Faculty:
Jennifer Lefebre
Duration:
12 Hours 13 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
Copyright:
Feb 15, 2018
Description
Experiential learning through “a child’s language” – sensory, non-verbal and embodied play
Improve self-regulation, attachments and relational engagement
Increase the effectiveness of traditional trauma therapies
Transform your work and enhance the capacity for healthy play among the youngest of trauma survivors

Traumatic events damage children emotionally and psychologically.

Their trauma stays trapped in their body – they feel overwhelmed, they don’t sleep, they’re anxious, depressed, failing in school, angry and socially isolated.

They are completely vulnerable.

How do you as a therapist get to the root of their pain? What do you do when words and language can’t be accessed, when conventional treatments aren’t enough?

Play is a child’s natural way to expose their trauma, formulate their narrative and begin to process the trauma.

Join trauma expert, Dr. Jennifer Lefebre in this experiential, interactive workshop and learn to speak the language of traumatized children!

Integrate play therapy with trauma treatment to provide children engaging, developmentally appropriate and empirically validated treatment
Use essential components of trauma treatment flexibly combined with sensory, non-verbal and embodied play to address interest and advance your work with kids
Creative and effective treatment strategies to improve self-regulation, attachments and relational engagement, integrate traumatic experiences and build a sense of competence and worth
Access a clinical framework to incorporate trauma theory, neuroscientific research and play therapy principles
Increase the capacity for healthy play among the youngest of trauma survivors

Come breathe new life into your trauma treatment with kids!

Handouts

Manual (8.3 MB) 51 Pages Available after Purchase
Outline
Neuroscience of Childhood Trauma Trauma Theory

Fight-or-Flight (parasympathetic/sympathetic nervous system)
Attachment Theory
Assessment

Complex Trauma
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Reactive Attachment Disorder
Developmental Trauma Disorder
A new conceptualization and integrated clinical framework
Essential Components for Trauma-Informed Treatments

Establishing safety and a sense of competence/worth
Appropriate attachments & relational engagement
Self-regulation (body & emotions)
Self-reflection & Introspection
Integration of traumatic experiences (acknowledgment & processing of the trauma)
Future safety ~ transitioning beyond the Trauma
Body Based Treatment – Emotional and Behavioral Regulation

Verbal vs nonverbal responses – how to recognize trauma without verbal report
Bottom-up versus top-down processing – trauma starts in the body
Developmental needs of traumatized children
Embodied play & sensory integration – emotional and behavioral regulation
Incorporating Play Therapy into Proven Evidence-based Treatments

Components that “fit” the child’s specific needs
TF-CBT- Trauma focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
CPP – Child Parent Psychotherapy
ARC – Attachment, Regulation, and Competency
TARGET – Trauma Adaptive Recovery Group Education Therapy
Play Therapy Principles

Therapist establishes a friendly relationship
Accepts the child as he is
Creates a permissive relationship; child has freedom of expression
Validates (acknowledge and reflect) child’s feelings
Responsibility for decisions and change is left mostly to the child
Child directs the therapeutic process; therapist follows
Therapeutic interaction is not rushed
Limits are set only when necessary for child’s outcomes
Advancing Trauma Treatment with Play Therapy

Non-verbal techniques
Sensory-based techniques
Culturally and developmentally appropriate techniques
Play Therapy Strategies and Techniques

Integration of traumatic experiences to acknowledge and process the trauma: Sandtrays, drawings, & play
Target shame, self-doubt, and selfcompassion: Sandtray Safeplace & All About Me
Build an understanding of the brainbody relationship: Flip your lid and Charades
Target indiscriminate attachments and interpersonal reactivity: Invisible String & Family Sandtray
Improve emotional and bodily regulation: Stressballs, Be Spaghetti, Feelings Map, Trashballs, Yoga, and Weather Massage
Faculty
Jennifer Lefebre, Psy.D., RPT-S Related seminars and products: 8

Jennifer Lefebre, Psy.D., RPT-S, TCTSY-F, is a clinical psychologist, registered play therapist supervisor, and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator. She is the president-elect for the New England Association for Play Therapy. Her clinical and research interests focus on the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, adults and families whose lives have been impacted by complex trauma. Dr. Lefebre has extensive experience working with young children (0-5), adult survivors of severe childhood abuse and neglect, first responders, and combat veterans.

Dr. Lefebre is the clinical director at Healing the Child Within, a holistic trauma center in northwestern Connecticut which integrates psychotherapy, yoga, play, and expressive arts therapies into the treatment of complex trauma. She also provides clinical supervision and play therapy consultation throughout New England and online, and an adjunct faculty member at several universities, teaching both at the undergraduate and graduate level. In addition to being an experienced play therapist and professor, Dr. Lefebre is a sought-after expert for speaking engagements, podcasts and webinars on the topics of play therapy and complex childhood trauma.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Jennifer Lefebre is in private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Jennifer Lefebre is a member of the Association of Play Therapy.