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Session Description
Session Description
Overview:
The presentation will address strategies for working with parents when their children are in play therapy through discussion, demonstrations and role plays. Participants will practice generating goals for play therapy that are measurable and linked to the process in the play therapy room. Participants will be encouraged to share their own strategies for working with parents.
Abstract:
As play therapy is more widely accepted, researched, and applied, it is important that play therapists are able to effectively consult, work with, and involve in therapy the parents of the children in play therapy. About 20 years ago, Cates, Paone, Packman, and Margolis (2006) reported that parent consultation is important in maximizing the benefit and improving outcomes of play therapy. According to Landreth, work with parents includes gathering background information about the child in therapy and explaining play therapy to parents. In addition, addressing confidentiality, effective goal setting based on the cultural expectations of parents, assessing children’s progress, helping parents communicate with children about play therapy, and on-going parent consultations all are critical ways of helping the parent support the child’s healing process.
Many play therapists identified consulting with parents as one of their greatest interests in clinical supervision (VanderGast, 2008). This challenging area of play therapy services can easily be neglected by play therapists who are either unsure of how to approach consultation with parents or unaware of the importance of parent consultation. This could potentially lead to decreased positive outcomes for children, early termination by the parent, or less effective treatment by the play therapist. Thus, culturally appropriate parent consultation and partnership are essential parts of providing play therapy services that must be understood and practiced by play therapists. The focus of this presentation will be on providing therapists with the skills and strategies to help them effectively work with parents of children involved in child centered play therapy.
Primary Area: Play Therapy Skills and Methods
Play Therapy Competencies Addressed: Clinical Play Therapy Skills
Theoretical Basis: Child Centered Play Therapy
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
1) identify reasons that effective parent consultation is important in play therapy,
2) describe guidelines for using parent consultation effectively to support the healing process of children in therapy
3) develop objective goals for play therapy with parents
4) describe the goals and process for conducting regular follow up meetings with parents as their children are in play therapy
5) describe how the skills described and practiced can help them work more effectively with diverse parents
6) describe the difference between cultural competence and cultural humility
Brief Bio
Brief Bio
Phyllis Post, PhD, LPCS, RPT is a Professor of Counseling at UNC Charlotte and the former Director of the Doctoral Program, Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, and Multicultural Play Therapy Center. Dr. Post has taught play therapy for over 20 years. Her clinical experience includes play/filial therapy in schools and agencies. She enjoys writing and conducting research about effectiveness of CCPT and diversity in play therapy.
Crystal Speaks is a doctoral student in Counseling and Supervision at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With over five years of experience as a K–12 school counselor, her work focuses on promoting student well-being and advancing equity in education. Her research interests include counselor education, clinical skill development, and the integration of play therapy and Child–Parent Relationship Training (CPRT) in school settings—particularly among minoritized and low-income populations. She is passionate about strengthening child–caregiver relationships, fostering emotional resilience, and preparing future counselors to lead with empathy and evidence-based practice.
Questions?
Questions?
Please contact Dr. Kristie Opiola regarding program questions at kopiola@charlotte.edu.
Please contact the Office of School and Community Partnerships at oscp-coed@charlotte.edu if you have questions regarding registration.
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