Program for Infant/Toddler Care

Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) - a state of the art training for early educators- is offered in Spring 2008 from 9-11 a.m. on the following dates:

• January 31
• February 14 & 28
• March 13 & 27
• April 10 & 24
• May 15 & 29

Participants will gain information and learn strategies for implementing a high-quality infant and toddler program. Areas covered include social-emotional development, behavior, routines and primary and continuous care. Classes are taught by certified trainers. For more information and to register, click here.

Summer Play Therapy Institute
June 9-10, 2008

Co-sponsored by Children's Institute and Nazareth College School of Health and Human Services: Nazareth College Center for Play Therapy.

Location:

• Schults Center-Nazareth College
• Room: Forum
• Nazareth College
• 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618

Directions, campus map and parking information can be found at www.naz.edu.

Monday, June 9, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

Sand Play Therapy: Learning the Technique through Experience

Presented by: Jodi Mullen, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC, RPT-S

Sand play therapy can be used with children, adolescents and adults in individual, family and group therapeutic interventions. Adding sand play therapy to your clinical repertoire provides an alternative to verbal-based interventions and creates an opportunity for richer client- counselor interactions.

This introductory/intermediate training in sand play therapy will provide participants with an understanding of the history and practice of sand play therapy. The fundamentals of sand play therapy will be demonstrated as participants engage in an authentic learning experience. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: 1) create sand play therapy techniques for use with adults and adolescents; 2) have experienced and be able to replicate sand play therapy techniques; and 3) understand when and how to utilize sand play therapy techniques in treatment.

Biographical Information:

Jodi Ann Mullen, Ph.D.,LMHC, NCC, RPT-S is a licensed mental health 
counselor. She is the founder and director of Integrative Counseling 
Services, PLLC, with offices in Oswego and Cicero, New York which 
offers counseling, consultation and training. Dr. Mullen is an 
assistant professor at SUNY Oswego in the Counseling and Psychological Services department where she is the developer and coordinator of the Graduate Certificate Program in Play Therapy. She is a registered Play Therapist Supervisor by the Association for Play Therapy. She authored, "Play Therapy Basic Training: A Guide for Learning & Living the Child-Centered Play Therapy Philosophy" (2007) and coauthored with Jody Fiorini, Ph.D., "Counseling Children and Adolescents through Grief and Loss" (2006, Research Press), recipient of "Book of the Year" honors from the American Journal of Nursing and has authored many articles and book chapters dealing with play therapy, counseling children and adolescents and supervision. Dr. Mullen is a member of the New York Association for Play Therapy board of directors and the editorial board of the International Journal of Play Therapy. Most importantly, she is Andrew and Leah's Momma.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

What Do I Do Now? Challenges in the Practice of Child-Centered Play Therapy

Presented by: Steve Demanchick, Ph.D. LMHC NCC and Mary Anne Peabody, LCSW, RPT-S

Join seasoned play therapists for a day of exploring some of the more common struggles when using child-centered play therapy. We will look at meeting the needs of aggressive children, the skill of limit setting, working with children who don't play, older children in the playroom and the use of art in play. Additionally, we will explore parent consultation, assessing change and progress and play themes.

This intermediate training will move beyond the basics of child-centered play therapy and assumes the participant has ample knowledge and experience in this theoretical orientation. Participants will leave being able to 1) understand and use advanced limit setting under the child-centered philosophy 2) identify themes in the play and how to use themes in explaining the play therapy process to parents; 3) understand when and how to translate change and progress in treatment; and 4) explore the humanistic use of art in the playroom.

Biographical Information:

Stephen P. Demanchick, Ph.D., LMHC is Assistant Professor for the Creative Arts Therapy Department at Nazareth College and a licensed mental health counselor. Stephen also holds a certification in child-centered play therapy form the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement. His clinical interests include play therapy, filial therapy and supervision. His connection to the local community includes work with Easter Seals and Children's Institute. Dr. Demanchick has written articles and book chapters related to child-centered play therapy.

Mary Anne Peabody, LCSW, RPT-S is a licensed clinical social worker, a registered play therapist supervisor and a certified K-12 school counselor. Mary Anne currently serves on the Association for Play Therapy Board of Directors and the Maine Branch Board of Directors of Play Therapy. At Children's Institute, she is a clinical associate and coordinator of national training for Primary Project, a nationally recognized play-based prevention program. She maintains a small private practice specializing in play therapy, filial therapy and clinical supervision of child therapists. She is an adjunct faculty member in the Counselor Education department and the Play Therapy track at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

Children's Institute is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. Our provider number is 05-164. Children's Institute maintains responsibility for the program. 6 CEs can be earned for each day. Attendance at both days of the institute would earn the participant 12 CEs.

For further information, contact Stephanie Fernandez at Children's Institute at 1-877-888-7647 x231 sfernandez@childrensinstitute.net or mpeabody@childrensinstitute.net

Register here.