Introduction to Infant Mental Health/Play Therapy (FirstPlay)
Dr. Janet A. Courtney
PhD, RPT-S
Embedded Files
9am-12:15 pm EST
Session Description
Session Description
The field of infant mental health is growing exponentially, and many play therapists are desiring to grow their expertise to work with infants and young children. Dr. Courtney will provide an overview of what is meant by infant mental health within a play therapy context to include a review of the prominent pioneers in the field of infant mental health. A “working definition” of what is meant by “Infant Play Therapy” will be discussed and analyzed. Presented from an informed neuroscience perspective, the afternoon training will introduce practitioners to a parent-infant nurturing touch attachment-based model called, FirstPlay® Infant Play Therapy. The theoretical foundations of FirstPlay® including Developmental Play Therapy, (adapted) Filial Play Therapy, and attachment theory will be presented. Participants will learn how to follow the lead of the infant from a client-centered (aka, “baby-centered) play therapy perspective. Through experiential exercises, practitioners will learn and practice at least three different Firstplay® “baby-led” culturally attuned interventions that can be used with parents within infants in play therapy sessions.
*Please bring a baby doll to the training to participate in the experiential activities. If you do not have a baby doll, then a stuffed animal with arms and legs can be used.
Primary Area: Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics
Play Therapy Competencies Addressed: Knowledge & Understanding in Play Therapy
Theoretical Basis: Attachment
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
1. State three (3) pioneers in the infant mental health and their contributions to the field.
2. Articulate a working definition of “Infant Play Therapy” and its relevance to the therapeutic powers of play.
3. Describe the still-face experiment and state one reason why this experiment is critical to understanding relational parent-infant dynamics within play therapy sessions.
4. Describe 3 ways that the current neuroscience informs our understanding of infant mental health.
5. List the five underlying theories of FirstPlay® Infant Play Therapy.
6. Demonstrate at least two (2) ways to facilitate attunement in the parent-infant relationship during an infant play therapy session."
Brief Bio
Brief Bio
Janet A. Courtney, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S is Founder of FirstPlay Therapy®. She is a Registered Play Therapy-Supervisor, TEDx Speaker and past Chair of the Association for Play Therapy Ethics and Practice Committee and past President of the Florida Association for Play Therapy. She is author and editor of the following books: Infant Play Therapy: Foundations, Programs, Models and Practice,” and “Healing Child and Family Trauma through Expressive and Play Therapies: Art, Nature, Storytelling, Body & Mindfulness,” and “Nature-based Play & Expressive Therapies: Interventions for Children, Teens and Families, and “Touch in Child Counseling and Play Therapy: An Ethical and Clinical Guide.”
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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