Getting Grounded

Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy

Develop the confidence and skills you need to engage parents in the play therapy change process as therapeutic partners with you to facilitate healing for their child like an expert

As a play therapist, you’ve probably come to realize that when you’re working with children in play therapy then -

you’re also working with their parents.

The problem is that most likely you’ve gotten a lot of training about how to work with children but not much training about how to work with parents.

This means you probably feel more comfortable working with kids, but not with their parents. You may be struggling to know what is the best way to work with parents so you can help their children heal.

IF YOU WORK WITH FAMILIES THEN-

You've probably asked yourself many of these questions:

How do I engage parents in the play therapy process?
What’s the role of parents in play therapy?
How do I talk to parents about play therapy and explain play therapy so it sounds like I’m doing more than just “playing” in sessions with their children?
How do I protect the child’s privacy in play therapy when I’m talking to their parents?
How do I decide when to include parents in the play therapy sessions and when not to have parents in sessions with their children?
Parents keep calling me and telling me how bad things are for their child and play therapy doesn’t seem to be working? What do I tell parents? I feel like they want me to fix things and I can’t get them to attend parent sessions with me. I’m so frustrated!

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGING PARENTS IN PLAY THERAPY IS -

having a strategic plan that takes into consideration the unique issues of each child and their family, including cultural factors.

Afterall, how can you expect to engage parents as your partner in the change process for their child if you don’t know what the problem is and how parents can help their child? This is why using a strategic approach that’s grounded in theory and supported by trust and rapport using cultural intelligence is critical for success when working with parents.

I’ve worked in the child and adolescent mental health field for 30 years and -

Play therapy is the absolute best way I've found to help children heal.

During this time, I’ve worked with parents in outpatient clinics, homeless shelter programs, intensive home-based programs, children in the foster care system and their guardians, court-involved parents, and parents with children in residential treatment programs. These families are often complex.

I’ve witnessed the importance of strong parental participation when working with children in play therapy.

It makes sense when you think about it - children exist within the context of their families.

That means families have a tremendous influence on each other and finding ways to support parents can bring about lasting change through several generations. Cool, right?

"Cathi's experience and confidence in the model she developed plus her grounding energy helped in learning a whole new model. She brought it to life!"

COOPER S. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED

Consider me your wise guide (like Yoda!) to show you how to use a neuroscience and attachment lens to engage parents as your therapeutic partner in play therapy

It’s like you get a peek inside my brain about how to use a neuroscience and attachment lens to facilitate change and engage parents in the change process (and it’s really nerdy in there!).

I’ll show you how to work with parents to optimize their involvement in play therapy so you can get the best results for their children, even when you’re working with challenging family systems. .

That’s why I created this online play therapy course. This course takes my 30 years experience in child and adolescent mental health and gives you a fast track to success working with parents.

Introducing

Getting Grounded

Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy

This online course teaches you how to confidently and strategically engage parents in play therapy. It incorporates my thirty years of knowledge and experience working with complex families and shows you how to get deep and lasting change by engaging parents in the play therapy process.

What's inside this comprehensive online course

01 Neuroscience-Based Case Conceptualization

I’ll walk you through the case conceptualization process using a neuroscience and attachment lens to fully understand what’s going on by examining child-parent relationship patterns.

02 Client Dynamics

I'll guide you in exploring the underlying dynamics of your clients' situations and how to effectively involve parents in their child's play therapy.

03 Engaging Challenging Parents

I’ll show you how to get parents to attend sessions with you and trust you to make the hard changes that you’re asking them to make - even the challenging parents!

04 Case Studies and Activities

Complete activities using case studies to apply the skills taught so you can use them with your own clients.

05 Pre-Recorded Videos

I’ll walk you step by step through the process so you can learn what to look for in parent-child relationship patterns and use that information to decide the best way to engage parents in the change process

06 flexibility

You can complete the course when it’s convenient for you.

"I’m a LOT clearer on case conceptualization and clinical decision making."

-Julie Bleak
LMFT-S, RPT-S

"I learned the importance of being clear about expectations of therapy and my role as a therapist."

-Nashmia K.
LMFT

why you need this course

Getting Grounded Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy is an online course that teaches you how to confidently and strategically engage parents in play therapy

You'll learn how to:

Conceptualize the role of parents in play therapy using a neuroscience, attachment lens

Deal with challenging situations in play therapy like maintaining privacy, helping children separate from their parents, and managing tantrums

Create strong therapeutic rapport with parents to create a container of safety for the play therapy change process and engage them as partners to help their child thrive

Decide when to include parents in their children’s play therapy sessions and when to meet separately with parents

Recognize patterns in the child’s attachment relationships to give you important clues about how to engage parents in the play therapy change process

Use a culturally sensitive and intelligent approach when working with parents in play therapy whose culture is different from your own

see what you collegaues have said about Cathi's trainings

"My biggest take away was to set clear expectations with parents and be more intentional about parent sessions."

Karolanne

"My biggest take away was to meet the parents where they are. This will help me when managing parents/caregivers of the children I work with by being able to see their acuity levels and work from that point. I hope this will make working with parents and encouraging them to assist, become an emotional coach for their children easier and less difficult/time consuming for me."

Nicola

"My biggest takeaway was highlighting the importance of parent sessions. I hope to be more intentional with this moving forward and helping parents understand the importance of meeting with me individually."

Christy D.

"My biggest takeaway was the reassurance of how important parental involvement is in our work with children. Being able to validate and show compassion to the parents we work with, while at the same time empowering them with new tools."

Nashmia

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

When you enroll, you'll also get these
awesome bonuses:

BONUS #1

Tips with Working with Children in High Conflict Divorced Families

I’ll share with you how to establish clear expectations with parents and navigate challenging situations that are common with these families.

BONUS #2

Legal Policy Documents

I’m including templates to use to create documents to develop a policy when working with children of divorced parents to avoid sticky issues (and make you anxious), letters to send attorneys when you receive a subpoena for records, and policies for dealing with subpoenas. I developed these templates after years of challenging situations with high conflict family systems. I don’t often share these templates and I get asked for them ALL the time. So, I’m including them to provide more support to you when working with challenging families.

BONUS #2

Legal Policy Documents

I’m including templates to use to create documents to develop a policy when working with children of divorced parents to avoid sticky issues (and make you anxious), letters to send attorneys when you receive a subpoena for records, and policies for dealing with subpoenas. I developed these templates after years of challenging situations with high conflict family systems. I don’t often share these templates and I get asked for them ALL the time. So, I’m including them to provide more support to you when working with challenging families.

Course Description

Involving parents in the play therapy process has demonstrated significant treatment success for children and sustained positive changes for the child. And yet, integrating parents effectively in the play therapy process is often a struggle for many play therapists as they strive to find the best strategies for helping their young clients. This online course will help play therapists establish a culturally sensitive framework for successfully including parents in the change process as therapeutic partners for change with their children. Play therapists will learn how to use a neuroscience and attachment framework to establish therapeutic rapport with parents, communicate with parents about their child’s progress, structure parental involvement, and create a framework for confidently integrating even challenging parents in the play therapy process.

Objectives

Play therapists will explain at least three ways neuroscience and attachment theory explain the role of parents in play therapy
Play therapists will apply at least two strategies to engage parents in the play therapy change process
Play therapists will describe at least three maladaptive parent-child dynamics
Play therapists will explain at least two cultural intelligence strategies when working with parents whose culture is different from their own
Play therapists will explain at least two strategies to implement when working with high-conflict divorced parents
Play therapists will identify two strategies for effective communication with parents about the play therapy process and progress while maintaining the child’s confidentiality
Play therapists will explain the concept of cultural formulation and its role in case conceptualization

This course is for you if:

You know that figuring out how to engage parents in play therapy is important to make a real difference in the lives of your young clients

You like having a strategic plan to work with parents that works and gets to the deeper level of change needed to make a lasting difference for children

You want to make sure you’re using an ethical and culturally sensitive lens when providing play therapy

You’re tired of feeling like an imposter and feeling overwhelmed and lost when dealing with parents in play therapy and you’re ready to make a change so you can be more confident and effective when working with parents

You don’t want to settle for mediocrity in play therapy because this is your calling in life and you really want to help children heal

You believe that taking the necessary time to fully understand how parents can be a key partner for change with you is a critical component for helping their children heal

You know that taking short-cuts in play therapy undermines the quality of services you provide your young clients and their families

This course is not for you if:

You prefer taking shortcuts in play therapy and getting mediocre results

You think working with parents isn’t that important and children can use play therapy without their parents being involved in treatment

You think you already know everything and there’s nothing left to learn

You don’t use play therapy and don’t want to learn play therapy

You’re not a child and adolescent mental health professional

"I learned to set the expectations for parent participation and what to expect at the very beginning of treatment. And the importance of setting up a parent meeting time regularly."

-Carol Beth

"I love that you discussed the strategies and psychoeducation in general about working with parents with high acuity and why that might be- I think that is often overlooked. And just the information in general about working with challenging parents who may be involved with DHS and foster care."

- Aja R.
Therapist for Children with Trauma

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?

Mental health professionals who want to learn how to integrate parents when using play therapy with their child and adolescent clients – clinical social workers, school social workers, counselors, school counselors, marriage and family therapists, child psychologists.

How do you complete this course?

This is a self-paced course that you can complete in your own time zone and when it’s convenient for your schedule. You’ll watch the recorded videos, read the handouts for each module, and complete the workbooks to apply the information learned in the module. You’ll complete a quiz with 85% accuracy and course evaluation.

What skill level is needed for this course?

This course is appropriate for beginner play therapists as well as intermediate play therapists. This course teaches the following foundational play therapy competency skills:

Demonstrating knowledge of family and systemic theories in play therapy
Assessing family dynamics and conceptualizing the role of parents in play therapy for their children
Exhibit multicultural orientation to diversity, equity, and inclusion through a culturally and socially diverse play therapy process
Demonstrate relationship and rapport building skills

Are continuing education hours available with this course?

Yes, this course is approved for the following play therapy CE hours. Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training sponsored by Renewing Hearts Counseling & Consulting is an approved provider #20-621 for the Association for Play Therapy.

11 Non- contact CE hours, APT Approved Provider #20-621

Play therapy CEs only available for mental health professionals
This training does NOT meet APT’s definition of a Live Webinar

11 CE hours approved by NASW UT Chapter for Home Study

*You may be able to use this course for your licensing board CEs specific to your discipline. Contact your licensing board to determine how to use this course for your licensing requirements.

What is the refund policy for this course?

There are no refunds for this course.

What is the refund policy for this course?

There are no refunds for this course.

Release and Consent

By registering for this training, you are giving permission for Renewing Hearts Counseling & Consulting (RHCC) to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as RHCC deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the RHCC 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 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 RHCC. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify RHCC of your request to be omitted.

Will this course meet the requirements for the Association for Play Therapy’s Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential?

Yes, this course will help you develop a strong foundation in skill building to obtain your RPT credential and play therapy CEs are available.

For mental health professionals pursuing a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential this training fits into Primary Area 3: Play Therapy Skills & Methods. This course discusses how to work with parents in the play therapy process using cultural intelligence. This course discusses the importance of using a seminal or historically significant play therapy modality when working with parents in play therapy. Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals

Are the forms, procedures, and policies provided on this course considered legal or financial advice?

Disclaimer: These forms, procedures, and policies are not legal or financial advice. You’ll need to ensure the information contained in these documents meets the local, state, and federal requirements for your location. These forms are based on years of experience overseeing mental health business practice and are merely recommendations that will need to be revised to comply with regulations and laws in your local area as well as complying with your state licensing board and ethics.

How much does it cost?

This course is $227 and you have unlimited access to the course even after you completed it as long as the course is being offered. Since your access is unique for you, please don’t share your access information with others. However – feel free to share the love with your colleagues and let them know how they can purchase this training for themselves (and get their play therapy CEs).

Release and 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 RHPTT deems appropriate and desirable. 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 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.

READY TO LEVEL UP YOUR PLAY THERAPY SKILLS?

Click Enroll Now to Register!

GETTING GROUNDED