Maximizing Caregiver Commitment in the Play Therapy Process for Collaborative Growth
Caregivers play a crucial role in the play therapy treatment process. Helping caregivers to believe in play therapy as a modality is a large component of the growth and success of the child in treatment. Multiple methods of caregiver involvement and consultation are possible, depending on the play therapist's theoretical orientation. Some therapists include the caregivers in every session (Filial) while others hold consultations or "caregiver sessions" after a certain number of play therapy sessions with the child (CCPT). Deciding which method to use with each family is dependent on their spec...Read moreific needs.
Play therapists can effectively involve caregivers in treatment beginning from the initial phone call for services. Recommending exploration of the APT Parents' Corner, describing the logistics of the play therapy process, explaining basic nervous system regulation, and empathic listening can all be useful tools at the onset of services. During the intake appointment, allowing caregivers to tell the story of their child first, before discussing behavior concerns and treatment, can create a meaningful foundation for a positive therapeutic relationship. In future consultations, offering the caregivers examples and explanations of play themes while still protecting the child's confidentiality may be delicate but is also essential.
As play therapists, our ultimate goal is for the child and family to grow, heal, and move forward together outside of the playroom. Establishing a working relationship with the child's caregivers helps to ensure that the gains in play therapy are continued once counseling has terminated (McMahon, 2009). Less...
Learning Objectives
- 1) Identify various challenges with caregivers during play therapy treatment.
- 2) Utilize strategies to develop their own approach for play therapy consultations with caregivers.
- 3) Explain the play therapy process to caregivers.
- 4) Explain nervous system activation within the play therapy process to caregivers.
Target Audience
Learning Levels
- All levels
Saturday, September 13, 2025
in-person or virtually!
4949 Caroline St, Houston, TX, 77004
09:00 AM CDT - 12:30 PM CDT
About the speaker
Jennifer J. Cain, LPC-S, RPT-S
Agenda
8:30 - 9:00am - Networking Breakfast
9:00-10:30
30 minutes- lecture on importance of caregiver involvement and various methods of consultation
15 minutes- small group/large group discussion about incorporating caregivers in play therapy treatment
30 minutes- lecture on positive outcomes and resistance with caregivers
15 minutes- experiential activity
10:30-11:00 BREAK
11:00-12:30
20 minutes- lecture on strategies to utilize with caregivers
10 minutes- demonstrations of explaining play therapy to caregivers
15 minutes-experiential activity
20 minutes-lecture on explaining nervous system regulation to caregivers
5 minutes- personal reflection to prepare for role play
15 minutes- parent consultation role play with partners
5 minutes-Q&A
CE Information - Earn 3 CE Credit Hours including
0 Play Therapy Skills and Methods Hour
0 play therapy Hour
CE Approvals
In-Person
APT Approved Provider
Virtual
APT Approved Provider
CE Process Info
In-Person Event CE- Process information
Each professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by his/her licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend "live" (in real-time) for the duration of the training to earn CE credits.
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Complete evaluation forms for the event
Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format
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Virtual Event CE- Process information
Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.
Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:
- Complete evaluation forms for the event
- Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ce-go.com".
If you have any continuing education related questions, please contact your event organizer.
Please make sure to check your spam/junk folder in case those emails get "stuck". We'd also suggest "Allowlisting" support@ce-go.com. This tells your email client that you know this sender and trust them, which will keep emails from this contact at the top of your inbox and out of the junk folder.
Disclosure
DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPSCE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).
The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer:
PLANNERS AND REVIEWER
The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.
FACULTY
The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.