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Workshops for Mental Health Professionals
As a frequent keynote speaker, I deliver dynamic presentations on a variety of topics. In my workshops, I combine up-to-date theory with practical tools. I speak at international conferences and at agency training events.
Below is a partial list of topics and descriptions. However, no program is exactly the same since the makeup and needs of audiences change. Workshops are designed to accomplish the unique educational objectives of the attendees.
For more information on workshops and rates please contact me at liana@gloablserve.net 416-575-7836.
This page is updated regularly so please visit again soon!
Upcoming Speaking Engagements
March 22-23, 2012: Raleigh, North Carolina
"Creative Interventions for Children and Families"
Further info: www.ncapt.org
March 30, 2012: Hamilton, Ontario
"Creative Techniques for Assessing Children and Families"
Further info: (Email) mckeanh@HHSC.CA
May 23, 2012: London, Ontario
"Assessment and Treatment Planning"
Further info: Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy: www.cacpt.com
June 13, 2012: London, Ontario
"Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children and Children of Divorce"
Further info: Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy: www.cacpt.com
June 15, 2012: Nashville, Tennessee
Topic: TBA
Further info: www.tna4pt.org
June 21, 2012: Indianapolis, IN
"Engagement, Assessment, and Treatment Planning"
Further info: www.indianaapt.org
June 22, 2012: Indianapolis, IN
"Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children and Children of Divorce"
Further info: www.indianaapt.org
July 25, 2012: Toronto, Ontario
"Assessment and Treatment Planning"
Further info: Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy: www.cacpt.com
September 21-22, 2012: Salt Lake City, Utah
Topic: "Creative Therapeutic Interventions for Children and Families"
Further info: www.utahplaytherapy.org
Workshop Descriptions
Introduction to Play Therapy
This workshop will introduce participants to the theory and practice of play therapy. The training will cover various issues including the history of play therapy and the major models of play therapy, the therapeutic powers of play, the therapeutic relationship, phases of therapy, themes in children’s play, and limit setting. Participants will also learn how to set up a playroom and how to select appropriate toys and materials. Play therapy techniques, including games, art, puppetry, and sand tray will be presented. Selected research studies supporting the effectiveness of play therapy will also be presented. Experiential exercises and activity demonstrations will be incorporated into this workshop.
Learning Objectives:
- Define play therapy and the difference between play and play therapy.
- Summarize the history and major theoretical models of play therapy, including the pioneers, major components, role of the therapist, and empirical support.
- Identify the value and therapeutic powers of play therapy.
- Identify how to set up a play room and how to select toys and materials to facilitate therapeutic growth.
- Describe basic themes in children's play and how to tie them to children's life experiences.
- Describe the use of therapeutic games, art, puppets, and sand tray in play therapy sessions.
- Cite recent research studies supporting the effectiveness of play therapy.
Innovative Techniques to Engage
Resistant Clients in Counseling
Many children in counseling have difficulty verbalizing their presenting issues because they are reluctant to self-disclose and they are anxious about the therapeutic process. Activities that are creative and play-based can engage otherwise resistant children and help them to express their thoughts and feelings. This workshop will present innovative techniques to engage resistant children and youth in counseling. Didactic presentation, activity demonstrations, audio-visual presentations, and small group exercises will be included in the workshop.
Learning Objectives:
- List some of the factors behind resistance
- Reframe resistance as a natural and healthy part of the therapeutic process
- Articulate ways to build therapeutic rapport
- Apply several innovative techniques to break through the resistive barrier and engage clients in counseling
- Explain strategies to enlist and maintain parental involvement in their children's therapy
Creative Interventions for Troubled Children & Youth
This very practical training will present creative engagement, assessment, and treatment interventions to make individual, group, and family sessions meaningful and effective. Innovative treatment activities will be presented to address issues such as anger management, social skills, stress reduction, and self-esteem. Techniques to address challenging client behavior will also be highlighted.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the Prescriptive Play Therapy Approach
- Use at least 3 interventions to engage clients in counseling
- Use the presenter’s model for assessing children and families
- Use many new treatment techniques in individual, group, and family therapy sessions
Creative Interventions for Sexually Abused and Traumatized Children
This workshop is designed to familiarize participants with an innovative model for working with sexually abused and traumatized children. The presenter will provide participants with creative, structured assessment and treatment interventions. This will include interventions that can be used in individual or group therapy sessions with preschool, latency and adolescent victims of sexual abuse. A brief overview of trauma research will be provided. Next, the presenter will provide participants with a step-by-step demonstration of the trauma assessment model. The second half of the workshop will focus on treatment interventions, including activities to address the following issues: Identifying and coping with feelings, dealing with sensory triggers, offender enticement strategies, family and community support, post-disclosure response, self-blame, healthy sexuality, and self-esteem.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain some of the trauma effects on sexually abused children
- Use the presenter’s model for assessing sexually abused children
- Develop treatment goals for sexually abused children
- Use many new and innovative treatment techniques with sexually abused and traumatized children
Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children and Children of Divorce
This dynamic workshop will present an innovative model for working with school-aged bereaved children and children of divorce. Structured assessment and treatment techniques will be illustrated for use in individual, group, and family therapy. Participants will come away with many innovative techniques. Although the focus will be on loss, interventions can be adapted for use with a variety of other populations.
Learning Objectives:
- Define grief, traumatic grief, and disenfranchised grief
- Articulate the continuum of parent-child relationships after separation and divorce
- Identify factors that mediate the child's experience of loss
- Use the presenter’s model for assessing bereaved children and children of divorce
- Apply many new and innovative techniques to the treatment of bereaved children and children of divorce
The Creative Use of
Therapeutic Games, Art, Puppets, & Stories
The creative use of games, art, puppets and stories engages children and families in therapy and helps them resolve their psychological difficulties. Through this dynamic workshop, participants will be provided with innovative, hands-on activities to make individual, group, and family therapy sessions more meaningful and effective. The activities presented can be used with a wide range of presenting problems and difficulties. Videos and live demonstrations will be used to illustrate techniques.
Learning Objectives:
- Articulate some of the latest treatment outcome research
- Understand the rational for using directive, play-based interventions
- Apply several new techniques for managing difficult client behavior
- Immediately use many of the treatment techniques in their own practice
Play Therapy Assessment and Treatment Planning
This workshop will provide participants with a play-based model for assessing children and adolescents. Innovative engagement and assessment activities will be presented. Participants will learn how to translate assessment information into a treatment plan, and guidelines for report writing will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives:
- Apply several innovative techniques to engage children in counseling
- Identify when to use a general assessment versus a trauma assessment
- Use the presenter’s model for assessing children and families
- Translate assessment material into a treatment plan
- Identify key guidelines for writing assessment reports
Therapeutic Scrapbooks with Traumatized Children
The Resolution Scrapbook is a therapeutic technique in which traumatized children complete treatment activities and compile them in the form of a scrapbook. Scrapbook activities are used to enable children to work through traumatic events. Their progress through the phases of treatment becomes a lasting record for the children after treatment is terminated. The instructor will illustrate the use of The Resolution Scrapbook technique through the presentation of case examples and activity demonstrations.
Learning Objectives:
- Articulate the purpose and therapeutic value of therapeutic scrapbooks
- Explain how to pace interventions at various stages of the therapeutic process
- Use therapeutic scrapbooks in therapy sessions with clients
The use of creative, play-based techniques in family therapy provides a medium for all members to participate in sessions, and facilitates family relatedness. Through this dynamic workshop, participants will learn a number of innovative techniques to engage, assess, and treat families. This will include art, games, puppets, and stories. The advantages of using creative techniques with families will be outlined, and tips for overcoming challenges will be discussed. Videos and live demonstrations will be used to illustrate techniques.
Learning Objectives:
- List three benefits to using creative, play-based techniques in family therapy
- Describe two common challenges in family therapy and identify strategies to overcome these challenges
- Utilize many new and creative techniques in therapy sessions with families
