Attachment-Focused Family
Play Therapy
RECORDED WEBINAR TRAINING
Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy
Make a deep and lasting difference in the lives of children by creating an environment of healing and resilience by including their most important attachment relationships in the change process confidently using an attachment-focused family play therapy model
Attachment-Focused Family
Play Therapy
RECORDED WEBINAR TRAINING
Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy
Make a deep and lasting difference in the lives of children by creating an environment of healing and resilience by including their most important attachment relationships in the change process confidently using an attachment-focused family play therapy model
Have you ever worked with your clients in play therapy and thought ...
“I can’t figure out why my client isn’t doing better. Parents tell me they are doing all the things I’m suggesting but it’s not getting better.”
“I can sense something but I’m not sure what it is. I know there are some family patterns that might be causing or contributing to this problem, but I can’t figure out what it is. I don’t know what’s going on and my client isn’t getting better!”
Are you feeling stressed because you don’t think your clients are progressing and you don’t know why, so you try all kinds of activities to solve the problem but nothing works?
Maybe parents are calling, emailing, or texting you between sessions telling you all the things that aren’t working and you’ve tried everything but nothing’s working and you feel like a failure.
Maybe you think family play therapy can help but the thought of having so many people in the room creates a ton of anxiety for you because you don’t think you can do it right and then parents will think you’re terrible.
Or maybe you think you just need to work with your clients in individual counseling sessions and family therapy is not really effective.
It's time to shift away from using only an individual play therapy session approach to thinking about how to best help children heal using a family systems lens so you have a deeper and fuller understanding of what's going on with your clients and how to help them.
"Your experience and confidence in the model you developed plus your grounding energy helped in learning a whole new model. You brought it to life, including making comments during the first part explaining that the science is why you emphasize certain things with parents."
Cooper S.
Family Play Therapist
Children don't exist in a vacuum.
When you work with children you also work with their families because children are one part of a larger system
When you think about it from that perspective, you realize children can't be their own agents of change because they need the adults in their life to help them make the change.
AND – while you may not have the whole family in the session with your clients, we know from neuroscience and attachment research that early relationship experiences have a huge impact on clients’ beliefs about themselves (self-concept), others (formulating beliefs based on intentions and behaviors), and relationships (are relationships safe? how do I navigate relationships?).
That means that even though you may only provide individual play therapy sessions, your clients are actually bringing all their family relationship experiences into the playroom.
Getting a deeper understanding of your clients and what's contributing to their problem can make a huge difference to fully understand how to help them heal.
Observing family dynamics in real-time enhances healing.
When the whole family (or even parts of the family) engages in the play therapy session you can see in “real time” the relationship patterns to identify problems area and strengths in the family and parenting. You don’t need to rely on what parents are telling you because you’ll see the dynamics right in front of you. This includes the role of siblings in the change process to help the whole family heal so you can help parents create a healthy family environment.
We know from decades of research in attachment and family systems theory that children thrive when they have strong attachment relationships, including relationships with their siblings. Strong attachment relationships help children develop and sustain resiliency.
After all, isn't resiliency the long-term goal for all play therapy treatment approaches?
"One of my take-aways was that messages given by parents are the basis of resiliency in a child."
Sarah P.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Hi! I'm Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S. I've spent the last thirty plus years figuring out the best ways to help children heal.
Like you, my passion to help children heal is a calling, not just a job, right?! We feel called to make a difference in the lives of children.
Meet your trainer!
I remember when I was in my first year of graduate school for social work in 1990 learning about this theory model called family systems theory. It was like the whole world lit up and I finally understood so many things from my own childhood (we all diagnose ourselves in graduate school, right?!! 🤣).
I’ve always felt called to help children heal. Learning to conceptualize the problem that children are experiencing from a family systems lens was such a game changer because I could now look at what was going on and how to help clients more effectively.
Learning about attachment theory and neuroscience later in my career only added to my depth of understanding. I’ve always said that family is the “learning laboratory” for life. We learn how to navigate relationships and stressors within our family relationships, including sibling relationships, which I believe are greatly undervalued as a focus in treatment.
I’ve made lots of mistakes over the years. These mistakes have usually been my greatest learning lessons, especially when working with parents and families.
At this point in my career, my focus is helping the next generation of play therapists and child/adolescent therapists make a deep and lasting change in the lives of their clients. I take the valuable lessons and knowledge I’ve gained over the past 30+ years and pack all that into trainings so you can fast track your learning and get the best results for your clients using play therapy.
I developed a family play therapy model, Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy, to show you how to use neuroscience and attachment theory within the context of a family systems lens. This model takes you through all the stages of the change process to help children heal within the context of their most important relationships.
What Your Colleagues Are Saying About Cathi's Trainings
Testimonials
THAT'S WHY I CREATED THIS TRAINING!
Attachment Focused Family Play Therapy
I’ll show you how to identify the roots of your clients’ problems and use Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy to get better treatment results using play therapy. This Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy training will show you how to use a neuroscience and attachment theory lens within a family systems and play therapy framework to overcome the challenges your clients are experiencing while also building strong attachment relationships with their parents and siblings.
This training will help you:
Learn to integrate the whole family to heal relationship patterns
Children don’t exist in life alone. They live within a family system. We know from decades of research in family systems theory and attachment theory that early relationships leave a lasting impact on all of us. Using an attachment-focused play therapy approach that integrates the whole family and/or parts of the family system allows you to create opportunities for healing the whole family and build healthy relationship patterns that will last a lifetime for your clients and their family.
Learn how to identify family and attachment relationship patterns using cultural humility
In this family play therapy training, you’ll learn the neuroscience of relationships and emotion regulation. You’ll learn how to identify family relationship patterns and attachment relationship patterns using cultural humility to recognize what’s contributing to your clients’ problem. This allows you to more accurately get to the root of the problem for deeper healing that lasts a lifetime, not just a “bandaid” on the problem.
Accelerate progress through family involvement
Parents are an important part of the change process for their children so helping parents to engage in the play therapy change process is vital for successful treatment outcomes. Using family play therapy can speed up progress because you’re helping to shift family relationship patterns and create an environment where your clients can thrive. You can use family play therapy sessions to see in “real time” what’s going on in the family so you can more accurately help parents support their children and facilitate faster healing. You’ll learn how to teach parents attachment-focused parenting skills and then use family play therapy sessions to help parents apply the skills they’re learning right in the sessions with your support.
"Cathi was very available and able to answer questions. I really enjoyed her enthusiasm and knowledge. I learned a lot and feel more confident meeting with families."
Leslie
Marriage and Family Therapist
"Small groups were helpful for applying content to practice settings, cementing information, and learning from other clinicians in addition to the presenter."
Sloane F.
Clinical Social Worker
We'll be working together to:
- You’ll learn what is your role as the play therapist in each phase of treatment and what to focus on during sessions to create change.
- You’ll learn how to choose family play therapy interventions to fit the needs of your clients regardless of the age differences of siblings for each phase of treatment.
- You’ll have more confidence using family play therapy with your clients and their families. I’ll walk you step by step through the application process using case studies and group discussion.
- You’ll get ideas for play therapy activities to use in the family play therapy sessions. No more feeling lost and confused about what to do in sessions and how to do it.
- You’ll participate in group discussions and experiential activities to help you integrate the information discussed in the training to meet the specific needs of your clients and your counseling setting.
We'll be working together to:
Here's what you'll learn!
- You’ll learn what is your role as the play therapist in each phase of treatment and what to focus on during sessions to create change.
- You’ll learn how to choose family play therapy interventions to fit the needs of your clients regardless of the age differences of siblings for each phase of treatment.
- You’ll have more confidence using family play therapy with your clients and their families. I’ll walk you step by step through the application process using case studies and group discussion.
- You’ll get ideas for play therapy activities to use in the family play therapy sessions. No more feeling lost and confused about what to do in sessions and how to do it.
- You’ll participate in group discussions and experiential activities to help you integrate the information discussed in the training to meet the specific needs of your clients and your counseling setting.
Family Play Therapy Live Webinar Information
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is this training for？
Play therapists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, family therapists, child and adolescent psychologists
Where is it？
This is a Recorded Live Webinar Training. You’ll receive a link to access your account in an email after you register.
- Participants will complete an evaluation form and a post-test quiz containing a combination of 24 multiple choice. You must achieve 85% proficiency on the quiz to receive CE credit
Course Description
When you work with children, you also work with their families since children are one part of a larger system. They don’t exist alone in a vacuum. Children can’t be their own agents of change because they need the adults in their life to facilitate change. Decades of research demonstrate that children are more resilient when they have strong positive attachment relationships. When the whole family (or even parts of the family) are present in sessions, you can observe how family relationships influence your clients’ problems. You can also observe how family members adjust to your clients’ problems. Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy uses the theory and research of neuroscience, attachment theory, and family therapy combined with the therapeutic powers of play. This model empowers children and their families to transform and build resiliency. Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy allows you to identify family relationship and parenting problem areas and strengths using cultural humility. This includes the role of siblings in the change process. You don’t need to rely on self-report because you’ll see the dynamics right in front of you. In this live webinar, you’ll learn an attachment-based family play therapy framework based on neuroscience and attachment theory to help your clients overcome their mental health challenges. Since parents are critical for the change process, you’ll learn the role of co-regulation. You'll also learn culturally relevant ways to teach attachment-based parenting skills to parents. This workshop will walk you through each phase of treatment and how to choose play therapy interventions.
Objectives for this training
- Play therapists and child/adolescent counselors will analyze attachment relationship patterns to identify strengths and needs in family play therapy sessions Play therapists and mental health professionals will define the concept of mentalization and its role in relationships
- Play therapists and child/adolescent counselors will describe all components of the attachment-based parenting skills
- Play therapists and child/adolescent counselors will demonstrate cultural humility during the family play therapy process
- Play therapists and child/adolescent counselors will explain the essential tasks of each phase of the family play therapy treatment and demonstrate how to choose family play therapy interventions
Training Outline
90 minutes: Overview of Attachment Neurobiology
- Overview of Attachment Neuroscience: Right Brain, Early Experiences, and Memory
- Mentalization and Its Role in Developing a Sense of Self and Understanding Others and How Relationships Work: Overview of the Neuroscience of Emotion Regulation, Overview of Polyvagal System & Safety, Overview of the Role of Co-regulation and Caregivers List item two
30 Minutes: Relationship Nuts & Bolts using a neurobiology and attachment lens to identify strengths and needs within family relationships and form the foundation for treatment planning targets to address and strengthen; Attunement and Resonance circuitry for reading “cues,” Intersubjectivity & Reciprocity (Serve & Return); Proximity & Safety for Co-regulation; Relationship Rupture Repair Work; Overview of the Model; Foundational principles of Attachment-focused Family Play Therapy and caregiver engagement; Family S.P.A.C.E. and the 3R’s of Relationship Skills and accessing the therapeutic powers of play
30 Minutes: Overview of the Phases of treatment, essential tasks for each phase of treatment, and use of video recording sessions for therapeutic teaching with parents; Review Therapeutic Powers of Play for Family Play Therapy
1 hour 30 minutes: Overview of of each phase of treatment, purpose of each phase and focus with caregivers; Choosing interventions for each phase of play therapy treatment; use of case study to discuss application; experiential activities for each phase
Continuing Education Credit is available for the following organizations:
- 4 Non-Contact CE hours, APT Approved Provider #20-621
- CEs only available for mental health professionals
- This live webinar meets APT’s requirements for Non-contact Live Webinar continuing education hours if you are attending the live training. (If you register for the recorded training, you can earn 4 Non-Contact Non-Live Webinar CE hours).
- Approved 4 CEUs - Virtual/Live - Non-Interactive & Home-Study, NASW UT Chapter
For mental health professionals pursuing a Registered Play Therapy (RPT) certification, this training fits into Category 2: Play Therapy Skills and Methods. Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals.
Here’s the rationale for Primary Area Category 3: the seminal and historically significant theories underlying this training is Child Centered Play Therapy/Humanistic because the use of the therapeutic relationship is critical for the change process using with an attachment and neurobiological “lens”. Ecosystemic/Prescriptive play therapy models provide a framework for integration of theories to individualize the interventions used to meet the needs of individual clients. This training uses these seminal and historically significant theories as the foundation for the inclusion of neuroscience and attachment theory to inform the treatment process for the family system and uses family play therapy interventions based on the needs of each client/family within a safe, strong therapeutic relationship. This training teaches skills to use play therapy with children, adolescents, and their families.
Who's appropriate for this training？
Play therapists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, family therapists, child and adolescent psychologists
This training is for you if...
- Want to think beyond the ordinary and accomplish extraordinary results with your clients so you can change the lives of your clients and their families for generations to come.
- You want to learn how to confidently using a family play therapy model through each phase of the change process and know what to do in each phase of treatment.
- You want to learn new play therapy strategies to help your clients heal.
- You’re tired of feeling like you’re failing your clients and you want to gain confidence to use family play therapy so you can get better results for them.
This training is NOT for you if…
- You’re not a child/adolescent mental health professional.
- You are a child/adolescent mental health professional but you don’t want to use play therapy with your clients.
- You don’t think family play therapy is effective.
- You don’t need to learn anything because you’re very experienced and you already know everything there is to know about play therapy.
Consent
By registering for this training, you are giving permission for Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training (RHPTT) to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as RHCC deems appropriate and desirable. This training will also be recorded, so you are giving permission for Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training to record you during the live webinar training. Photographs may be used on the RHPTT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs and the live webinar recording indefinitely. You also agree to allow your feedback and comments in the chat and evaluation form may also be used for future promotions as deemed appropriate and desirable by RHPTT. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify RHPTT of your request to be omitted.
"This framework is excellent for integrating play within a systemic family context. Cathi's personality and use of activities made this training interesting and fun! I am eager to take future courses from her and learn everything I can from her integrated family approach."
Ryan A.
Attachment - Focused Family Play Therapy Training
One Time Payment
$87
RECORDED WEBINAR WITH CE HOURS
