tackling the difficult relationship: how to use creative techniques to gain rapport presented by...

Tackling the Difficult Relationship: How to Use Creative Techniques to

Gain RapportPresented by

Leah Probasco-Burns, LPC, RPT-S & Laura Probasco, LCSW, RPT-S, CDWF

Learning Objectives

Develop a greater understanding of why these students have difficulty opening up.

Understand the importance of using nonverbal techniques to help build strong relationships.

Walk away with ready to use expressive art and play therapy techniques to help these students achieve emotional success and important life skills.

Empathy vs. Sympathy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

The Why’s

Discomfort

Disconnection

Shame ( I am not _____ enough or I will be enough when_____)

Fear of Vulnerability

Numbing

The Answers

People who have a sense of worthiness a sense of love and belonging believe they are worthy of love and belonging and have a sense of courage to be imperfect(own their story) Compassion (to be kind to self and then to others) Connection(letting go of what they think they should be) Fully embraced vulnerability(what makes them vulnerable

makes them beautiful)

The Lessons

You are imperfect and you are wired for struggle but you are worthy of love and belonging

Let ourselves be deeply seen

Love with our whole hearts even when there is no guarantee

Practice gratitude and joy in the moments of fear

Believe we are enough

Why Play Therapy?

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation”

- Plato- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_QIe_ODx2g

Marble Jar

Materials: Jar, marbles

Directions:

Word Poetry

Materials: Magnetic Words

Directions:

Now- Stupid people, it’s hard, questions, tearFuture- Trust, be happy, understandSelf- give up, feel like screaming, Dad wants me to sufferFriends- safe, comfort, relief

Now- Speed, circus, humiliate selfFuture- peaceful, vision, relief (God)Self- Train of thought, profound, loveFamily- wheel, gene pool, don’t know (don’t understand a lot of the time)

Story Telling Rocks

Materials: rocks with pictures on them

Directions

Change it Up

Materials: several pictures out of magazines, glue, scissors, construction paper, markers

Directions

Bravery Song

Materials: computer, phone, printers

Directions

Permission Cards

Materials: Notecards, Markers, writing utensils

Directions:

Playlist

Materials: computer, phone, printer, CD, or ability to make a playlist

Directions

Draw my Life

Materials: you tube, write board, dry erase markers

Directions

Let your Light Shine

Materials: Glow Sticks, quote Directions:

Jar of Hope

Materials: Jar, rocks, paint pens, permanent markers, magazine clippings, glue, mod podge

Directions:

Gratitude Journal

Materials: blank journals, magazines (words and pictures), markers, paint, variety of craft material, etc.

Directions

Mantra

Materials: Paper, markers, paint pens, puffy paint, magazine clippings, quotes

Directions:

How to become and Play Therapist

must hold an active license in a mental health field such as counseling, psychology, or social work

150 hours of play therapy instruction or APT Approved Provider that specifically says the words “play therapy” in the course/training title

500 hours of working as a play therapist under the supervision of a RPT-S

50 hours of direct supervision in play therapy State approved supervisors need to have

additional training in supervisionww.a4pt.org

Questions

Leah Probasco-Burns Leah.Probasco@gmail.com

Laura Probasco Lauraprobasco@gmail.com

Art of Play Artofplay.org