Children and Families
Counseling Blog by Ana K Ashton, MA, LPC
Presentations: An Overview
Below contains a list of past presentation topics. For interested parties, topics may be adjusted to meet the needs of your group. Please send me an email with your group's area of interest and/or length of presentation.
Integrating Infant Mental Health
with Play Therapy
Learning Objectives:
1.Participants will learn about the Infant Mental Health model and the impact of “Ghosts in the Nursery” as a basis of intervention with parent.
2.Participants will learn 3-5 play therapy based applications to integrate into the Infant Mental Health model to use with parents of young children.
3.Participants will learn and implement 5-8 play therapy interventions for toddler and preschoolers.
When the Wind Changes;
A discussion on termination
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to identify at least two theoretical approaches to termination in play therapy.
2. Participants will have a greater understanding of how to use play therapy directive techniques in the termination process.
3. Participants will be able to determine whether a play therapy directive or non-directive technique will meet the needs of a particular client.
Increase understanding of one's own personal reflective capacity in relation to play therapy termination.
An Introduction to Sandtray Therapy
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to list the categories of objects needed to allow for clients to develop their trays and where to find dust and allergen-free sand.
2. Participants will be able to describe the stages of processing a sandtray with a client.
3. Participants will describe the differences between non-directive and directive sandtrays and list 3-5 directive techniques.
Directive Play Therapy Techniques
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will state the importance of understanding typical child development verses DSM V criteria for diganosing children.
2. Participants will be able to describe the stages of the therapeutic process and list 3-5 techniques to engage new clients.
3. Participants will utilize 8-10 techniques to be used during the working stages of the therapy process and state the diagnosis that would be addressed by each technique.
Improving Reflective Capacities in Practitioners Through the use of Sandtray Therapy
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to understand the theory of reflective supervision and how it applies to working with IMH therapists.
2. Participants will be able to implement 3-5 sand-based interventions with their supervisees or clients.
3. Participants will understand how the supervisor and supervisee share the responsibility for the process of supervision.