Using Play Therapy with Step and Blended Families

While there is TONS of research on working with stepfamilies or blended families, many mental health programs fail to address the complexity of working with these types of families which differ significantly than nuclear families. 30% of children will live in step or blended families before reaching adulthood, so it’s likely that play therapists will encounter a step or blended family during their career. This training aims to give play therapists the basic understanding of typical step/blended family dynamics, how to apply this psychoeducation in play therapy sessions, and how to help families start their restructuring process – all while looking at these steps through a play therapy lens. This training will pull from Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, Theraplay ®, and Expressive Art Therapies. Clinicians will gain directive play therapy-based activities that they can immediately implement with their clients.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course participants are able to:

1. describe the typical stages of a step/blended family and identify 3 common challenges step/blended families encounter.
2. explain the STEP method, describe its benefit with step/blended families, and be able to utilize this method in their work with play therapy clients and their families.
3. demonstrate a variety of creative and play therapy interventions designed to engage step/blended family members and work to increase communication and connection.

Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics

Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced

2 APT Contact CE. VAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education credits specific to play therapy. VAPT maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 01-109

About our presenter: Paige Frasso is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She works with a variety of clients including children, teenagers, parents, and families. She is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and is skilled at helping parents with challenging behaviors and struggles with their children. She enjoys working with step-families and has expertise in dealing with the challenges of two families connecting into one. Paige has training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as in Theraplay ®. Paige completed her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech University.

HANDOUTS: Handouts (if available) and confirmation will be sent a few days prior to the training.

CANCELLATION POLICY: No refunds.

PHOTO RELEASE: By registering for this training, you are giving permission for VAPT to use any photographs that are taken during the event containing your likeness for as long as VAPT deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the VAPT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs indefinitely. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify VAPT of your request to be omitted.

Host or Publisher Virginia Association for Play Therapy