Culture, Metaphor & Play: Finding Resilience through the Storms
Presented by Joyce C. Mills, Ph.D.
Trauma and attachment have been major focuses in our field of child, adolescent, and family play therapy in recent years. However, one area often overlooked is the Socio-cultural view of trauma and attachment and how "historical oppression" has impacted healing children, adolescents, and families. Utilizing the principles of the resiliency-focused StoryPlay model, this experiential play therapy workshop will provide participants with a socio-cultural lens through which to expand their ability to develop and utilize culturally respectful metaphors and creativity into their play therapy practice. Through individual and group exercises along with discussions, participants will explore their own beliefs, spirituality, cultures of origin, stories, and traditions, and how they impact the Play Therapy work that they do with their clients. Additionally, in light of the natural and man-made disasters in recent years, two “culturally collaborative” models will be presented that have been used for community healing. Inherent in these models are philosophies of Milton H. Erickson, Native American, Hawaiian, and other trans-cultural teachings.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:
- Learn how to develop a positive therapeutic attachment in the first play therapy session.
- Identify five cultural elements that impact our work as Play Therapists.
- Utilize cultural values to create a collage or sand tray in the play therapy session.
- Create a storytelling metaphor that can be used with children and adolescents dealing with Historical trauma.
- Learn one cultural StoryCraft that can promote healing in play therapy.
Level of training: Intermediate
3 CEUs toward the Techniques/Methods Content Requirement
About our presenter: Founder of StoryPlay® Global, award-winning Play Therapist, author of eight books, and considered an expert in metaphorical interventions, Dr. Joyce Mills is an internationally recognized storyteller, consultant, workshop leader, program development specialist, and keynote speaker to medical, psychological, and educational organizations. With “resiliency” and “creativity” at its heart, Dr. Mills developed StoryPlay®, a new Ericksonian Indirective model of Play Therapy helping children, adults, families, and communities heal from trauma and disaster. In addition to her training programs, Dr. Mills is in private practice and the director of The StoryPlay® Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, Co-Director of the Phoenix Institute of Ericksonian Therapy and Adjunct Professor at Argosy University – Phoenix. Dr. Mills is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a registered Play Therapy Supervisor, and on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Turtle Island Project. Her books include: Therapeutic Metaphors for Children and the Child Within (Second Edition); Reconnecting to the Magic of Life; Butterfly Wisdom; Little Tree, Gentle Willow; and Sammy the Elephant and Mr. Camel.
AZAPT Members $45
NonMembers $55
Check in at the door begins at 8:40 a.m.
AZAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. Our provider number is 97-035. AZAPT maintains responsibility for the program.