Expressive Arts in Play Therapy
| Course code: | 25-SS-276 |
|---|---|
| Dates: | May 31 - June 1, 2025 Alternate Course Dates |
| Meets: | Sa and Su from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, 2 sessions |
| Hours: | 16.00 |
| Location: | ChildSavers |
| Instructor: | Robert Nickles |
| Fee: | $249.00 |
Description
Prerequisite: Principles of Play Therapy or a previous workshop or class that covers the principles of play therapy. Explore the rationale for, philosophy, history, and Gestalt theory supporting the use of expressive arts in play therapy. You will learn the basic skills needed to enter the world of expressive arts, which includes drama, music, art, storytelling, poetry, and movement. You will leave the workshop with the confidence to begin working with clients using expressivearts-based interventions. In addition, you will be able to use expressive modalities with a variety of populations and ages both in the playroom and in other settings.
This workshop is designed to help you:
- Explain and apply Gestalt theory, an Association for Play Therapy historically significant theory to the field of play therapy, in a play therapy setting;
- Demonstrate how various expressive modalities (art, music, drama, poetry) are used in play therapy;
- Describe and demonstrate how to create a safe and protected space in which clients can freely communicate using expressive arts and play therapy;
- Compile materials and items useful for clients at various developmental stages for in-depth expression;
- Demonstrate the ability to work with clients through multimodal expressive arts to engage the senses in ways that offer experiences to strengthen the self; and
- Discuss archetypes, symbols, and metaphor and demonstrate how to recognize these in expressive and play therapy work.
Notes
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) has approved this in person VCU event for 16 contact training hours. Effective July 1, 2022, the required 150 hours of play therapy instruction may be earned via contact training (in person only), non-contact training, and live webinars. Of the 150 hours of play therapy instruction, a minimum of 75 hours must be met by contact/in person training. A maximum of 75 hours may be met via live webinars and of those 75 hours, no more than 40 hours may be met via non-contact trainings. Definition of the above terms can be found at https://www.a4pt.org/Synchronous In Person Sessions
Our in person sessions will be held at ChildSavers in Richmond, VA and offer an opportunity to interact with the instructor and other participants. There will be a one-hour break per day. Please bring your own lunch for the sessions.
Attendance and Participation
Participants must attend the full workshop to receive APT continuing education hours from VCU and to earn the certificate of completion and the digital badge. Any individuals who test positive for COVID 19 or presumed positive, i.e. have an identifiable COVID-19 contact and are symptomatic, are not permitted to attend the in-person training and should reach out to ssschuetz@vcu.edu to discuss a transfer to another play therapy offering. Individuals, who have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual, are able to attend the in-person trainings after they have quarantined for 5 days and have been fever free for 24 hours.
Should the training need to move to a teleconference platform, participants will be notified 48 hours prior to the training start date to adjust any travel plans. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these standards, please reach out to Katie Francis, Kfrancis@childsavers.org
Creative Materials
ChildSavers staff will provide all creative materials for experiential work during this workshop. Having said that, this workshop involves the making and reading of in person sandtrays. As such, participants are invited to bring no more than 10 meaningful small objects for their tray, if desired.
Required Assessments
VCU conducts a two-part assessment in each workshop. To earn educational hours toward an Association for Play Therapy (APT) credential, you must pass both assessments. These include a scored rubric that demonstrates your mastery of workshop objectives via small and large group activities and discussion, and a multiple-choice test. Only participants who pass the activity rubric will be eligible to take the test.
Cancellation and Refund Policies:
You may cancel your registration up until two weeks before the workshop start date, and receive a full refund minus a $35 credit card processing fee. After that date, no refunds will be given. Cancellations must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu
In the unlikely event that this workshop is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.
Transfer Policy:
Workshop registrations may be transferred to a different workshop or person if requested in writing via email at ocpe@vcu.edu by the cancellation deadline. The participant must meet all prerequisites or qualifications required by the program. Participants who are unable to attend their registered session due to a positive COVID-19 test or exposure, may transfer their registration to another Play Therapy session at no cost.
Questions? Should you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Shelly Schuetz at ssschuetz@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322.
Student/Participant Conduct:
Participants are subject to all university policies applicable to students, unless a specific university or VCU Continuing and Professional Education policy explicitly states otherwise. University policies governing students are available at https://vcu.public.doctract.com including:
Student Code of Conduct
Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct
Preventing and Responding to Discrimination
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy-Interim
Sex-Based Misconduct Policy-Interim
For Academic Accommodations, please visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/courses/policies.html#accommodations
There are still openings remaining at this time.
