Connecting

When I first began my mentorship I was told I could not be any where near a child play therapy session. this made me curious as to what goes on in a child's first session so I asked my mentor Stacy Maggard, she said when a child first walks in you want to get to know as much about them as possible so they ask the child to draw a picture of their family, school, or anything to really get to know what the child's life is like. For my sponge activity I had my audience draw a picture of their family so that they can get a feeling for what goes on in a therapy room.

It's Universal

As I was doing research I cam across this picture. As I looked more into it I found out this picture was drawn By a little boy who lived in Uganda, I thought it was a perfect example to show to explain that play isn't just used as therapy in the US but around the whole world.

Activity done at home I did for my Presentation

I found this activity in one of my articles by Charles E Schaefer, it is a Filial Play therapy game that is used either in sessions or something simple to do at home.
Weights and Balloons
Therapeutic Rationale
A common challenge in therapy is making abstract therapeutic constructs understandable, meaningful, and concrete to children. Techniques that are enjoyable and “hands-on” are an ideal way to teach children these complex concepts. Weights and Balloons (by Celia Linden; see Kaduson & Schaefer, 2001, pp. 115–117) is an easy, effective technique for teaching children the somewhat com- plicated cognitive–behavioral theory of depression.
Description
Materials needed: a dozen helium balloons, paper and pen, and some type of weight (e.g., rocks, blocks, etc.).

EFFECTIVE PLAY THERAPY TECHNIQUES

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HALL, KADUSON, AND SCHAEFER

The therapist and the child create a list of negative and positive thoughts that the child has about a specific situation or in general. The lists are kept separate by either putting them on separate sheets of paper or placing them in different columns. After the comple- tion of the lists, the therapist explains how negative thoughts feed the feelings of depression and weigh us down. However, positive thoughts lift our spirits and help us to feel good. The therapist then explains how our thoughts directly influence our feelings and how we can change the way that we feel by altering our thoughts.
Following the explanation, the therapist assigns each negative thought a weight and each positive thought a balloon. The therapist then demonstrates how it feels to hold each of the objects. The child then holds each of the objects to get a sense of the physical sensation. For an older child, the weights can be incremental to represent more damaging thoughts. The therapist has the child hold all of the weights and walk around the room with them. This helps the child see how holding onto one’s negative thoughts weighs one down. When the child is told to put the negative thoughts (weights) down, the child can see how it feels not to carry around all that weight anymore. Next, the therapist discusses the “weightlessness” of the positive thoughts and teaches the child how positive thoughts are helpful.
Applications
Weights and Balloons is an inexpensive technique that trans- forms a complex idea into something concrete and understandable. This technique is particularly useful for children who are de- pressed; however, it is useful with all children to illustrate the effect that thoughts have on feelings.

Child Play Therapy is for Anyone

In this picture a 16 year old boy drew a picture of his own feelings. I showed this picture in my 2hour presentation to show them that it is not only for children but kids our age and adults or even senior citizens can have a child play therapy session.

Child Abuse

This child's story was everything I could've never imagined. The things this baby went through had me in tears and knowing there are people out in the world who are doing this to children makes me sick to my stomach.

Child of Rage

The things that Happened to this child in her earlier childhood were sick and made her into who she was when this documentary was made. I was left speechless after watching this documentary.

Filial Therapy

Importance of having a parent/caregiver supporting a child which involves Child Development. Explain Filial Play Therapy and how it involves parents/caregivers, also explain the process in order to have a Filial Therapy session. I will talk about the importance of having a safe environment,and also how it helps the children have a better developmental way of communicating and understanding a child.