Children’s connections to their caregivers vastly impact brain development, their ability to regulate, and relationships throughout their lifetimes. Assisting children and families in building positive connections and attachments in childhood helps improve current functioning and future mental health. In this workshop, participants will learn about attachment theory, assessing attachment, and how to apply attachment theory to clients and their parents when conceptualizing play therapy clients. They will also learn about multiple modalities of family play therapy, including Filial Therapy and Theraplay®, which can help build and/or repair attachment wounds and build connection between children and caregivers. Participants will also have the opportunity to practice utilizing techniques they will be able to use in play therapy sessions and walk away with practical interventions they can use with their own clients.

Participants will:

1. Describe the history of attachment research and how attachment theory impacts client conceptualization in family play therapy
2. Identify how early childhood experiences impact brain development and attachment in the context of family and family play therapy
3. Utilize play therapy assessment techniques to assess how trauma and/or attachment disruptions can impact ability to build and maintain relationships with others
4. Describe and practice the family play model Filial Therapy and techniques
5. Describe and practice the family play model Theraplay® and techniques to use for Theraplay®-informed practice
6. Apply and utilize family play therapy skills and techniques and practice assisting parents in applying these skills at home

Tanager Place is an APT approved provider, 16-457.