In addition, the workshop will facilitate skills on how to use play themes to determine therapeutic progress and ascertain the need for termination.  In Child-Centered Play Therapy, the healing factor is identified as the relationship between play therapist and child. Relationship is based on clear communication between therapist and child, yet the child communicates through play. This workshop will offer a process for identifying common themes in play therapy that will help the play therapist learn to communicate more effectively with the child in session and with parents and schools outside of session.

The presenter will lead the participants through a systematic method of identification and use of themes to enhance the play therapy process. In addition, the workshop will the use play themes to determine therapeutic progress through stages of play therapy.

Bio:

Dee Ray, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S is Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Counseling Program and Director of the Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas.  Dr. Ray has published over 100 articles, chapters, and books in the field of play therapy, specializing in research specifically examining the process and effects of Child Centered Play Therapy.  Dr. Ray is author of A Therapist’s Guide to Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years and Advanced Play Therapy: Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice, and co-author of Group Play Therapy. She is a founding board member of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling, as well as current board member for the Association for Play Therapy. She is an American Counseling Association Fellow, founding editor of Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, and recipient of American Counseling Association Don Dinkmeyer Social Interest Award, Association for Humanistic Counseling Educator Award, Association for Play Therapy Outstanding Research Award, among others.

Dee Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S
Certified CCPT-S; Certified CPRT-S
Professor, Counseling Program
Director, Center for Play Therapy
University of North Texas
1155 Union Circle  #310829
Denton, TX  76203
(940) 565-3864