Vol. 15 no. 3

June 9, 2010

1...GAPT is honored to host paris goodyear-brown at our march 2011 annual conference and meeting. her topic on Friday will be helping the wild child-creative play therapy interventions for problems of dysregulation.  on Saturday she will present play therapy for anxiety disorders.  the dates are march 11 and 12, 2011...be sure to mark your calendar.  the registration brochure will be posted on the website on the future events page in mid January.

2...as you probably recall, Helen benedict was our featured presenter last march.  as always, Helen received very high scores from those who attended. the following are sample comments...

excellent program that was very helpful.  dr. benedict is very good at responding to questions immediately and not making us wait.  GAPT always has top trainers.  I have never been disappointed.  thank you.  outstanding conference.  dr. benedict was an excellent presenter.  dr. benedict is so knowledgeable.

dr. benedict received a score of 4.96 (1-5 scale) when attendees answered about her knowledge of the content she presented.

 it is important that attendees understand and know that we very carefully read the comments that are included with your evaluation.  although about 99% are positive, we continue to receive comments about the hotel temperature.  as a result, we tell you in the brochure and again with your confirmation letter to please dress in layers. there is little that anyone can do to control the temperature of the hotel.

about 97% again expressed satisfaction with the food that was served. usually a few express the wish for a vegetarian option.  that is why we note in the brochure that a vegetarian option is available and how to obtain it.

approximately 99% like the hotel, convenient and ample parking, etc. however, there are a few who would like us to move to a more glamorous facility.  we can do that but would need to increase the cost substantially and we believe that is not a good option.

3...gAPT continues our ongoing practice of promoting play therapy in the community.  recently we presented the use of play therapy in family therapy at the GAMFT annual state conference.  this past weekend, the lecture parenting with love was given by GAPT at the brenau university children center for hope and healing.

the use of play therapy in family therapy will again be given on September 26 at the aAMFT annual conference in Atlanta.

4...Coming Home To Our Indigenous Souls: Play Therapy Retreat With Indigenous Sharings Will Be Held October 1-3, 2010. For More Information Contact Robin Naneix via email at circlesandways@aol.com

5...recently I received an email from gale macke who is the executive director of lPCA In Georgia.  it is about the new requirements regarding how to become a certified professional counselor supervisor. to read the email click here.

6...gAPT believes that community involvement, education, and outreach are our top priorities. as a result, gAPT board members and others frequently participate in activities such as the ones noted above in number 3.  these venues provide us the opportunity to share information regarding play therapy. 

if you are or become aware of health fairs etc. in which GAPT could provide play therapy information to other mental health providers and/or the general public, please contact me.

7...Are You Willing To Volunteer One Pro-Bono Therapy Session Per Week To A Foster Child?  If So, Contact Jonathan Gersh Psy.D.  His Email Address Is jgersh@ahomewithin.org And The Website Is www.ahomewithin.org

8...The Red Cross course Titled Foundations Of Disaster Mental Health Is offered periodically the Atlanta red cross headquarters.  for Further information about dates contact Kathy Haworth at 404-575-3182 or via email at khaworth@arcatl.org    

9…The association for play therapy (aPT) invites you to join them and us as a member.  aPT promotes the value of play, play therapy, and the credentialing of play therapists.   Your aPT/GAPT membership offers 1) the play therapy magazine, 2) international journal, 3) membership directory, 4) conferences, 5) professional credentialing, 6) bookstore, 7) professional insurance, 8) research grants, 9) research awards, and 10) distance learning.  Both organizations have websites.  For more information about membership, click here.

10...One Of GAPT'S Ongoing Outreach Activities To Our Community Continues To Be The Opportunity To Visit My Play Therapy Room And/Or Watch Play Therapy Videos.  I Have A Substantial Library Of Play Therapy Videos From Which To Choose.  You May Schedule By Contacting Me At 770-491-7423.  The Location Of GAPT'S Headquarters Is 4893 Lavista Road In Tucker.  There Is No Charge.

11...aCAIT professional insurance is available to aPT/gAPT members.  for information contact Paul nelson at 800-347-6647, extension 342.

12…I want everyone to be aware that aPT has a brochure, which can be used to promote play therapy.  it is titled why play therapy?  This full-color brochure introduces play therapy to the general public and other mental health professionals.  It includes photos and research citations and we have given them extensively at outreaches where we promote play therapy. GAPT has a supply and will provide you with a sample copy at your request. Email your request to me at trudypostsprunk@charter.net  

copies in quantity can be ordered at the aPT website wWW.a4pt.org or   at 559-252-2278. 

13...I want to recommend that you read and share Kids enabled magazine with parents of children with learning differences.  this magazine is no longer published in paper format but is available on the web at www.kidsenabled.org

GAPT still has paper copies of the magazine available. if you email your mailing address to us at trudypostsprunk@charter.net we will send you  a copy. it has an excellent resource directory. please notice that there is a category listing for play therapy.

14...do You Have A Funny Child Client Story Suitable For printing?  would you be willing to share it with gAPT for use in a future issue of playnotes?  if so, Please send it to us at 4893 lavista road, tucker, Georgia 30084.

15...For Those who are interested in sandtray, you can always obtain information about coming trainings with gisela dedomenico by visiting her website at....http://www.vision-quest.us/vqisr/index.htm

16...as of April 2009, APT has made a change to the number of individual supervision sessions that are required when you earn them from an rPT-S. for more information click here.

17...If You Know of a child (6-9 or 10-17) who lost a parent as the result of domestic violence, you can refer him/her for free therapy to pat higgenbothan, LMFT at pathigg@bellsouth.net

               trudy