“An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation.”
-Book from 1857, A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs
For Parents: The Play It Out Course
Did you know that you can do play therapy with your own child in your own home?
In this quick and easy virtual course taught by Dr. Alison Sheesley, PhD, LPC, RPT, Mom…
You will learn the magical art (informed by science!) of doing play therapy in your own home with your own child.
Help your child to process pent-up feelings, integrate scary experiences, and fortify secure attachment with intentional play at home!
Therapeutic play at home is preventive mental healthcare!
Dr. Alison is a Registered Play Therapist and Assistant Professor. More relevant to this course, she also endured the pandemic with a preschooler and a newborn.
This course consists of 20 minutes of recorded lessons and 25 minutes of example play sessions to watch. Truly, in 20 minutes for only $20, you can learn the essential foundations! Let’s begin!
Click this button below to sign-up:
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Lesson 1: Introduction
Welcome! I’m so glad that you chose to take this course!
Play therapy is about helping your child to express and be with their uncomfortable feelings.
Welcome! I’m so glad that you chose to take this course!
Play therapy is about helping your child to express and be with their uncomfortable feelings.
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Lesson 2: Grounding in Attachment Theory
I absolutely love this Gabor Maté quote, and it really grounds me on those tough parenting days:
“Attachment is the first priority of living things. It is only when there is some release from this preoccupation that maturation can occur. In plants, the roots must first take hold for growth to commence and bearing fruit to become a possibility.”
I absolutely love this Gabor Maté quote, and it really grounds me on those tough parenting days:
“Attachment is the first priority of living things. It is only when there is some release from this preoccupation that maturation can occur. In plants, the roots must first take hold for growth to commence and bearing fruit to become a possibility.”
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Lesson 5: Skill 1 - Tracking
“Tracking” means verbally describing what you see your child doing to let your child know that you are interested in and involved in their play.
“Tracking” means verbally describing what you see your child doing to let your child know that you are interested in and involved in their play.
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Tracking Example Video
This included example video isn’t “perfect” play therapy – there is no such thing! I started off tracking, and then, of course, I also had to use Skill 2 - Reflecting Feelings. I think she is processing sibling rivalry, but it’s okay if I am not 100% certain. The great thing about play therapy is that I can still help my child to process and integrate her feelings even if I don’t understand how her play relates to her “real” life.
This included example video isn’t “perfect” play therapy – there is no such thing! I started off tracking, and then, of course, I also had to use Skill 2 - Reflecting Feelings. I think she is processing sibling rivalry, but it’s okay if I am not 100% certain. The great thing about play therapy is that I can still help my child to process and integrate her feelings even if I don’t understand how her play relates to her “real” life.
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Lesson 6: Skill 2 - Reflecting Feelings
Reflect your child’s (and their imaginary characters’) thoughts and feelings to create an environment where your child feels accepted and valued.
Reflect your child’s (and their imaginary characters’) thoughts and feelings to create an environment where your child feels accepted and valued.
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Reflecting Feelings Example Video
This is an example of at-home play therapy with my six-year-old. Again, there is no such thing as “perfect” play therapy!
This is an example of at-home play therapy with my six-year-old. Again, there is no such thing as “perfect” play therapy!
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Lesson 7: Skill 3 - Returning Responsibility
Empower your child to make choices by returning responsibility to them during your special playtimes.
Empower your child to make choices by returning responsibility to them during your special playtimes.
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Returning Responsibility Example Video
This is an example of at-home play therapy with my three-year-old.
In the video, you can see how I’m trying to play the long game… trying to help my child to get comfortable with the feeling of frustration without fixing it. : )
This is an example of at-home play therapy with my three-year-old.
In the video, you can see how I’m trying to play the long game… trying to help my child to get comfortable with the feeling of frustration without fixing it. : )
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Lesson 8: Skill 4 - Setting Limits
When children feel ashamed, they feel like they don’t belong because they are “bad.” Shame tends to trigger attachment anxiety or avoidance and protest behaviors.
The “ACT Limit Setting” method is used in child-centered play therapy to reduce feelings of shame in children. All feelings are accepted, but not all behaviors is the mantra.
When children feel ashamed, they feel like they don’t belong because they are “bad.” Shame tends to trigger attachment anxiety or avoidance and protest behaviors.
The “ACT Limit Setting” method is used in child-centered play therapy to reduce feelings of shame in children. All feelings are accepted, but not all behaviors is the mantra.
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