Sensory Processing in Play Therapy
Through co-regulation children learn to know what it feels like to experience self regulation. Sensory based play experiences facilitate processing of sensory stimuli and its relationship to feelings of wellness. However, these experiences can be elusive in play therapy as the sensory profile of play therapists and the children they serve are not always complimentary. Those challenges in the playroom reflect the challenges that children often experience in their lives outside of that safe and protected space.
The nervous system develops in direct response to multisensory experiences in our environment, including the caregiving relationship. The major sensory systems easily recognized include touch, taste, smell, sight, proprioception, and the vestibular system. The 8th sense, interoception, the sense that helps us assess internal experiences is critically important to facilitate self regulation and self awareness. Like our other sensory systems interoception has receptors located throughout the body that deliver sensory experiences to the brain. Once interpreted by the nervous system an emotional assessment of your experience is made. This controls behavior and when not well functioning, can lead to significant challenges. It therefore becomes critical that play therapists understand how their own sensory experiences are interpreted by their brain and how that impacts feelings of well being in and out of the playroom. Recognizing one’s own sensory profile, supports attunement to interoception and makes it easier to recognize the impact of those experiences on others. Sensory based play experiences provide a safe way to explore a felt understanding of your sensory system.
Learning Objectives: After successful completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify the 8 sensory systems.
- Describe interoception.
- Identify and describe at least 3 sensory based play therapy interventions.
2 APT Contact CE | Play Therapy Special Topics
About our presenter: Kim Vander Dussen, PsyD, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology | Anaheim. There she serves as full time faculty member and Coordinator of the Child and Adolescent Psychology concentration in the program. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Association for Play Therapy and former President of the California Branch of the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Vander Dussen is a licensed psychologist and registered play therapist and supervisor. She is certified in EMDR and as a Level 1 clinician in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics developed by the Child Trauma Academy. She has certificates in Play Therapy and Infant and Toddler Mental Health. She is also a certified Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator. Dr. Vander Dussen also serves on the faculty of UCSD’s Play Therapy Certificate Program. She is in private practice and specializes in the treatment of trauma, attachment, and children with developmental disabilities and a frequent presenter at local and national conferences on child and adolescent related topics.
NEAPT Members $40; Guests $50 | Limited to 40 participants
VIRTUAL: This will be a virtual meeting. Participants will be awarded CONTACT CE upon successful completion of a post test. Participants must be visible throughout the presentation. Due to COVID-19 health concerns, this one-time online event has been approved by APT for 2 CONTACT CE Hours.
NEAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 02-123. NEAPT maintains responsibility for the program. Registrants understand and agree that any photograph (screen shot), video or audio recording of themselves may be used to further promote NEAPT.
Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than February 1, 2022. Cancellations are subject to a $15 processing fee. Substitutions (someone else attending) or transfer of registration to another training date may be requested. No refunds or partial refunds after February 1, 2022.
By registering for this training, you are giving NEAPT permission to add your email to our email list and you are giving permission for NEAPT to use any photographs or screenshots that are taken during the event containing your likeness for promotional purposes.
