POINT
In-Person Training Through the Lense of the Therapeutic Powers of Play LISA ANDERSON MANGAN, MED, LCPC, RPT-S
Since the start of Covid and the increasing use of technology, many question the need for in-person training, often citing expense, time, and travel as barriers to access. An argument could be made involvement, building connections and community, presence of experience this critical therapeutic power of play when attending training in-person. Questions may be more easily asked, and personal connections more easily made, with the presenter, program sponsors, and co-attendees. The side conversations with tablemates often beget new opportunities for support and networking that last far beyond the training itself. How many of us have walked away from training with new contact information for a peer in a virtual training as compared to the connections made at an in-person training? In-person training also allows us to fully experience the energy of the room, gain additional knowledge and insight from peers, and the ability to have captivating group discussions. The ability to talk with peers both within the learning session and during breaks increases the integration of learning and provides more opportunity to fully understand new information. Nonverbal communication and social cueing are an essential part of the learning process that are not as present in virtual training. We are more able to fully immerse ourselves in the topic without cues that support staying focused and on task.
when shared with others
in a training session. Sharing toys,
miniatures, and drawing materials, and being playful with others are powerful experiences that reflect the experiences of our clients. When we experience new ways of working within a community of play therapists the power of the play is more deeply experienced compared to virtually participating while detached from community.
This brings up perhaps the most valuable aspect of in-person
training. At every APT annual conference and other play therapy therapists when we are together is unmatched. We do hard work with the most vulnerable of populations, and are often surrounded by people who do not understand our work. Colleagues and caregivers alike may be unaware of the level of expertise and the amount of training beyond basic licensure we have sought, and consistently We feel a deep sense of connection and build our own resiliency and protection against burnout by being surrounded by other play therapists who understand at the deepest level the challenges of our work. That alone is worth the time and cost of in-person training.
THE MIDDLE GROUND
Pandemically We Turned, Step By Step…Inch By Inch BRIDGETTE MITCHELL SANDERS, PSYD, LCSW, RPT-S, PPSC
issued a special message reinforcing the Association’s belief in the importance of play therapy as an interpersonal process. The education should be experienced in a live, in-person format that allows for face-to-face experiential exercises, group discussion, plans for meeting the credentialing requirements may be delayed temporarily allowed live online play therapy training to be counted
16 | PLAYTHERAPY | September 2023 |
www.a4pt.org
2022 at which point APT announced another historic policy revision. Effective July 1, 2022, APT decreased the minimum number of in- therapy instructional training hours through live specialized webinar their 150-play therapy instructional hours in-person and the other half
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