Life World Narrative in Therapy

This workshop is for experienced play / child therapists who work with children and adolescents to extend their clinical practice skills and brings together the essence of attachment and child development theory to integrate the child’s life world narrative in therapy. By using the therapeutic use of self with children and young people we will introduce the essential concepts and techniques to consider when implementing this type of work.

Clinicians will be guided in the clinical skills of how to scaffold and align therapeutic work and explore the lifeworld narrative of each specific child or young person. This style of work acknowledges each child’s individual journey as well as their unique personality and characteristics. Recognising the complexity of this therapeutic work requires fluidity and flexibility to respond to the nuances that the child brings to each session.

By replicating a secure attachment, trust is established, and their specific story emerges through a continuative process within the therapeutic relationship. An important element for the clinician is to authentically hold hope and believe that there is always a path, or multiple paths, for the child to find and make meaning of their journey.

Objectives:

• Review the core elements of attachment and child development theory relevant to life world narratives in therapy.

• Offer a scaffolded approach in how to sequence intake through to completion.

• Present case study examples to bring the technique to life.

• Practice a range of creative ways to engage children and young people to facilitate exploration of their life story.

• Provide reflective opportunities to explore their therapeutic use of self as an agent of change.

Meet the presenters:

Sarah Hickson, MA Play therapy (with Distinction) and B.Soc.Sc. (Hons.), is the Chair of the British Association of Play Therapy (BAPT) and Represents BAPT on the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA). She has over 15 years’ experience as a clinical Play Therapist and Supervisor. Sarah specialises in working with children with developmental and relational trauma, with a particular focus on children living in foster care and who are adopted. Sarah works in a range of different ways with children and families including attachment focussed family work, therapeutic life story work as well as individual Play Therapy work with children and young people. Sarah is an international educator, author, and public speaker. She has published book chapters on child development and international play therapy supervision. Her private practice is based in London, United Kingdom.

Dr Judi Parson, PhD, is a paediatric qualified Registered Nurse, Play Therapist / Supervisor and Senior Lecturer / Discipline Leader for Play Therapy at Deakin University, Australia, and Adjunct Professor at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. She has been actively involved in the professional development of play therapy in Australia and Internationally.Judi is a co-founding member of the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA). Judi is a highly regarded international presenter, educator, supervisor, and researcher in the field of play and psychosocial health and wellbeing of children with a particular interest in Medical Play Therapy and Digital Play technologies. She has authored over 50 book chapters and journal articles and co-edited 2 books.

The program will run from Monday– Wednesday 09:00 – 17:00 each day.

For more information or queries please email: [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Deakin University School of Health and Social Development