This section describes training programs and workshops for
professionals who wish to learn about the involvement of dogs
in play therapy. Trainings are designed for mental health professionals
who wish to use their own dogs in their work, as well as for
therapy dog handlers and other canine professionals who wish
to collaborate with play therapists to provide canine-assisted
play therapy.
Dogs
in Play Therapy
harnessing child-canine play to enhance child and family therapy
with
Risë VanFleet, Ph.D., RPT-S
Offerings/dates
in the US:
September 29-30, 2008 Carlisle, Pennsylvania - SOLD OUT
Register Early! 2008 sold out 9 months in advance!
March 25-27, 2009 ~ Boiling Springs, PA
August 5-7, 2009 ~ Boiling Springs, PA
(the August training dates immediately precede a major dog show event in nearby
Harrisburg!)
Download
the Brochure.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON-LNE.
Offerings/dates in the UK:
November 3-5, 2009 ~ Berwick upon Tweed, England (this training
includes a segment on horses in child/family therapy; pricing is different
from U.S. workshops).
Download the UK brochure.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON-LINE
Workshop Locations
US Training:
The workshop is held in Boiling Springs, PA at the Family Enhancement & Play
Therapy Center, Inc. The area is 25 miles southwest of Harrisburg and 30 miles
north of Gettysburg. Access is easy via Harrisburg International Airport, Amtrak,
and major interstate highways. There are rental cars at the airport. Local
B&Bs and hotels are inexpensive, and the workshop fees include continental
breakfast and afternoon snacks.
UK Training:
The UK workshop sill be held near Berwick upon Tweed in
northern England. Lodging and travel information will be
provided with confirmations. The workshop fees include
the notebook of handouts and a light lunch each day.
Workshop Description
This training is designed for child and family therapists who wish to train
and work with therapy dogs to enhance their play therapy and other child/family
work. The workshop provides an overview of the human-animal bond literature,
animal-assisted therapy, research, and the integration of animal-assisted
therapy with play therapy. Participants learn how to select and train dogs
for this work, as well as why positive, behavioral, and relationship-oriented
methods of training are especially useful when involving dogs in child
therapy. Emphasis is on the use of child-canine play interactions for therapeutic
benefit. Many specific canine- assisted play therapy interventions are
covered, including the use of dogs with both nondirective and directive
play therapy and ways to incorporate families. Types of child/family problems
include anxiety and perfectionism, oppositional behaviors, attention deficits,
divorce, developmental delays, trauma, attachment
problems, grief, behavior/conduct problems, chronic medical illness, and
social anxieties. Working with dogs to help children in foster and residential
placements is highlighted as well. The workshop gives participants a chance
to explore this exciting. emerging field and learn how to develop, implement,
and research their own programs. Ideas on working collaboratively with therapy
dog handlers are included. Lecture material is illustrated with video examples,
live demonstrations, and skills practice. The workshop is limited to 12 participants.
Therapy dogs wi II be present.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to…
-
describe research-based benefits of the
human-animal bond for adults and children.
-
list at least 4 advantages of using canines
in play therapy with children.
-
define “animal assisted therapy” and “pet
play therapy.”
-
describe why positive dog training methods
are essential in canine-assisted play therapy.
-
understand basic classical conditioning
and operant conditioning used in positive dog training.
-
identify their own
dogs’ natural
play tendencies that could be incorporated into play therapy.
-
protect themselves from the potential risks
involved in this type of work.
-
conduct at least 5 specific canine-assisted
play therapy interventions for identified problems.
-
explain the benefits of canine-assisted
play therapy for children with attachment disruptions.
-
identify state-of-the-art resources for
their own professional development and credentialing
in this field.
Prerequisites
Participants should have prior experience conducting play therapy, including
familiarity with bath nondirective (child-centered) play therapy and directive
play therapy approaches. They should also be familiar with behaviorism and
appreciate the importance of the family system. They should also be comfortable
around dogs. If you have questions about these prerequisites, please contact
Dr. VanFleet. Canine professionals wishing to attend should contact Dr. VanFleet
for ways to meet these prerequisites.
Presenters
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Risë VanFleet,
Ph.D., RPT-S is a licensed psychologist and
registered play therapist-supervisor with 35 years
of clinical and leadership experience in a variety
of settings. She is the president of the Family Enhancement & Play
Therapy Center, Inc. in Boiling Springs, PA. She is
the clinical consultant for the Beech Street Program.
Dr. VanFleet is the founder of the International Collaborative
on Play Therapy and a Past President/Board Chair of
the Association for Play Therapy. She has authored
several books on filial/family therapy, numerous chapters
on play therapy, and is featured on 4 DVD workshops.
Risë has trained thousands worldwide, and she
has received 2 prestigious national awards for her
work. She is also the author of Play Therapy with
Kids and Canines: Benefits for Children’s Developmental
and Psychosocial Health. She is an Approved Evaluator
with the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizens
Program, a full member of the Association of Pet Dog
Trainers and the Dog Writers Association of America,
and an affiliate of the International Society for Anthrozoology.
She is responsible for the Playful Pooch Program and
offers training programs in Canine-Assisted Play Therapy.
She is also involved in ongoing research on the use
of animals in conjunction with therapy.
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Kirrie is
a trained play therapy dog. She is a 4-year-old rescued
border collie mix. She is very playful and she truly
enjoys being with children and families.
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Co-Presenter on Equine
Assisted Therapy for the UK Program
Tracie Faa-Thompson, MA, AASW, PG
Dip NDPT, is a specialist social worker in the
adoption field and a BAPT registered Non-Directive Play
Therapist. She uses a mix of individual, filial and group
filial therapy methods in her work. Tracie is a practice
teacher of social work students and a trainer in attachment
theory and life story work. Her first career was working
with young horses, and she was often their first experience
of a rider. Interested in the Relationship and Partnership
approach to working with horses, Tracie is a member of
the Classical Riding Club, EAGALA, and Natural Horse
People. For over 20 years she has been Chair of her local
Riding for the Disabled branch. She also has 5 dogs.
Sailor is a 10-year-old Piebald Cob. His motto in life
is that strangers are friends he hasn't met yet! He,
along with Tracie, will be your host for the equine part
of the training. |
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Who Should Attend
This training is for psychologists, social workers, counselors, psychiatrists,
family therapists, school counselors, and other experienced mental health,
medical, or educational professionals who work with children and families
and who have an interest in the use of canines in play therapy. Canine professionals
who meet the prerequisites are also welcomed.
Special Needs
We are committed to making workshops accessible to everyone. Please contact
us if you have special needs.
Schedule
The training will run from 8:30 to 5:00 each day.
The training has 20 actual training hours.
Continuing Education
The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc. is approved by the American
Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
The FEAPT Center maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.
The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center is approved by the National
Board of Certified Counselors (5732) to offer continuing education credits
to counselors. The FEAPT Center follows all CE guidelines. It is also an Association
for Play Therapy (APT) Approved Provider 95-014. This program has been approved
by a number of state social work boards (please contact us for this info).
20 continuing education credits will be awarded to participants who attend
the entire training. Partial credit cannot be given. No exceptions can be made
to this policy. Fees
Early bird registration: $425 (fully paid 10 wks prior)
Regular registration: $550 (due 6 weeks prior)
Registration fees include 20 hours of training, workshop handouts and materials,
continental
breakfast
each morning, beverages and light snacks each afternoon. Lunches and
dinners are on your own.
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