate basic parts work interventions in play therapy during training breakout session

Journal Article:

https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpla0000135

How to Get the Journal Article:

**Additional $17.95 purchase of APA PsycNet journal article is required for non-APT members. If you are an existing APT member, please see below for instructions on how to access the journal article.**

To access the journal article:

APT members can access current and past journal articles via the American Psychological Association website. 

1. Visit the APA website: http://my.apa.org
2. Request your password by clicking “Forgot your password or email/username?” and entering the email address APT has on file for you. 
3. Then create a new password.  
4. Once logged in to the APA website, you can use the link provided in the training to access the article.
5. Read the article and complete the quiz.

Non-APT members can purchase the journal article on this website: http://my.apa.org

1. Click the link provided in the training to access the article.
2. Click “Get Access on the APA website.”
3. Purchase PDF.
4. Read the article and complete the quiz.

Presenter:

Nik Johnson, M.S.

LPC, RPT, EMDR Consultant

Nik has been a private practice counselor at the Center for Counseling and Family Relationships since 2017. He works with children (aged 4+), adolescents, and adults, specializing in complex trauma, dissociative disorders, and play therapy. Previously Nik worked at an agency in Missouri providing play therapy to children in the foster care system. He offers continuing education to professionals, especially within the topics of working with developmental trauma, dissociative disorders, and play therapy.