Play Therapy with Very Young Children
Presenter
- Lisa Dubinsky, Psy.D., Play Therapist
Session / Time
- Breakout Session IV
- 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
- Glenwood Room
Description
In this workshop participants will discuss therapeutic techniques of working with children ages 3 to 6, their parents and teachers. The instructor will also provide suggestions on setting up a play/office space, important supplies, and initial sessions with the parents and the child, and interfacing with schools. While this is not a course on theory, we will touch on the importance of the understanding the child’s development in all areas of functioning, infant and young child psychology and family dynamics. These are all essential components in understanding and treating a child. Depending on the number of participants, there will an opportunity for discussion of specific situations.
Goals / Content / Intentionality
Learning objectives include an understanding of the following:
- Classroom observations: when to go, what questions to ask, how can the clinician be most helpful to the teachers and director of the school
- What does a consultant do?
- Initial sessions with a young child and the parents
- How to assess a young child’s symbolic play skills
- Setting up a play / therapy room
- Working with parents – How to develop a good rapport, help parents develop (sufficient) empathy, mentalization. How to help parents develop realistic behavioral strategies, if needed.
The hope is that participants will have a clear idea of what a play therapist/consultant does, how they think about their role, how they engage parents, and theories of child development and child treatment principles, and practical strategies in the work with the child and the parents.
Participants will:
- Learn how to assess when a mental health consultant would be beneficial, tips on how to get the most from a consultation, ways to present this to parents
- Find a therapist who will work in tandem with the school so that the child gets the most from the treatment
- Think about communication with parents and creating a safe, collaborative rapport.
- How to do all of this when the parents are in conflict about the child’s needs.
Presenter Bio
Lisa Dubinsky, Psy.D., Play Therapist
Lisa Dubinsky, Psy.D., Play Therapist
Lisa Dubinsky, Psy.D. a clinical psychologist, is a faculty member and supervisor in the Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program (CAPTP) of the William Alanson White Institute. She has been a consultant to mainstream preschools for 25 years and a psychotherapist with children, adolescents and adults for 30 years. Dr. Dubinsky has worked with ASD children and their families. She also leads parent workshops on a variety of topics including Setting Limits, Talking to Young Children about Difficult Topics, and Helping Children with Transitions and Change.
