Expressive Play Therapy Approaches for Asymmetrical Development

    Title
    Expressive play therapy approaches for asymmetrical development

    Description
    Intellectually gifted children represent a small percentage of our population and yet are far more likely to struggle with social and emotional issues, as well existential concerns, than the general population. They tend to develop in an asynchronous fashion, whereby major cognitive leaps are at odds with average or even delayed development of social skills and emotional regulation. These overdeveloped and underdeveloped parts may struggle to find acceptance and integration. Participants will explore developmental needs of gifted and twice exceptional children and adolescents. We will learn and practice effective playful and expressive therapeutic approaches for working with gifted children. All mental health practitioners will benefit from improved understanding of the needs of the asynchronous child.

    Date
    January 8, 2021, 10am-1pm CST

    Price
    $60
    Payment is due at registration.
    ​    Refunds will only be offered if cancelled 2 weeks or longer before the event (minus a $10 administrative fee).

    Objectives
    After the workshop, participants will be able to recognize markers of giftedness in children and how to identify them in play therapy.

    After the workshop, participants will understand the impact of giftedness on play therapy clients and their treatment needs and trajectory.

    After the workshop, participants will be able to share three expressive interventions for gifted children integrating asynchronous parts.
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    CEs: 
    Due to COVID-19 health concerns, this one-time online event has been approved by APT for three contact education hours and these will be awarded after proof of viewing is verified and quiz is passed. This event is sponsored by Marshall Lyles, APT Approved Provider 17-508.

    Bio
    Mandi Meléndez, LMFT-S, LPC, RPT-S, is the Past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy and co-founder of Nurture Family Counseling in Cedar Park, Texas. She holds a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis on Play Therapy from Texas State University, as well as a Master of Arts in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. Mandi prefers holistic and creative systemic interventions, and has post-graduate training in Theraplay, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Child Parent Relationship Therapy, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention. Areas of particular interest are gifted children and their families, gender expansive children and their families, and attachment issues.

    Registration