Neurobiology of Play Therapy: How to improve our practice.
Richard L. Gaskill, EdD, RPT-S, RPT, IMH-E® (IV)
Neurobiology of Play Therapy Program Description: Over the past two decades, research has clearly documented the vulnerability of the developing brain and the negative impact of social and emotional trauma on brain functioning. It is now apparent that traumatic and neglectful developmental experiences alter normal brain development in all parts of the brain depending on the nature of the maltreatment, developmental stage of the child, and the quality of the nurturing environment. As play therapists learn more about brain development, brain organization, and the impact of trauma we are better able to identify play therapy interventions likely to be effective treatment options.
Thursday June 22:
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:
1. Learn key neurobiological concepts critical to play therapist's work.
2. Identify how these neural biological concepts can be utilized in a play therapy setting.
3. List functional neurobiological indicators of children suffering from social and emotional maltreatment.
4. Assess functional neural disorganization in traumatized children.
5. Help parents, teachers, and caregivers appreciate the neurological underpinnings of the child’s behavior.
6. Educate those in the child's therapeutic web to understand the importance of the developmentally sequenced intervention design.
Friday, June 23:
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
1. Identify important developmental play activities impacting specific brain regions.
2. Sequence play activities based on developmental/functional age and mastery.
3. Integrate brain region specific play activities into your play therapy treatment design.
4. Develop play therapy protocol listing dosing, social ratios, and play activities.
5. Instruct parents to engage in developmentally helpful play activities.
6. Understand the critical importance of carrying out the treatment design in a relationally rich interpersonal setting.
Ethics: Navigating the Journey Program Description: As play therapists, each of us encounter ethical concerns in our practice. Changing times and technology have both improved our services, as well as, brought significant concerns for how to implement these things into our practice and lives. We will utilize APT’s “Play Therapy Best Practices” guidelines as a framework to begin our ethics journey and navigate these current issues.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:
1. State the ethical implications of technology in practice/consultation/supervision
2. Identify areas of ethical concerns related to consultation/supervision
3. Express the importance of being current with ethics, boundaries/touch, confidentiality, and documentation
Location: Ritz Charles
12156 N Meridian St | Indianapolis, IN 46032
(317) 846-9158
Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn
1309 Pennsylvania St | Indianapolis, IN 46032
(317) 581-9400
Visit www.indianaapt.org for a link to the group reservation page
LAST DAY TO BOOK AT SPECIAL RATE: 5/22/2017
Continuing Education
Continuing education credit for this event is co-sponsored by the Indiana Assoc. for Play Therapy and The Institute for Continuing Education. The program offers a total of 13.00 contact hours (6.00/7.00 hrs. per day), with full daily attendance required. The CE processing fee is included with registration. Continuing education forms will be available on site. CE verification will be mailed to applicants following the Conference. If you have any questions regarding continuing education, the program, grievance issues, or learning objectives, please contact The Institute at: 251-990-5030; email: instconted@aol.com
Psychology: The Institute for Continuing Education is an organization approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Counseling/MFT: For counselors seeking credit, The Institute for Continuing Education will make a co-sponsorship application to NBCC for this event.
Social Work: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Provider No. 1007. Licensed social workers should contact their individual state jurisdiction to review current continuing education requirements for license renewal.
Play Therapy: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to sponsor continuing education specific to play therapy. The Institute maintains responsibility for the program. APT Provider No. 98-040.
Skill Level: This program is appropriate for professionals of intermediate to advanced skill level.
About the presenters:
Rick Gaskill EdD, RPT-S, RPT, IMH-E® (IV) (Neurobiology of PlayTherapy) has worked in community mental health for over 38 years. Currently he serves as Clinical Director of Sumner Mental Health Center in Wellington, KS. He is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist and Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and an endorsed Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor. He is a founding member and past president of the Kansas Play Therapy Association and is currently a board member of the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Gaskill has lectured in the Wichita State University Approved Play Therapy Center, teaching play therapy and supervising play therapy practicum students for the past 13 years. He was named a Fellow of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas, in 2004. Dr. Gaskill also received the Chairman's Award from Future's Unlimited in 1997 for his work with at risk children and in 2005, Dr. Gaskill was named the Head Start Partner of the Year in Kansas for his work with therapeutic preschools. In 2006, he was named one of the Regional Administrator's Leadership Award Winners for ACF Region VI of the Department of Health and Human Services and was honored for his Exemplary Service to Children and Families at the Kansas Governor's Conference in 2014. He has published a number of articles and book chapters on the neurobiology of play therapy and has lectured extensively in the US, Canada, and Australia.
Laura L Kirchhofer (Ethics: Navigating the Journey) has over 13 years of experience in the field of therapy. She earned her Masters in Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University. Laura is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor. She is also a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and provides individual and group supervision. She is the owner of LK Child & Family Therapy Center, LLC in Kokomo, IN. Laura's passion is working with young children, families, and trauma issues. Laura utilizes play therapy in working with children. She is trained in Parent Child Interaction Therapy and enjoys working with preschool age children with behavioral issues and their parents. Laura has experience working in a variety of clinical settings with both children and adults including inpatient units, crisis assessment, substance abuse and outpatient counseling
Conference Schedule
Thursday June 22
8:00 – 8:30 Registration
8:30 – 11:45 Presentation (Break 10 – 10:15 AM)
11:45 – 1:15 Networking Lunch Provided
1:15 – 4:30 Presentation (Break 2:30 – 2:45)
4:45 – 5:45 Ethics (additional cost)
Friday June 23
8:00 – 8:30 Registration
8:30 – 11:45 Presentation (Break 10 – 10:15 AM)
11:45 – 1:15 Annual Meeting/Lunch
1:15 – 4:30 Presentation (Break 2:30 – 2:45)
