March 20, 2025 9am-4pm Neuro Awareness for the Play Therapist

This 6 hour workshop will begin with an overview of the central nervous system, explaining the parts of the vagal system and how they are essential in emotional regulation based on the work by Deb Dana. By helping clients identify how they experience activation in each state, play therapists can help clients identify and move in and out of states with greater control. Time will be given for participants to create their own “personal profile map” in order to gain knowledge and experience so that they can use the technique with clients. It will also review the seven senses, as well as define sensory integration and the impact of dysregulation. It will explain sensory play and talk about how to implement sensory play into one's play therapy practice. The importance of c0-regulation will be highlighted throughout the presentation as a necessary element in play therapy. Additionally a variety of therapeutic interventions using the theory and play will be demonstrated.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• State the 3 different areas of the nervous symptom for polyvagal theory
• Identify how to create a polyvagal profile map in play therapy.
• Identify different polyvagal interventions to use in play therapy.
• Define sensory play.
• Identify materials that can be used in sensory play therapy.
• Identify what populations to use sensory play therapy with, and understand what treatment issues will be addressed in utilizing these play therapy techniques.
• Define co-regulation and identify its importance in play therapy.

falls under APT's primary instruction area of "Play Therapy Skills & Methods"