How Play Therapy Really Works

Lisa Unlocks the Therapetuic Powers of Play in This Foundational, Neuroscience-rich 1.5 CE Hour Training.

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"Lisa was the first person to break down what is happening in sessions in this way. I have so much more information I can add to my tool box!"

- Candace Hanson, Play Therapist

Integrate the neuroscience behind the therapeutic powers of play therapy
Better articulate to parents why play therapy works
How children use toys to understand themselves

"I've been wanting to have a better understanding of the "why" behind play therapy - why does it work, and why is there such a push for it. This short training answered my questions."

1.5 CE Hours & Certificate (with survey & passing quiz grade)
Learn at your own pace. The training videos will be here waiting for you!
No Expiration Date (you'll have 24-hour, 365-Days access to the content). Rewatch them anytime!
Closed Captioning
High Quality, 4K Interactive Video & Clear Audio

Beginner play therapists wanting a solid foundation in understanding the therapeutic powers of play.
Intermediate play therapists looking for extra tools to explain how play therapy "works" to parents.
Advanced play therapists looking to expand their neurobiological understanding of how play therapy REALLY works.

"This course is a powerful tool for those wanting to understand the power of integrating meaningful play therapy into their classrooms. I'm a special needs teacher and without any doubt this course makes sense in an intelligent well-articulated way. Thank you!"

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APT APPROVED PROVIDER 18-533

Course Description:

In a profession that is fighting for recognition and to be taken seriously, not fully understanding exactly how play therapy transformation takes place is a big void in our understanding. Without really understanding how attuned play works to bring about lasting change, therapists are left feeling uncertain and without the language to effectively talk to parents, teachers and other influential people in children’s lives.

The therapist's ability to influence other professions to see the value in play therapy is also impacted. This presentation is designed to fill in gaps in play therapist’s understanding by addressing and teaching the answer to this very important question- how exactly does play therapy work? Through presentation and discussion, participants will be taken into the minds and biology of children for an inside look at what goes on that leads to their transformation and healing.

With the help of neuroscience, brain development, and interpersonal neurobiology, the “how” will be answered allowing participants to truly understand how the process works and what exactly is going on in the playroom. This dynamic, eye-opening and thought provoking presentation will empower therapists to begin to move beyond their current framework

Course Objectives:

Objective 1: Participants will be able to describe the process of change that children go through in play therapy.

Objective 2: Participants will be able to describe how the projective process works and how children use the toys and the therapist to understand themselves.

Objective 3: Participants will analyze how the therapist's window of tolerance supports the child in being able to integrate their challenging perceptions and feelings.

Objective 4: Participants will analyze the intersection between neuroscience and the therapeutic powers of play to understand how transformation occurs for a child in play therapy.

Objective 5: Participants will be able to describe the importance of understanding the therapeutic powers of play as a key foundation for play therapy practice

Objective 6: Participants will list reasons why understanding how play therapy works is a challenge for many play therapists

Play Therapy Toolbox. is an Approved Provider with the Association for Play Therapy. (APT Approved Provider #18-533).

Play therapy credit available to mental health professionals only as listed in each course description. Courses that do not qualify for play therapy credit are clearly listed.

"This is the class I wish I had in graduate school."

- Susan Stutzman, Play Therapist

Enroll Today! $47.97

Instructor

Lisa Dion

Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S is an international teacher, supervisor, and author. She is the founder and President of the Play Therapy Institute of Colorado, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, Adjunct Faculty at Naropa University and host of the Lessons from the Playroom podcast and webinar series. She trains and supervises play therapists worldwide in play therapy and business creation.

"With Almost 20 Years As a Child Therapist, I Still Found Very Profound Nuggets to Take With Me."

Anyella Clark

Enroll Now for $47.97

What Play Therapists Are Saying

Another winner!

Malia Segal

I could watch Lisa talk about play therapy all day. This workshop gives you really helpful, crystallized ideas and nuggets about the play therapy process and...

I could watch Lisa talk about play therapy all day. This workshop gives you really helpful, crystallized ideas and nuggets about the play therapy process and how it allows children to heal. Definitely worth a watch when you're maybe feeling stuck with a specific client, or running out of metaphors to communicate the efficacy of play therapy with colleagues or parents.

Read Less

Lisa - you did it again!

Karen Munro

Lisa thank you for your thoughtful and thorough explanation of how play therapy works. This will help me so much with my work and explaining this to parents ...

Lisa thank you for your thoughtful and thorough explanation of how play therapy works. This will help me so much with my work and explaining this to parents and colleagues. Thank you so much!

Wonderful

Alicia Simmons

This was an extremely helpful (and easy to digest) training. The length of the training is great, and I got exactly what I was looking for, which was langua...

This was an extremely helpful (and easy to digest) training. The length of the training is great, and I got exactly what I was looking for, which was language to be able to more confidently explain the science of the "how" in how play therapy works.

Insightful

Fernando Gonzalez III

Most play therapy training will talk about how to narrate the play a child engages in, but lack in creating insight and awareness into how the play is meanin...

Most play therapy training will talk about how to narrate the play a child engages in, but lack in creating insight and awareness into how the play is meaningful and transformative. This training really helped me expand my knowledge in the neuroscience of how play is created and transformed. I appreciated that Lisa Dion was so thoughtful about incorporating sensations and regulation into her, now my understanding of play therapy.

Incredible Information!!!

Candace Hanson

While I've been studying and practicing play therapy for many years, Lisa was the first person to break down what is happening in sessions in this way. I hav...

While I've been studying and practicing play therapy for many years, Lisa was the first person to break down what is happening in sessions in this way. I have so much more information I can add to my tool box!

Great

Elissa McGovern

Very good

I thought it was very infomationative

James Neumann

The training was very understandable and comprehensive

Exactly what I needed!

John Guerrero

I've been wanting to have a better understanding of the "why" behind play therapy - why does it work, and why is there such a push for it. This short train...

I've been wanting to have a better understanding of the "why" behind play therapy - why does it work, and why is there such a push for it. This short training answered my questions. She uses brain science, anecdotal evidence, and research to help her students to understand what is actually being accomplished when a child is engaged in play therapy. I loved every minute of this.

Integrate the neuroscience behind the therapeutic powers of play therapy

Better articulate to parents why play therapy works

How children use toys to understand themselves