Climbing the Symbolic Ladder: How Principles of DIR®/Floortime and a Focus on Symbolic Play Support Play Therapy
About this Event

If you take a course on child development, you will learn all of the stages of development and expected milestones including skills in social emotional learning. However, many children who enter play therapy arrive with developmental differences that impact the child's ability to make progress in reducing interfering symptoms. The Developmental, Individual-differences Relationship-Based Model (DIR®) /Floortime provides a framework for understanding the key social emotional skills that are required for healthy development. Any child with any developmental presentation can benefit from support in developing skills to ‘climb the ladder’ to achieve a new stage of function in self-regulation and social interaction. By focusing on chains of attuned interaction, the play therapist and caregiver support the child in reaching higher order symbolic thinking and relating (Wieder & Greenspan, 2003). In this workshop, participants will learn application of principles of the DIR®/Floortime framework to play therapy through reflection, role play, and case discussion. Additionally, participants will learn about the importance of symbolic play in self-regulation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and explain the first six Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities of DIR® and how these relate to children’s play and social interactions.

2. Discuss how shared attention and shared problem solving support a child’s developing capacity to regulate emotions in and out of play therapy.

3. Assess a child’s ability to use spontaneous symbolic play in order to set play therapy goals

4. Observe and count circles of interactions in adult-child interactions including opening and closing of circles by each partner in order to set interaction goals for play therapy.

5. Explain how symbolic play contributes to the development of problem solving skills and self-regulation.

6. Name play levels, assess play levels of children using play based assessment and execute play strategies that assist the child in achieving higher levels of symbolism in play.

Participants limited to 50.

Level of training: All Levels | Play Therapy Skills & Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics

This virtual event is sponsored by the Virginia Association for Play Therapy (VAPT). The program offers 3.0 LIVE WEBINAR CE upon successful completion of post-test; full and visible attendance is required. This workshop meets APT's definition of "Live Webinar." VAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education credits specific to play therapy. VAPT maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 01-109

About our presenter: Denise Galford-Koeppel, PMC, LMHC, RPT™, CEIS, Certified Playmaker

“Play-ologist”, partial optimist, seeking hope, living fairy tales - Denise has years of experience supporting families of young children and children with special needs. Denise holds degrees from Wellesley and Wheelock Colleges, Bay Path University, and a Post Master’s Certificate in Early Education Research Policy and Practice from UMass Boston.

Denise is a special educator, certified early intervention specialist, coach, licensed mental health counselor, Certified Playmaker and Registered Play Therapist™. Denise supports children, parents, and educators through the approaches of the Hanen® Program, the Pyramid Model, and Developmental Individual-Differences Relationship -Based Model® (DIR®) with specialization in working with young children (those under age 8 years).

Denise is a LIGPlaymaker and play-ologist, passionate about applying the powers of play to make a difference for our future generations.

HANDOUTS: Handouts and confirmation will be sent a few days prior to the training.

CANCELLATION POLICY: No refunds.

PHOTO RELEASE: By registering for this training, you are giving permission for VAPT to use any photographs (screen shots) that are taken during the event containing your likeness for as long as VAPT deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the VAPT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs indefinitely. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify VAPT of your request to be omitted.