Parts I - III Learning Objectives & Agendas

Part I

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  1. Identify and explain at least three core concepts of Gestalt Therapy and describe at least two applications of each concept when working with children and adolescents using the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play Therapy.

  2. Demonstrate the use of at least three creative media or modalities in play therapy and explain how each modality can support the development of a child’s sense of self.

  3. Define the I/Thou relationship and describe at least three ways it supports the therapeutic relationship and play therapy process when using the Oaklander Model with children.

  4. Identify at least four developmental considerations relevant to children and adolescents and develop at least one Oaklander Model play therapy intervention that addresses each consideration.

  5. List and describe Peter Mortola’s four-part process and demonstrate its application to at least two Oaklander Model play therapy exercises.

  6. Identify and describe the major contact functions and explain how at least four contact functions can contribute to a child’s development of an improved sense of self.

  7. Demonstrate at least four Oaklander Model play therapy techniques or experiential activities designed to strengthen children’s contact functions and describe the therapeutic purpose of each technique.

  8. Identify and describe the major components of the Oaklander Model therapeutic process and demonstrate the integration of play therapy into each component through a case example, role-play, or experiential exercise.

Agendas

Day 1 Agenda:
8:00am - 8:30am – Welcome and introductions
8:30am - 9:40am – Introduction to the Oaklander Model
9:40am - 10:00am – Break
10:00am - 10:40am – Developmental factors
10:40 am - 11:15 - Introduction to the therapeutic process
11:15am - 11:35am – Break
11:35am - 12:35pm – Drawing experience
12:35pm - 1:00pm – Closure - Q&A

Day 2 Agenda:
8:00am - 8:30am – Check in and Introductory Experience
8:30am - 9:30am – Therapeutic Process (continued) and experience
9:30am - 9:50am – Break
9:50am - 10:15 - Therapeutic process continued
10:15am - 11:15am – Working with Clay
11:15am - 11:35am – Break
11:35am - 12:00 - Demonstration with clay - first session
12:10 - 12:30 – Experience
12:30pm - 1:00 pm – Closure and Questions

Part II

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  1. Demonstrate at least three play therapy interventions for addressing emotions in the therapeutic process, including interventions for anger and aggressive energy, and explain the therapeutic purpose of each.

  2. Describe at least three factors that can make anger difficult to manage and identify at least three Oaklander Model play therapy strategies for addressing anger within the therapeutic process.

  3. Demonstrate the use of at least two creative media, including drawing and clay, as projective and experiential tools in play therapy, and explain how each can facilitate children’s awareness and expression of deeper emotions.

  4. Describe the Oaklander Model’s approach to grief and loss and demonstrate at least two play therapy techniques that can be used to support children who have experienced grief or loss.

  5. Identify at least three differences between children’s and adults’ experiences and expressions of grief and describe how those differences may affect the therapeutic process.

  6. Identify developmental differences in children’s responses to death and loss and describe at least one developmentally appropriate therapeutic consideration for each developmental phase addressed in the course.

  7. Demonstrate at least two play therapy techniques that can be used to help children and adolescents express, process, and integrate experiences of grief and loss.

  8. Identify at least two common parental reactions when a child is experiencing significant emotional distress and develop at least one therapeutic communication or intervention strategy for addressing each reaction.

Agendas

Day 1 Agenda:
8:00am - 8:35am – Welcome to Part II - Introduction
8:35am - 9:30am – Theory Working with Anger and Aggressive Energy and discussion
9:30am - 9:50am – Break
9:50am - 11:00am – Drawing experience, Demo and practice
11:00am - 11:20am – Break
11:20am - 11:50am – Cognitive work
11:50am - 12:35pm – Clay Work
12:35pm - 1:00pm – Closure

Day 2 Agenda: 
8:00am - 8:30am – Check in and Introductory Experience
8:30am - 9:10am – Grief interview
9:10am - 9:30am – Break
9:30am - 10:15am – Grief and Loss theory
10:15am - 11:30am – Collage work and Demo
11:30am - 11:50am – Break
11:50am – 12:10pm – Drawing experience
12:10pm - 12:30pm – Cultural considerations
12:30pm - 1:00pm – Questions and closure

Part III

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  1. Apply at least three principles of the Oaklander Model to a sand tray play therapy activity and explain the therapeutic purpose of each application.

  2. Demonstrate the three-step sand tray process by developing an appropriate prompt, selecting developmentally relevant items, and creating a sand tray scene, while explaining the rationale for their choices.

  3. Demonstrate the roles of therapist, client, and observer during a structured play therapy exercise and identify at least two skills or observations associated with each role.

  4. Identify and categorize at least five types of toys or objects that are appropriate for a sand tray collection and describe the therapeutic purpose of each category.

  5. Describe the Oaklander Model’s concept of termination and identify at least three indicators or considerations that may inform the termination process, using examples from play therapy practice.

  6. Define the self-nurturing process within the Oaklander Model and identify at least three situations in which the process may be therapeutically appropriate.

  7. Demonstrate the self-nurturing process in a simulated play therapy activity and explain at least three ways the process can support a client’s therapeutic work within the Oaklander Model.

Agendas

Day 1 Agenda:
8:00am - 8:30am – Welcome back and check in
8:30am - 9:30am – Sand tray theory
9:30am - 9:50am – Break
9:50am - 10:20am – Demonstration
10:20am - 11:00am – Group 1 Practicum
11:00am - 11:35am – Group 2 STP
11:35am - 12:00pm – Break
12:00pm - 12:30pm – Group 3
12:30pm - 1:00pm – Closure and Questions 

Day 2 Agenda:
8:00am - 8:30am – Check in
8:30am - 9:15am – Working with Puppets - Theory and Demonstration
9:15am - 9:30am – Termination handout
9:30am - 9:50am – Break
9:50am - 10:30am – Self-nurturing theory
10:30am - 11:30am – Demo and breakout rooms
11:30am - 11:50am – Break
11:50am - 12:30pm – Experience
12:30pm - 1:00pm – Closure for the weekend