Play Therapy Techniques for Clinician Self-Care and Self-Supervision

FIRST COAST CHAPTER IN PERSON TRAINING

This experiential workshop introduces play therapy practitioners to innovative methods for professional self-care and self-supervision. Through guided activities, participants will explore how familiar play therapy tools can deepen self-awareness and address countertransference. The workshop combines mindful movement, sandtray work, and expressive writing to enhance clinicians' attunement to both their own and their clients' somatic experiences.

Level: Intermediate | Play Therapy Skills & Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics

Learning Objectives

After the session, participants will be able to:

1. Apply two play therapy modalities for personal reflection and professional growth
2. Practice two body-based awareness techniques for co-regulation in therapeutic settings
3. Develop one strategy for processing countertransference through creative expression
4. Integrate somatic awareness into play therapy practice
5. Identify personal stress responses and develop two customized play-based interventions for self-regulation
6. Create an individualized toolkit of three play therapy techniques that support professional resilience and prevent burnout

Participants will engage in:

• A centering yoga-based movement exercise for embodied awareness
• Guided sandtray exploration with reflective writing
• Discussion of practical applications for ongoing self-supervision

Cancellation Policy

$20 is non-refundable. Written cancellations received by February 7, 2025 will receive a full refund of the balance minus $20. Cancellations after February 7, 2025 will forfeit the total cost of registration.

In the very unlikely event that the workshop must be cancelled or postponed by the organizers, the Florida Association for Play Therapy will provide a full refund of the registration fees.

Continuing Education

2.0 hours of continuing education available.

The Florida Association for Play Therapy (FAPT) is an approved provider for the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider 02-115. Play therapy credit will not be awarded to non-mental health professionals. FAPT is approved by the Florida Department of Health under FL Statute 491 to offer continuing education for Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors. Provider Number BAP-50-10520 expires 03/31/2027. FAPT is approved by the Florida Department of Health under FL Statute 490 to offer continuing education for Psychologists. Provider Number BAP-50-10520 expires 05/31/2026.

About our presenters...

Page L. Thanasiu, PhD, LMHC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor in the state of Florida. She currently serves as an associate professor at Jacksonville University where she is also the coordinator of the Graduate Play Therapy Certificate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Dr. Thanasiu specializes in the treatment of children and adults with complex trauma utilizing creative evidence-based approaches such as play therapy and expressive arts techniques. She has provided counseling services to children and their families in their homes, at school, and in hospital and outpatient settings since 2003.

Maren Villavisanis, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ is Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist practicing in St. Augustine Florida.  Maren has enjoyed counseling, playing with and learning from children, adolescents and their grown ups for 25 years.  Maren draws upon multiple creative approaches including play therapy, art therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, yoga and person centered practices to meet children and families where they are and help them thrive.  Maren has worked in the juvenile justice system, foster care and with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Maren currently is in private practice at Wellbeing Counseling and Wellness in St. Augustine, Florida.  When not playing with and learning from her clients, you can find Maren hiking, reading, soaking up the outdoors, doing yoga or playing with her own kiddos!

Host or Publisher Florida Association for Play Therapy