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Play Therapy Summer School

Start date:

July 2024

Places:

Places are awarded on a "first paid first serve" basis due to demand

Cost / delivery:

£630 / 5 days (22 – 26 July 2024)

Our Summer School this year provides participants with the opportunity to experience an intensive 5 session experiential class, and involves direct experiential learning about the MA Play Therapy Programme at the University of Roehampton.

Something here

The summer school is mainly workshop-based as we aim to learn through practice and experience -
participants are asked to come prepared to play! 

Course structure 

The Play Therapy summer school is designed to offer individuals the opportunity to learn and experience some of the theory and practical  of Client-Centred Play Therapy.

Participants who attend will be able to use their learning to enhance both their understanding of children’s emotional and behavioural development and their skills in working with children who experience difficulties. 

The summer school is mainly workshop-based as we aim to learn through practice and experience -
participants are asked to come prepared to play! A variety of areas will be explored, including Client-Centred Theory and how this can be applied to Play, understanding and using ‘Symbolic’ play, and the use of different media when working with children, including sand-play, art, drama etc.

As well as being of interest to those seeking to prepare to apply for a qualifying Play Therapy training, this Summer School can also serve as CPD to anyone already professionally involved in working with children including those working in Education, Social-Work and Child Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Intended audience

It is of interest to anyone wishing to find out more about training in this discipline as well as individuals wanting to explore their creativity in a unique environment.

In addition this Summer School may be of interest to mental health professionals, teachers and social workers etc. interested in learning more about these unique and creative forms of therapy. A degree of active participation will be expected from all participants who should therefore be prepared for a degree of personal disclosure, sharing and exploration.

Timetable

10am - 4pm

Monday
The importance of play; what is play therapy? Development of child-focused play therapy, key theories, and core therapeutic conditions; reasons for referral to play therapy; a brief overview of child mental health; conditions of worth; functions of emotions

Tuesday
Building connections-the art of being playful;being playful;non-verbal skills;therapeutic limit-setting

Wednesday
Introduction to developmental model of play therapy beginning with embodiment; connecting with our senses and exploring sensory play;the playroom and toys.

Thursday
Developmental model of play therapy continued; projection (including sandtray therapy) and role play

Friday
Use of stories;putting it all together;working with different client groups;working with parents/the wider system;identity in context; endings
Who Teaches

Suggested reading

Please click here for the recommended reading list.

Tutors

Lisa Gordon Clark

On-campus Tutor

Lisa Gordon Clark, BSc (Hons) Psychology, Dip. Play Therapy, BAP-reg Play Therapist, Fellow HEA, was until recently a Senior Lecturer on the Play Therapy MA at the University of Roehampton and was the Programme Convener for a decade.

For the past 9 years she has also led the annual 20-week Play Therapy Foundation Course and she also co-delivers BAPT-approved trainings in Child Parent Relationship Therapy, a post-qualifying Short Course offered by the Psychology Department. Lisa has her own private Play Therapy practice, PlayFully, based in Wiltshire.

Sonia Murray

Online Tutor

Sonia Murray is a Behaviour Support Consultant/Play Therapist (NNEB, DipSW, BAPT-RPT).

Sonia Murray holds a Diploma in Social Work (Social Work England registered), is a registered Play Therapist (BAPT) and is a Strategic Attachment Lead for Schools. 

She has 30 years of experience as a practitioner in the fields of attachment, child abuse, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, children’s mental health, childhood trauma, parenting programmes and Play Therapy.

Sonia trains nationally and internationally on topics related to Attachment, Trauma, Play Therapy, understanding behaviour, play, communicating with children, behaviour management, positive parenting.

Her work history includes employment as a childcare Social Worker, parent worker, Play Therapist in Education and Social Care and Health settings. She has worked for 22 years in a specialist school for children with complex social, emotional, mental health and behavioural difficulties.  Sonia provides consultation, supervision and training in both statutory and voluntary fields of children and Young people’s services. 

Sonia is also a visiting Lecturer at University of Roehampton and University of Northampton.

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22 – 26 July 2024