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Identifying Play Dynamics in Play Therapy · Next Level Play Therapy: A Podcast for Play Therapy Excellence

• 0:02
  Cathi Spooner: Welcome to Next Level Play Therapy, a weekly podcast dedicated to supporting the next generation of child and adolescent therapists to provide exceptional play therapy services.
• 0:14
  Cathi Spooner: We'll explore all things play therapy to elevate your work with children and adolescents using the therapeutic powers of play.
• 0:23
  Cathi Spooner: I'll discuss practical tips and ideas.
• 0:26
  Cathi Spooner: So you can provide a transformative experience for your young clients and make a real difference in their lives.
• 0:34
  Cathi Spooner: So get ready to take your play therapy skills to the next level and make a lasting impact in the lives of children, adolescents, and families.
• 0:47
  Cathi Spooner: Good morning.
• 0:49
  Cathi Spooner: So today I want to talk about play dynamics and play therapy.
• 0:55
  Cathi Spooner: What are play dynamics?
• 0:57
  Cathi Spooner: I know in play therapy, especially when you're learning, all of us go through this process when we're becoming play therapists, learning about these things called play themes.
• 1:11
  Cathi Spooner: So one of the things that I find interesting is that play themes are, are only part of what you need to be looking for.
• 1:20
  Cathi Spooner: And what I've, what I've been doing over the last few weeks is I have taken the Association for Play Therapy's, Competencies, the core competencies of play therapy that you need to develop in becoming a play therapy to do it well is to master these core competencies.
• 1:43
  Cathi Spooner: One of the core competencies is identifying play dynamics, and they split it out into three elements.
• 1:52
  Cathi Spooner: And that's what I want to talk about today, because recognizing what's going on in your client's session.
• 2:00
  Cathi Spooner: is a key part of play therapy and it's what sets play therapy apart from traditional talk therapy.
• 2:08
  Cathi Spooner: It's more than just pulling out games and toys and, and using that to get your, your young client to talk.
• 2:17
  Cathi Spooner: Play therapy is about really understanding these play, play dynamics and how children use them in the treatment process to overcome whatever challenges they're experiencing.
• 2:32
  Cathi Spooner: And so that's what makes play therapy.
• 2:35
  Cathi Spooner: That's one of the, one of the things that sets play therapy apart from traditional talk therapy and using toys and games.
• 2:44
  Cathi Spooner: It's how children engage in the, the play process, accessing those therapeutic powers of play through these play dynamics.
• 2:56
  Cathi Spooner: And as play therapists, we're looking and understanding what those are.
• 3:02
  Cathi Spooner: So if you're new to play therapy, I remember, I remember thinking about, you know, watching sessions thinking, I have, Absolutely no idea what's going on.
• 3:16
  Cathi Spooner: That's when I was first introduced to play therapy back, back in the 1980s when I was a, a special education teacher here in the United States.
• 3:27
  Cathi Spooner: And I was a teacher.
• 3:29
  Cathi Spooner: I had a health self contained classroom for children who were struggling with emotion problems.
• 3:36
  Cathi Spooner: So it was a emotion disturbance, special education class.
• 3:42
  Cathi Spooner: Which, I'll be honest, I hate that name.
• 3:45
  Cathi Spooner: You'd think that would be one of the ones they've changed, but that one doesn't seem to have changed.
• 3:50
  Cathi Spooner: I'm hoping that one changes.
• 3:52
  Cathi Spooner: Anyways, our school psychologist and our school social worker were learning this thing called play therapy and they would take kids from my class and bring it into their office and afterwards they'd be so excited and they would come out and get me and show me what my, my student had done in their playroom.
• 4:12
  Cathi Spooner: And I would look at it thinking in my head, what the heck does that mean?
• 4:16
  Cathi Spooner: I have no idea.
• 4:17
  Cathi Spooner: I just smile and look at them like, oh, that's nice.
• 4:24
  Cathi Spooner: Um, and then eventually I co facilitated a group with the school psychologist using play therapy, and I fully understood the magic.
• 4:33
  Cathi Spooner: But I didn't really understand how to do it.
• 4:37
  Cathi Spooner: So that's what kind of led me on my journey to getting into mental health, to work with children and figure out how to do this play therapy thing.
• 4:46
  Cathi Spooner: But it took a while.
• 4:47
  Cathi Spooner: And even in the beginning when I was learning how to do it, I remember going to my supervisor every week and she would point these things out in the videos of my sessions that she was using to help me.
• 5:02
  Cathi Spooner: Recognize themes in play, recognize what's going on.
• 5:05
  Cathi Spooner: And I remember thinking, Oh, my goodness, I'm never gonna understand this.
• 5:10
  Cathi Spooner: But I'll tell you what though, doing the supervision and getting good training was definitely a game changer.
• 5:19
  Cathi Spooner: And so that is one of the things that we focus a lot on.
• 5:23
  Cathi Spooner: And my Play Therapy Academy, play therapy consultation groups is I always love it.
• 5:29
  Cathi Spooner: I always encourage people when they, when they have permission to get video.
• 5:34
  Cathi Spooner: I am telling you, if you are learning play therapy and you are working with the supervisor, when you have permission using video in your consultation is absolutely the best way to learn because then your play therapy supervisor or consultant can see what's going on and can help you recognize play dynamics in the session because there's no way you can describe all that and that's to get the most benefit out of your play therapy consultation.
• 6:12
  Cathi Spooner: That's really the most effective way to do it.
• 6:14
  Cathi Spooner: Once you do it a few times, you will be much better and you'll feel a lot better.
• 6:19
  Cathi Spooner: Cause I remember in the beginning, my play therapy supervisor slash consultant saying I should do this and I was absolutely mortified.
• 6:28
  Cathi Spooner: Thinking, Oh, my gosh, I'm just going to throw up.
• 6:31
  Cathi Spooner: Um, but once I did it a couple of times, I thought, my goodness, man, this is gold.
• 6:36
  Cathi Spooner: So it, the best way to learn, to recognize play dynamics and what's going on is to actually show video when you have permission.
• 6:50
  Cathi Spooner: And so we do a, I always encourage that in our, my play therapy academy consultation groups and, um, we talk about that a lot.
• 7:01
  Cathi Spooner: We talk, we do a lot of case staffings in there, case consultation in there, looking at photos, but I, I, my photos are good, but there's nothing that can replace a video.
• 7:14
  Cathi Spooner: So that was kind of a short aside.
• 7:17
  Cathi Spooner: I got off track there a little bit talking about recognizing themes, but to be honest, I think it's really important, especially for this topic that we're talking about today.
• 7:29
  Cathi Spooner: So if and today I'm going to talk about the three elements, so we're going to go through those core competencies of recognizing the play dynamics in the sessions.
• 7:42
  Cathi Spooner: So if you're joining me live, I would love to see who's here.
• 7:45
  Cathi Spooner: Go ahead and post your name in the comments.
• 7:49
  Cathi Spooner: Where are you from?
• 7:51
  Cathi Spooner: What population do you work with?
• 7:53
  Cathi Spooner: Hey, Steph.
• 7:55
  Cathi Spooner: So, um, Thank you for always offering validation and imposter syndrome inoculation.
• 8:03
  Cathi Spooner: You're welcome, Steph.
• 8:05
  Cathi Spooner: I, I honestly, I remember that like it was yesterday.
• 8:09
  Cathi Spooner: Um, and I, I do think, you know, part of the supervise when you're in supervision and one of the things I like to do with these live streams also is, is I think I, I often wonder if this is one of the reasons people don't take the next step.
• 8:26
  Cathi Spooner: So child and adolescent therapists, I wonder if it is one of the reasons they don't take the next step is because you're, you're worried about being exposed that you're an imposter.
• 8:40
  Cathi Spooner: And I remember saying that to my supervisor years ago, years ago, and she would always remind me, you know, more than you think, you know.
• 8:50
  Cathi Spooner: And you know more than your clients, which is why they're coming to you.
• 8:54
  Cathi Spooner: And in my mind, I always thought, well, yeah, and I also have you.
• 8:58
  Cathi Spooner: So, uh, so that makes it better.
• 9:01
  Cathi Spooner: So, yes, absolutely, Steph.
• 9:05
  Cathi Spooner: Um, hi, Heidi.
• 9:07
  Cathi Spooner: Heidi from British Columbia.
• 9:08
  Cathi Spooner: Work with children, youth, and families.
• 9:11
  Cathi Spooner: Thanks for these fun live streams.
• 9:13
  Cathi Spooner: You're welcome, Heidi.
• 9:14
  Cathi Spooner: I'm glad you find them useful.
• 9:15
  Cathi Spooner: I, I, okay, here's a little secret.
• 9:18
  Cathi Spooner: I love doing them because I totally get to nerd out and talk about one of my favorite topics.
• 9:25
  Cathi Spooner: So it's actually kind of fun for me.
• 9:27
  Cathi Spooner: Um, so that is awesome.
• 9:31
  Cathi Spooner: So if you're interested, I go live every week and live stream all things play therapy into my Instagram channel, Renewing Hearts Training.
• 9:44
  Cathi Spooner: Also, I use a platform called StreamYard to live stream into my Facebook group.
• 9:51
  Cathi Spooner: So if you're interested in my Facebook group, it's for child and adolescent therapists using play therapy and expressive arts.
• 10:00
  Cathi Spooner: Um, that group is called Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.
• 10:07
  Cathi Spooner: If you're interested and you are a child and adolescent therapist using play therapy and expressive arts, just please remember to answer all of the questions.
• 10:16
  Cathi Spooner: Don't skip any of the questions because if you answer all of the questions, you will get in the group.
• 10:22
  Cathi Spooner: And if you don't, you will not.
• 10:24
  Cathi Spooner: Happens all the time.
• 10:25
  Cathi Spooner: I always feel bad, so I always like to mention that so you can get it.
• 10:31
  Cathi Spooner: Um, And then I also live stream into my YouTube channel.
• 10:36
  Cathi Spooner: If you're interested in watching the replays and you're not on Facebook cause all the replays, I pin them in the featured section in my Facebook group.
• 10:46
  Cathi Spooner: Um, but if you're not on Facebook and you want to access those, all my replays are on my YouTube channel, Cathi Spooner renewing hearts training.
• 10:58
  Cathi Spooner: So you can pop over there and watch all the replays.
• 11:01
  Cathi Spooner: So.
• 11:02
  Cathi Spooner: Um, all righty.
• 11:04
  Cathi Spooner: Let's get started.
• 11:06
  Cathi Spooner: So the first so first of all, what are play dynamics?
• 11:14
  Cathi Spooner: Um, so like I mentioned earlier, play dynamics are more than just to recognizing themes and play.
• 11:23
  Cathi Spooner: Play dynamics has to do with the types of play that are your, your client is using in the session and has to do with themes and also stages of play therapy.
• 11:40
  Cathi Spooner: And so, the play dynamic dynamics are really the way in which your client uses play to work through and make sense of things and and understand things to help them learn and explore the world and make sense of things.
• 12:01
  Cathi Spooner: So, in the play therapy room, what you're doing is identifying what those are and how those relate to the mental health, social, emotional issues that your client is working through.
• 12:17
  Cathi Spooner: So you use that information to make sense of what's going on for your client, where they are in the change process, and that's going to help you with your clinical decision making.
• 12:31
  Cathi Spooner: And also help you to understand whether your case conceptualization was on target or maybe it needs a little bit of adjusting as you're getting to know your client better and so that case formulation is what, uh, case conceptualization is what helps you with your treatment planning.
• 12:56
  Cathi Spooner: And if you're interested in that topic, because I think that's a really important topic.
• 13:01
  Cathi Spooner: We also talk about that a lot in my Play Therapy Academy program.
• 13:06
  Cathi Spooner: And I, um, and in the, in our group meetings as well.
• 13:12
  Cathi Spooner: So if you're interested in that topic, you can watch some of my replays where I go over that in a little more depth.
• 13:19
  Cathi Spooner: I also have a course on Getting Grounded in Play Therapy Case Conceptual Case conceptualization.
• 13:27
  Cathi Spooner: I'll talk a little bit more about that at the end, if that's something you're interested in.
• 13:32
  Cathi Spooner: I do think it's an important skill for play therapists to have is that case conceptualization and using that for your treatment planning process and kind of also your clinical decision making throughout the process.
• 13:49
  Cathi Spooner: So I'll talk a little bit more about that at the end.
• 13:52
  Cathi Spooner: That being said, the, this, This whole, um, concept of play dynamics has a key role in that, so it's important to understand what those are.
• 14:05
  Cathi Spooner: And so, um, within the play dynamics, one of the things that you are learning to recognize and understand are types of play.
• 14:17
  Cathi Spooner: So there are different types of play that children will engage in.
• 14:22
  Cathi Spooner: And some of this has to do with their personality also some of their wiring Um and the issues that they're working through the dynamics going on in the home, all of these things are important to keep in mind.
• 14:38
  Cathi Spooner: What you're doing, though, is you're looking at the type of play your client is using.
• 14:45
  Cathi Spooner: You're looking at the type of play they're using the beginning, middle and end.
• 14:50
  Cathi Spooner: Uh, that's where the stages come in.
• 14:52
  Cathi Spooner: You're looking to see how these types of play may change and what's going on with that.
• 15:01
  Cathi Spooner: So there are different types of play that you'll observe, and I'm not going to go into depth because that's beyond the scope of this live stream.
• 15:11
  Cathi Spooner: What I wanted to do is kind of give you an overview of what those are.
• 15:16
  Cathi Spooner: Um, so that you kind of have an understanding of what play dynamics means when we're talking about play dynamics and how that relates to your work with children using play therapy.
• 15:33
  Cathi Spooner: So the different kinds of play are aggressive play, nurturing play, pretend or fantasy play, constructive play, exploratory play, social play, games with rules, all those different types of play.
• 15:53
  Cathi Spooner: And what I found is the, the, it's kind of unique to your client.
• 15:59
  Cathi Spooner: Some clients go straight into, they spend very little time in exploratory and they'll go right into the aggressive play, and they may stay in that for a little while before they may try out some pretend as they're trying to work through different roles and understand things.
• 16:19
  Cathi Spooner: Do some creative problem solving using fantasy play.
• 16:23
  Cathi Spooner: They'll do some creative problem solving using constructive play.
• 16:28
  Cathi Spooner: So the thing to keep in mind here is children access the therapeutic powers of play through these different types of play.
• 16:38
  Cathi Spooner: And the therapeutic powers of play are how children use play to work through whatever mental health issues or social emotional challenges they're experiencing.
• 16:53
  Cathi Spooner: So they, they go hand in hand.
• 16:55
  Cathi Spooner: And I have noticed that, uh, there are some gender differences, not, you know, generally speaking, sometimes there are nuances to that.
• 17:07
  Cathi Spooner: And there are, you know, everything is not always everything.
• 17:11
  Cathi Spooner: And there tend to be, you know, if you look in the bell curve, there's those that usual and then there's always some outside that usual.
• 17:22
  Cathi Spooner: And so I do notice.
• 17:24
  Cathi Spooner: I've been doing this for decades, and I have noticed there are gender differences in the playroom generally speaking.
• 17:33
  Cathi Spooner: So it's always interesting to, to understand that as well, because that's going to play into your clinical decision making and your case conceptualization, which is also going to then influence your treatment planning.
• 17:47
  Cathi Spooner: And we're always in that assessment mode throughout the treatment process and adjusting as needed as we're doing that clinical decision making, figuring out, okay, what's going on here.
• 17:59
  Cathi Spooner: What are some barriers?
• 18:00
  Cathi Spooner: How do we help them move through that?
• 18:02
  Cathi Spooner: And we're using play in order to do that.
• 18:07
  Cathi Spooner: So those, those are the different types of play.
• 18:09
  Cathi Spooner: That's how it, um, relates to play therapy and the kind of the overall play therapy process.
• 18:19
  Cathi Spooner: There are different Also, the thing to keep in mind is when you're working with children, you're also, it's also important to understand what's the usual.
• 18:30
  Cathi Spooner: Uh, and keep in mind, there's a continuum of typical for any developmental stage.
• 18:36
  Cathi Spooner: So what's so like three year olds, there's a continuum of what's typical development for a three year old.
• 18:46
  Cathi Spooner: So for each stage of development, there's a range of what is typical and we want to, so I think it's important to understand what that is because when you see something, uh, play behavior or something going on in the playroom that's outside of even the margins of that continuum, then that's really noteworthy.
• 19:10
  Cathi Spooner: And so the other thing to keep in mind is there are developmental stages or developmental aspects of play.
• 19:19
  Cathi Spooner: So think about babies and their type of play all the way up to, I would even say, adulthood.
• 19:28
  Cathi Spooner: So there are different stages of play and these are also part of the play dynamics that you're looking at and understanding.
• 19:39
  Cathi Spooner: But also the other thing that you're looking at with some of these typical developmental stages of play, there's a continuum of that.
• 19:49
  Cathi Spooner: And we want to make sure to, um, be mindful of unique individual differences for each of your clients.
• 19:59
  Cathi Spooner: So all of these things factor into recognizing play dynamics.
• 20:05
  Cathi Spooner: And so, um, just to kind of briefly go over play stages of development, there's unoccupied play, which is typically for infants and really small children.
• 20:18
  Cathi Spooner: Solitary play, they're beginning to engage in the play process and use that play process to kind of explore things.
• 20:28
  Cathi Spooner: Um, but this time they're playing more by themselves.
• 20:32
  Cathi Spooner: There's onlooker play, which is, you know, kind of makes sense, they're looking on and observing.
• 20:38
  Cathi Spooner: And here's the thing that I think is important to understand this, like I was just mentioning about what's typical developmental stage of play, onlooker play can look like children are shy and not engaging, which may be the case.
• 20:54
  Cathi Spooner: And if you're like me, and you have neuro diverse children who are also really, really, really introverted, and that's their personality, uh, wiring the, you know, the introverts that they don't necessarily need to be in the thick of things.
• 21:14
  Cathi Spooner: Um, so maybe onlooker play is more about for your client.
• 21:20
  Cathi Spooner: They're just observing and they're watching and they're learning through that observation.
• 21:26
  Cathi Spooner: Like my oldest child, man, he did a lot of onlooker play because he's more of a introvert.
• 21:33
  Cathi Spooner: That child did not miss a thing, like still waters run deep.
• 21:39
  Cathi Spooner: That's what I say.
• 21:40
  Cathi Spooner: That boy, didn't miss a thing.
• 21:43
  Cathi Spooner: And so he's still that way.
• 21:44
  Cathi Spooner: And I remember my dad being that way.
• 21:46
  Cathi Spooner: I remember my dad would say things and I would think to myself because he was like Mr.
• 21:50
  Cathi Spooner: Quiet Man.
• 21:51
  Cathi Spooner: Like he didn't say very much of anything.
• 21:54
  Cathi Spooner: Um, but he did not miss a thing.
• 21:58
  Cathi Spooner: So onlooker I, and I point that out because I think it's important to understand that just because children are engaging in onlooker play, it's important to keep in mind that it may not be that they're shy or socially inadequate or awkward it might be that they are learning through observing just like how many of you like to do people watching.
• 22:21
  Cathi Spooner: You're not engaging, but you do learn a whole lot through that people watching.
• 22:25
  Cathi Spooner: It's kind of the same thing.
• 22:27
  Cathi Spooner: Um, and then the next stage is, uh, onlooker.
• 22:32
  Cathi Spooner: I mean, a parallel play.
• 22:35
  Cathi Spooner: So Facebook per user says being an introvert in a world that sets celebrates extroversion is hard.
• 22:43
  Cathi Spooner: Yes.
• 22:44
  Cathi Spooner: And in fact, if you're interested, because I, um, you know, I, my, my kids are young adults now.
• 22:53
  Cathi Spooner: They, they're neurodiverse.
• 22:54
  Cathi Spooner: I did not get the typical kids.
• 22:58
  Cathi Spooner: Um, but I, you know, this is like, my oldest is 27.
• 23:03
  Cathi Spooner: We didn't know a whole lot back then like we do now like sensory processing everybody in play therapy.
• 23:09
  Cathi Spooner: I feel like everybody knows about that.
• 23:11
  Cathi Spooner: But that that was not something we knew back then and so anyway, so uh There was a book that's my way of getting to what I was going to say.
• 23:22
  Cathi Spooner: There's a book called Um, oh, I forgot the name of it.
• 23:26
  Cathi Spooner: I'm gonna have to post it in the comments later uh, I think some Raising, raising raising your, something about an introverted child.
• 23:38
  Cathi Spooner: Oh, it was really good.
• 23:40
  Cathi Spooner: Um, uh, last name.
• 23:45
  Cathi Spooner: Oh, darn.
• 23:45
  Cathi Spooner: That bugs me.
• 23:46
  Cathi Spooner: Now I'm gonna, I'll post it, I'll post it in the Facebook group, , what that is.
• 23:52
  Cathi Spooner: Um, but anyways, what I liked about this book is she, she calls them innies and outies.
• 23:59
  Cathi Spooner: And she talks about the difference between introvert kids and extrovert kids, but also celebrates introverts and helping parents like I'm more of an extrovert, but I, you know, I, I can't channel my inner introvert, um, helping parents and others understand their introverted child.
• 24:23
  Cathi Spooner: And.
• 24:24
  Cathi Spooner: and helping to facilitate their awesomeness.
• 24:30
  Cathi Spooner: Because I think sometimes like you were saying, you know, introvert in a world that celebrates extroversion can be challenging because I think we can put too much pressure on kids who are introverts.
• 24:45
  Cathi Spooner: And all that does is make them go in their turtle shell and they don't come out till the coast is clear.
• 24:50
  Cathi Spooner: I always call them turtle children.
• 24:53
  Cathi Spooner: I laugh with my oldest, uh, these days, like I'm channeling my introvert now.
• 25:00
  Cathi Spooner: So I think that's important that we're looking at all of these dynamics and making sense of those.
• 25:06
  Cathi Spooner: So stages of play, there's parallel play where, you know, kind of makes sense for playing alongside.
• 25:14
  Cathi Spooner: There's associative play where they're really beginning the process to engage more in that cooperative play.
• 25:23
  Cathi Spooner: And again, children are going to make, um, move through that process in their unique way.
• 25:31
  Cathi Spooner: So it's individualized.
• 25:33
  Cathi Spooner: There's a continuum of that.
• 25:35
  Cathi Spooner: So hey, Melanie, yes, turtle children.
• 25:38
  Cathi Spooner: That's what I call them.
• 25:40
  Cathi Spooner: Who doesn't love a turtle, right?
• 25:42
  Cathi Spooner: And here's the thing about turtle children and turtle people.
• 25:46
  Cathi Spooner: When they essentially things are not safe, they will go inside their turtle shell.
• 25:52
  Cathi Spooner: That's a hard turtle shell.
• 25:53
  Cathi Spooner: You cannot get them out of their turtle shell until the coast is clear.
• 25:57
  Cathi Spooner: So you really got to make the coast clear.
• 25:59
  Cathi Spooner: And that means you have to go at their speed.
• 26:03
  Cathi Spooner: You cannot rush them.
• 26:04
  Cathi Spooner: They will not be rushed.
• 26:06
  Cathi Spooner: Have you ever tried to rush a turtle?
• 26:08
  Cathi Spooner: They're happy in their turtle shell.
• 26:10
  Cathi Spooner: It's safe and comfy cozy in there.
• 26:12
  Cathi Spooner: They can outlast you in the turtle shell.
• 26:16
  Cathi Spooner: So you got to go at their speed and understand that they will come out when they're ready and don't push them.
• 26:24
  Cathi Spooner: So, yeah.
• 26:25
  Cathi Spooner: So that the understanding the types of play is really important.
• 26:31
  Cathi Spooner: Um, so the next thing to understand about play dynamics is themes.
• 26:40
  Cathi Spooner: We talk a lot about themes in the play therapy world.
• 26:44
  Cathi Spooner: Why do we do that?
• 26:45
  Cathi Spooner: What the heck do we mean when we're talking about themes?
• 26:49
  Cathi Spooner: And keep in mind, themes are one component of play dynamics.
• 26:55
  Cathi Spooner: Because all of those other things that I mentioned about types of play and stages of play are important as well.
• 27:04
  Cathi Spooner: Play themes are actually.
• 27:09
  Cathi Spooner: Here's how I define them.
• 27:12
  Cathi Spooner: It's the psychological manifestation through the play that children are using play to help them work through whatever it is that they're working through.
• 27:26
  Cathi Spooner: This is how you can see what is going on with them, um, using the play process.
• 27:34
  Cathi Spooner: And what you're doing is you are learning how to recognize.
• 27:39
  Cathi Spooner: The themes when they show up, what they mean, you're noticing any shifts in the themes, how they're using the play to work through that process and psychologically, socially, emotionally, what are those themes represent in relation to their, um, the reason that they're coming in?
• 28:02
  Cathi Spooner: So what is the purpose that play themes serve and play therapy?
• 28:08
  Cathi Spooner: So this, this is how you're going to know what's going on with your client and you're observing, any shifts in the themes you're noticing, and this will also help you understand what we're going to talk about next, which is where they are in the play therapy process.
• 28:27
  Cathi Spooner: What stage of play therapy are they in?
• 28:31
  Cathi Spooner: So you're identifying and you're recognizing the psychological manifestation through the play process, what's going on with your client.
• 28:42
  Cathi Spooner: This is, again, this is a, this is a critical difference between play therapy and using talk therapy and pulling out games and art supplies to get your client to talk.
• 28:57
  Cathi Spooner: Children are going to talk through the play.
• 29:01
  Cathi Spooner: Adults are going to talk using their words to tell you what are going on.
• 29:05
  Cathi Spooner: Children are going to use their play to tell you what is going on.
• 29:10
  Cathi Spooner: So recognize, and this is where recognizing themes comes in because you're recognizing the themes of what is manifesting in the playroom and where they are in the play therapy process.
• 29:27
  Cathi Spooner: Any shifts or changes that go on in the play therapy process.
• 29:34
  Cathi Spooner: So the next play dynamic is stages of play therapy.
• 29:40
  Cathi Spooner: And so how does this matter in the overall provision of play therapy?
• 29:44
  Cathi Spooner: How does all this fit together?
• 29:46
  Cathi Spooner: How do these play dynamics fit together with types of play themes of play?
• 29:53
  Cathi Spooner: Well, you're tracking these through all the different stages of the play therapy process, and you're recognizing where the child is, what the change is, if they're making any change, or if they're gaining any mastery.
• 30:12
  Cathi Spooner: You're looking at that through the, the play process and the themes that are manifesting.
• 30:19
  Cathi Spooner: And this is to me, this is one of the reasons it's really important to get into a good consultation group program or, or individual consultation, whatever meets your needs.
• 30:32
  Cathi Spooner: Because this is a projective modality in many, many ways.
• 30:38
  Cathi Spooner: You're having to manage your, you know, it's that whole transference and countertransference thing, projection, um, recognizing what's me and what's not me.
• 30:51
  Cathi Spooner: Recognizing what comes up in me and what does that mean as it relates to my client?
• 30:57
  Cathi Spooner: And then how do I use that information clinically?
• 31:01
  Cathi Spooner: I, I once had a, um, I had somebody say to me one time, this was not a play therapist in my head.
• 31:10
  Cathi Spooner: I was trying to think, okay, don't be mean, Cathi.
• 31:13
  Cathi Spooner: Don't jump down her throat.
• 31:15
  Cathi Spooner: She's doing her best.
• 31:16
  Cathi Spooner: How can I say this in a way that educates and helps to understand, um, maybe even gain a new convert to play therapy, um, that'll be useful to this person.
• 31:29
  Cathi Spooner: And one of the things I, and I wish I could say this was something I didn't hear very often.
• 31:36
  Cathi Spooner: And I'm sad to say that it's not the case, which is also one of the reasons I do these live streams is really kind of help to promote what is play therapy and how it's different.
• 31:48
  Cathi Spooner: Um, which is, uh, what this person's and I, you know, I've heard this a few times, which is, oh, you know, they're going to play it out and, and then I'll, I'll just make sense of it.
• 32:03
  Cathi Spooner: But what I knew about this person the people that I've heard this from is they don't, they don't know how to do that because they've not taken any training.
• 32:13
  Cathi Spooner: They've not gone through any supervision and to me that's a dangerous thing.
• 32:18
  Cathi Spooner: I remember being that way.
• 32:21
  Cathi Spooner: I remember decades ago when I could not find a play therapy supervisor and there were play therapy rooms and my supervisors would say to me, Oh, just do the best you can.
• 32:35
  Cathi Spooner: And I remember watching my client do amazing things in the playroom and thinking, I have no absolute idea what's going on here right now.
• 32:46
  Cathi Spooner: And it felt horrible.
• 32:49
  Cathi Spooner: And yet it still happens.
• 32:51
  Cathi Spooner: And so to me, that's one of the reasons it's really important to get good training and consultation, um.
• 33:03
  Cathi Spooner: So Facebook user says, I need help with tweens.
• 33:06
  Cathi Spooner: They often feel too big to play, but they don't yet have the cognitive abilities to talk Freudian style or they're grumpy adolescent boys that don't want to show their hearts.
• 33:19
  Cathi Spooner: Oh, so true.
• 33:20
  Cathi Spooner: Yes.
• 33:21
  Cathi Spooner: And that way you, I use play therapy.
• 33:24
  Cathi Spooner: So once they get into their adolescence, you know, the tweeners, they're moving that direction.
• 33:31
  Cathi Spooner: We can still use the therapeutic powers of play.
• 33:34
  Cathi Spooner: Their play looks different.
• 33:37
  Cathi Spooner: Um, they do like playing.
• 33:39
  Cathi Spooner: They just play differently.
• 33:41
  Cathi Spooner: Boys, generally speaking, some boys, you can, they are more artistic and creative so you can get them to use art and maybe sand tray.
• 33:50
  Cathi Spooner: You can see all my miniatures behind me.
• 33:52
  Cathi Spooner: I use that a lot or games.
• 33:54
  Cathi Spooner: Some boys are more active.
• 33:56
  Cathi Spooner: Um, you can use the therapeutic powers of play.
• 34:01
  Cathi Spooner: And, um, using more directive activities, that is one of the way, and to get them involved using some of the expressive modalities, like art or music, I love using poetry, you can use games.
• 34:17
  Cathi Spooner: So they tend to have more directive, they tend to be more directive and you tend to have to talk to them more.
• 34:24
  Cathi Spooner: Um, so their play.
• 34:26
  Cathi Spooner: This is where the stages of play, understanding the play of middle schoolers and high schoolers, and even adults, looks different.
• 34:38
  Cathi Spooner: So with the stages of play, your theoretical model is really going to influence how you make sense of what's going on in the playroom.
• 34:51
  Cathi Spooner: Your theoretical model is going to influence how you make sense of the problem and how you're going to help you, what it's going to look like to get your client through all the stages of the play therapy process.
• 35:07
  Cathi Spooner: So being, that's the other thing for play therapy is play therapy is rooted in a theoretical model that dictates the how children are going to access those therapeutic powers of play for change.
• 35:24
  Cathi Spooner: And how you show up in the playroom, how you make sense of what goes on from session to session to session.
• 35:32
  Cathi Spooner: So there are typically, generally speaking, and different theoretical models will call these different things.
• 35:40
  Cathi Spooner: Generally speaking, there are three stages of change.
• 35:46
  Cathi Spooner: three phases, three stages in play therapy.
• 35:50
  Cathi Spooner: And, and I would say also in traditional talk therapy.
• 35:56
  Cathi Spooner: So there's that initial exploratory, getting to know you, getting to know the playroom, getting to know the expectations.
• 36:03
  Cathi Spooner: What are the, what are the rules in here and how does this work?
• 36:07
  Cathi Spooner: And then the second phase stage of play therapy is typically the aggression phase.
• 36:14
  Cathi Spooner: It may be called a different thing depending on your play therapy theory model, but here's where you'll see some of those, typically, you'll see some of those aggressive urges coming out, typically in the form of conflict and, uh, what children are experienced.
• 36:32
  Cathi Spooner: Some children go through this phase quicker than others.
• 36:37
  Cathi Spooner: Um, and again, depending on your theoretical model, it's, it's going to dictate what kind of what it's called because this phase is kind of a transition phase from, okay, now I'm getting to know you, I figured out how this, I have a sense of how this works, and I haven't gone to the deeper level things yet, but I'm, I'm getting ready.
• 37:03
  Cathi Spooner: I'm preparing to go there.
• 37:07
  Cathi Spooner: And then the next phase is more that, uh, going down to those deeper level issues.
• 37:13
  Cathi Spooner: This is where the change process is really happening.
• 37:18
  Cathi Spooner: And that may have different names.
• 37:20
  Cathi Spooner: Some of the names, like, um, Child Centered Play Therapy, they would call it, the regression or nurturing phase.
• 37:28
  Cathi Spooner: Other play therapy models will likely have called it a different name.
• 37:33
  Cathi Spooner: And then, then the final phase of play therapy is where your client has really been able to work through some of those deeper level things and they're feeling a sense of mastery.
• 37:46
  Cathi Spooner: Their self esteem is better.
• 37:48
  Cathi Spooner: Their problem solving, their relationship is better.
• 37:52
  Cathi Spooner: They've got more skills under their belt.
• 37:55
  Cathi Spooner: And this is now where they're transitioning to the termination phase.
• 38:03
  Cathi Spooner: So, so this, and what you're doing is you're looking at using those types of play and themes to recognize where they are.
• 38:15
  Cathi Spooner: And it's not uncommon that Children will, as they're really transitioning between phases, they may go back and forth between those stages, um, until they they're fully in the next stage of change.
• 38:32
  Cathi Spooner: So that is it for today talking about play dynamics.
• 38:36
  Cathi Spooner: Just a recap, recognizing play dynamics is an essential part of being a play therapist.
• 38:44
  Cathi Spooner: This is where you're recognizing what is going on in the play therapy room, and that's going to help you do your clinical decision making about what you need to do to help them get through what's going on in for the child and what it is that they're working through and recognizing the types of play real and the themes, is what you're looking for to help you understand that process.
• 39:16
  Cathi Spooner: And then you're, as you're observing the progression and regression through the play therapy process, you're using that information to understand where your client is in that change process, in that healing process.
• 39:34
  Cathi Spooner: So that is it for today.
• 39:39
  Cathi Spooner: So if you found this information helpful, please like and share it across your social media platforms.
• 39:45
  Cathi Spooner: I go live every Wednesday, 7 a.
• 39:48
  Cathi Spooner: m pacific time.
• 39:50
  Cathi Spooner: If you're not available for the live, it's at Self, then the replays automatically generate afterwards.
• 39:57
  Cathi Spooner: You can always find all the replays on my YouTube channel.
• 40:01
  Cathi Spooner: Cathi Spooner Renewing Hearts Training.
• 40:04
  Cathi Spooner: If you're interested in Play Therapy Academy, Play Therapy Academy is, is an overall program to help new there, new play therapists really develop confidence, learn the skills that that you need to learn in order to be effective.
• 40:23
  Cathi Spooner: and help your clients and make that difference in their lives.
• 40:27
  Cathi Spooner: That is the reason we all get into this profession.
• 40:30
  Cathi Spooner: So Play Therapy Academy is a combination of twice a month we meet for group consultation and we do staff cases.
• 40:41
  Cathi Spooner: You get feedback, we identify themes, we identify where children are in the change process, we identify and learn all those case conceptualization and clinical decision making skills, so that you can use play therapy grounded in the model play that you are using play therapy theoretical model to help children overcome the challenges.
• 41:09
  Cathi Spooner: So we do that by twice monthly group meetings and we do two case consultations within each group meeting.
• 41:19
  Cathi Spooner: And that also courses in Play Therapy Academy to help learn those foundational skills and get a really, really solid grounding in using play therapy.
• 41:33
  Cathi Spooner: So there's a series that I'm in the process of developing.
• 41:36
  Cathi Spooner: I have two courses already available.
• 41:38
  Cathi Spooner: So the series of courses is called Getting Grounded in Play Therapy Excellence.
• 41:44
  Cathi Spooner: The first course is Getting Grounded in Play Therapy Foundations.
• 41:49
  Cathi Spooner: The second course is getting grounded in Play Therapy Case Conceptualization.
• 41:54
  Cathi Spooner: The course that's going to be coming out, uh, by the end of July is going to be Getting Grounded in Play Therapy Treatment Planning.
• 42:04
  Cathi Spooner: And then the next one after that is Getting Grounded in Play Therapy Progress Notes.
• 42:09
  Cathi Spooner: And then the one after that is, is Integrating Parents in the Play Therapy Process.
• 42:14
  Cathi Spooner: So all of those courses are available in Play Therapy Academy.
• 42:19
  Cathi Spooner: If you're interested in Play Therapy Academy, then hop over to my website at rhplaytherapytraining.
• 42:27
  Cathi Spooner: com.
• 42:28
  Cathi Spooner: On the courses page, you'll see information about Play Therapy Academy.
• 42:34
  Cathi Spooner: And if you, if you're interested, you can book a free call with me and we'll talk a little bit more about it.
• 42:41
  Cathi Spooner: If you don't need the, the group consultation component and you just need the courses, those are available just kind of a la carte, so to speak, on my website, which is rhplaytherapytraining.
• 42:55
  Cathi Spooner: com.
• 42:55
  Cathi Spooner: I mean, yes, RH Play Therapy Training.
• 42:58
  Cathi Spooner: So it's Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training.
• 43:02
  Cathi Spooner: And, uh, rhplaytherapytraining.
• 43:05
  Cathi Spooner: com, and it's on the courses page, and you can see all the courses that I have available there, um, on demand, and I have some, an, an in person sand tray training coming up in July here in Southern Nevada.
• 43:21
  Cathi Spooner: So that is all on my website and I will post some links in the comments.
• 43:28
  Cathi Spooner: If you're on Instagram, you can pop over to my bio and click the link on the bio and so I will see you next time.
• 43:36
  Cathi Spooner: Bye for now.
• 43:40
  Cathi Spooner: Thank you for joining me on this episode of Next Level Play Therapy.
• 43:44
  Cathi Spooner: I hope you found the discussion valuable and gain new insights and ideas to support your work helping children, adolescents, and families heal.
• 43:53
  Cathi Spooner: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review.
• 43:59
  Cathi Spooner: Your feedback helps to improve and reach more people who can benefit from this information.
• 44:05
  Cathi Spooner: Remember, play therapy is a powerful tool for healing and growth.
• 44:09
  Cathi Spooner: Whether you're a new play therapist or experienced, I encourage you to continue your learning journey to unlock the potential of play in your own work and relationships.
• 44:21
  Cathi Spooner: If you have any questions or topic suggestions for future episodes, I'd love to hear from you.
• 44:28
  Cathi Spooner: Connect with me on social media and visit my website at Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training to stay updated on upcoming episodes, trainings, and resources.
• 44:40
  Cathi Spooner: Thank you once again for listening to Next Level Play Therapy.
• 44:44
  Cathi Spooner: Until next time, keep playing, learning, and growing.