Play therapy has the unique ability to give meaning where words fail.
Through an educational environment characterized by academic excellence and Christian faith, the Lipscomb Center for Play Therapy and Expressive Arts prepares practitioners and counselors in training through quality experiential education, competent supervision and opportunities for research. The center supports community play therapy practitioners, and serves children, adolescents and adults. In 2015, Lipscomb was approved as the first Center of Play Therapy Education in the state and one of only 28 such centers in the world.
Sometimes, it's very difficult to wrap words around painful experiences for adults, too. Sometimes, it's impossible. So play therapy offers a creative way to deeply healing work.
— Dr. Denis' Thomas, Faculty Director
As you pursue your master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, you may find certain areas in which to specialize. One area of popular interest is how to foster the mental health and development of children and families. A great way to do that with children is through play therapy.
Play therapy is an empirically grounded therapeutic approach where clients use the natural medium of play and toys as tools to express themselves. Experiences, emotions and knowledge are often communicated through play and this treatment modality empowers clients across the lifespan.
Lipscomb University's Department of Psychology, Counseling, & Family Science is proud to offer a specialization in Play Therapy. The play therapy specialization is a nine-hour specialized training track structured to enable you to gain knowledge, personal experience, and practical application of play therapy and expressive arts techniques. This specialization does not require additional hours for the master's degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Specialize in Play Therapy
Lipscomb University will host four Introduction to Play therapy workshops. The Introduction to Play Therapy workshop is four, 10-hour days, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and highly experiential. You will have partner practice play sessions that mirror the therapeutic process from rapport-building to completion. Both trainings include a three hour-introduction class that is video based to prepare you for the intense workshop. This intensive, experiential workshop, is intended for those who have at least a master's degree in counseling or related field.
Each one is 40 contact hours, and the cost is $750, but space is extremely limited.
Workshops will be taught by one of our core faculty:
Denis' Thomas, PhD, NCC Lipscomb faculty director of the Center for Play Therapy and Expressive Arts will lead the workshop. Thomas has been at Lipscomb since 2012 teaching graduate courses in the psychology, counseling and family science department. She completed her undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University, her graduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University and her doctorate from the University of Tennessee.
Kasie Lee, PhD, LPC-MHSP, RPT, NCC is currently an adjunct instructor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Lipscomb University. Dr. Lee completed her bachelors and master’s degrees at Vanderbilt University and doctoral degree at the University of North Texas where she specialized in play therapy and trained with world-renowned play therapists Drs. Garry Landreth, Sue Bratton, and Dee Ray. Dr. Lee is also approved by the Center for Play Therapy as a trainer and supervisor for mental health professionals seeking certification as Child-Centered Play Therapists and Child-Parent Relationship Therapists. Dr. Lee has published journal articles and book chapters specific to play therapy, and frequently presents at local, state, and national conferences.
The objectives for this workshop are:
- Assemble a mobile play therapy kit.
- Describe predictable stages of play therapy to others, such as parents & caregivers.
- Discuss child-centered play therapy and philosophy in counseling children, adolescents and adults.
- List additional theoretical approaches in play therapy.
- Assess counselor characteristics and behaviors that influence helping processes.
- Assess play room characteristics that influence helping processes.
- Assess toys that influence helping processes.
- Apply an evidence -based, theoretically grounded play therapy approach to conceptualize client presentation.
- Design an ideal play room.
- Compile language to advocate for play therapy policies, programs, and services that are equitable and responsive to the unique needs of clients.
- Demonstrate ability to use reflective listening skills.
- Identify themes and patterns of play therapy.
- Practice play therapy skills through mock counseling sessions.
- Understand the play therapy process experientially.
Lipscomb University, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Science, Graduate Studies in Counseling has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4585. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Lipscomb University, Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Science, Graduate Studies in Counseling is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
There is currently one spot available in the July 22-25 Introduction to Play Therapy workshop. To register for that workshop, please click here.
After you have completed the Intro workshop (or equivalent training), we offer Advanced Play Therapy and Expressive Arts. This workshop is offered at a camp retreat venue and is one weekend of three, 12-hour days (plus an additional 4-hour introductory video). The cost includes food and lodging. It is a overnight event, but whether you stay or not is optional. This workshop explores play therapy through the Expressive Arts and will be more applicable to the adolescent and adult populations.
Dates: TBD
Eligibility: You must have at least a master's degree in a counseling-related field.
Cost: $750
Contact Hours: 40 CE Hours
Space is limited.
You must have taken Intro to Play Therapy in order to take Advanced Play Therapy. Please contact Dr. Denis' Thomas at denis.thomas@lipscomb.edu to register for the Advanced Play Therapy class.
Looking for more Play Therapy trainings in the greater Nashville area and beyond? Check out The Association for Play Therapy!
