Learn To Play Therapy – Part 2: Refining and Applying Skills

3 Day FACE-TO-FACE Workshop at Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne***

Wednesday 20, Thursday 21, Friday 22 November

 9:30am – 4:30pm each day

Presented by Dr Siobhan Casey and Dr Chloe Wadley

*Start and end times are in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, UTC+11:00

ABOUT

This workshop is suitable for those who have completed Learn To Play Therapy – Part 1: Foundation (2 Day Workshop).

This 3 day workshop builds on Learn to Play Therapy – Part 1: Foundation (2 Day Workshop) training as it is assumed that participants understand and have knowledge of the increasing complexity of pretend play ability. Participants will also know how to carry out formalised play assessments using the Pretend Play Developmental Checklist (PPE-DC) and/or may have also been trained in the Child Initiated Pretend Play Assessment-2 (ChIPPA2) with children.

Learn To Play Therapy aims to facilitate the ability of a child to spontaneously self-initiate pretend play.** The therapeutic skills required to facilitate this ability in children, who find it difficult to play, are explored more deeply in this 3 day ONLINE workshop.

The clinical framework and theoretical underpinnings of Learn To Play Therapy are explored more deeply to provide participants with a deeper understanding of the underlying processes and principles. The importance of creating safety for the child in therapy is explored with a strong emphasis on reflecting on therapeutic presence. Understanding of advanced therapeutic skills is considered with video analysis and break out rooms to support the exploration of the therapeutic skills of tracking, empathic reflections, holding, limit setting, and congruence.

Day 2 will also include information/discussion on working with children within the Autistic Community and exploring how Learn To Play can provide support. Learn To Play Therapy within practice, including working with parent/child dyads will be explored. Day 2 also includes exploring the role of Learn To Play and scope of practice in working with children who have experienced trauma.

Day 3 explores the delivery and application of Group Learn To Play Therapy. Goal setting forms a large part of application on Day 3, followed by exploring play activities and case study planning in the afternoon. The workshop focusses on advanced therapeutic application of Learn To Play Therapy and supports practical problem solving and discussion on how to facilitate developing play ability in children who find play difficult or present with less complex strengths in their play and interactions..

The face-to-face presentations are complemented by pre-workshop activities and open discussion sessions to further explore play materials for therapy sessions, and engagement of children in play. This workshop would be valuable to therapists, social workers, psychologists and early intervention workers who work with families with children under 8 years of age who have concerns about their child’s abilities.

Pre-Workshop Activities:

Pre-recorded PowerPoint presentations are provided, plus further reading and videos. The pre-recorded PowerPoint presentations provide information to frame the workshop.

Workshop content:

Day 1

• Exploring the complexity of play
• Therapeutic presence
• Theoretical framework for Learn To Play Therapy
• Advanced therapeutic skills

Day 2

• Learn To Play Therapy for children within the Autistic Community
• Learn To Play Therapy with children who have experienced trauma
• Learn To Play- Parent/Child Dyads

Day 3

• Group Learn To Play Therapy
• Goal setting
• What activity do I use now?
• Case Study Application

**The Learn to Play book: Learn to Play Therapy: Principles, Process and Practical Activities was published in 2021. This 314 page book explains the theoretical underpinnings, principles and process as well as includes an additional 114 pages of play activities by developmental level. Reproducible pages allowed are the play activities, parent handouts, and Play Background Checklist. This book is an essential reference source for Learn to Play Therapy. It will be available for purchase at the face-to-face workshop.

***The Rendezvous Hotel is offering our workshop attendees discounted accommodation. The discount code will be emailed to attendees upon registration.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE – DR SIOBHAN CASEY

Dr. Siobhan Casey is a paediatric occupational therapist and Masters qualified play therapist with 18 years of experience in working with children, their families and teachers in a variety of settings. In 2018, Siobhan was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy under the supervision of Emeritus Prof. Karen Stagnitti. Her research primarily focused on understanding the developmental processes of pretend play and self- regulation in supporting the capacity of resilience. Her prior research included identifying important markers and processes for change, for neurodivergent children participating in Learn To Play. Siobhan has presented on pretend play development at conferences both nationally and internationally and enjoys delivering training to a wide range of audiences. She has previously worked in early intervention community settings, private practice and, both mainstream and specialist development schools. She is passionate about promoting positive social and emotional wellbeing for children through providing services that are appropriate, purposeful, and sensitive to the needs of children and their families. Siobhan has recently co-authored a book ‘Learning Through Play in the Primary School’ and continues to research the role of play in supporting child development and building positive relationships.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE – DR CHLOE WADLEY

Dr Chloe Wadley is a paediatric Occupational Therapist who has completed her PhD in the Learn To Play Therapy in Specialist Schools for neurodiverse children supervised by Dr Karen Stagnitti. Chloe works as a paediatric occupational therapist within the community, home, clinic, school, kindergarten, and childcare settings. Chloe specialises in Learn To Play Therapy within her occupational therapy practice. Chloe runs both individual and group Learn To Play for pre-school and primary school children. Chloe is also a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Deakin University and involved in the supervision of Masters of Play Therapy students. Chloe has extensive training and clinical practice in the use of play assessment tools and Learn To Play therapy. Chloe enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through delivering workshops to a range of audiences interested in Learn To Play. Chloe’s research to date has focused on Learn To Play within school and group settings.