/ Short Courses /
Start date:
July 2025
Places:
Places are awarded on a 'first paid first serve' basis due to demand
Cost / delivery:
£745 / on-campus
5 days (21 – 25 July)
Come and experience an intenisve five session experiential course!
This suumer school involves direct experiential learning about the MA Play Therapy Programme at the University of Roehampton.
It's mainly workshop-based as we aim to learn through practice and experience - you will be asked to come prepared to play!
Course structure
You will learn and experience some of the theory and practical of client-centred Play Therapy.
You will be able to use your learning to enhance both your understanding of children’s emotional and behavioural development and your skills in working with children who experience difficulties.
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.
Details
Ideal for anyone who wants to know more about training in this discipline and those who want to explore their creativity in a unique environment.
This course 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, therefore be prepared for a degree of personal disclosure, sharing and exploration.
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 roleplay.
Friday
Use of stories; putting it all together; working with different client groups; working with parents/the wider system; identity in context; endings.
Tutors
Elisa Fontana
On-campus Tutor
Elisa Fontana, MA in Play Therapy, BSc (Hons) Early Years, BSc (Hons) Art and Drama Studies, BAPT-reg Play Therapist, Registered Member MBACP, trained in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT).
Has delivered training in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Play Therapy skills in the UK, Italy, India. Has been invited lecturer at the Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, University of Dhaka (Bangladesh) and the Department of Communication and Art Education, Academy of Art, Palermo (Italy).
Has worked as a research assistant at the University of Roehampton on the Yoga-Integrated Psychotherapy study. Has been selected with the paper The emotional power of Play. Drama and Child-Centered Play Therapy as effective teaching support on Social and Emotional Learning at the International Conference The Future of Education Firenze, Italy, and has published book reviews on the British Journal of Play Therapy.
Elisa is currently the coordinator for the South London Play Therapy Support Group, and is working as School Project Manager for the therapeutic services in Primary Schools in London, delivering Play Therapy, managing and supervising a team of school counsellors and trainees.
