/ Short Courses /
Start date:
July 2025
Places:
Places are awarded on a 'first paid first serve' basis due to demand
Cost / delivery:
£745 / 5 days (21 – 25 July 2025)
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
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.
Sign up now
22 – 26 July 2024