Working with Dissociative Kids and Teens in Play Therapy

Description: This training is for mental health professionals and play therapists seeking a deeper understanding of how complex trauma impacts the emotional, relational, and neurological development of children and adolescents. We’ll examine the effects of early and chronic trauma on attachment, regulation, identity formation, and dissociative responses.

Participants will gain foundational knowledge in treating dissociation and using ego states work with young clients, alongside play therapy and body-based techniques that help kids feel more regulated and ready to process trauma. We’ll also explore how play therapy and expressive modalities can foster safety, expression, and integration in developmentally appropriate ways.

This training will also touch on including caregivers in the play therapy process. Clinicians will walk away with practical handouts, case examples, and concrete tools to begin using in their play therapy practice.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1.Through a play therapy lens,describe how complex trauma impacts emotional, relational, and neurological development in children and adolescents.

2. Identify at least three clinical signs of dissociative responses in young clients, both during play therapy sessions and outside the playroom, and explain their function as protective adaptations.

3. Demonstrate understanding of ego states work by outlining two ways it can be applied
using play therapy in child and adolescent trauma treatment.

4. Explain the therapeutic benefits of play therapy and expressive modalities (e.g., play,
art, movement) when working with dissociative children and adolescents.

5.Discuss the importance of caregiver involvement in trauma treatment and identify three ways to incorporate caregivers inplay therapyto support attachment, regulation, and continuity of care.

This training meets the standards for an APT non-contact training and participants will be credited (3) Non-contact CEs following the completion of an 80% passing rate quiz and feedback survey