Vol. 15 no. 2

February 23, 2010

1...the deadline to register for gAPT's march 12 & 13 annual conference is fast approaching.  registration can be completed via mail, fax, or phone.  details are on the brochure.  click on future events on the link to the left. there will be no registration at the door.  deadline to register is Wednesday march 10 at 7pm.

Helen Benedict Ph. D. Will Be Our Featured Presenter. Helen Is One Of Our Country's Top Specialists In The Ongoing Research Regarding Themes In Play And Play Therapy For Attachment And Trauma.

her topic on Friday will be using research-based theme patterns to enhance play assessment and therapy.  she will follow on Saturday with An Integrated Model of play therapy for attachment and trauma in children.  you can obtain a brief introduction to her ongoing play therapy research by clicking on the future events page of our website.

I suggest that you mark your calendar so you can avail yourself of this opportunity to learn from a very gifted researcher and presenter.

2...we are also so very pleased to announce that dr. Kenneth carter, Emory university professor has agreed to present a lunch n learn lecture on Saturday march 13, 2010.  his lecture will last about 45 minutes during the lunch period.  his topic will be psychopharmacology for the non-prescribing therapist. 

he will discuss what the non-prescribing therapist can and cannot say to clients about the use of drugs.  i heard his presentation last summer and was very impressed!!  as in the past, there is no extra charge for the lunch n learn part of our conference.  plan to obtain your lunch and return to the ballroom for his lecture. to read his bio click here.

3...anne koenig recently gave an outreach lecture to a mercer university graduate class in marriage and family therapy.  her topic was playful ways to build genograms when children are present.

4...liana lowenstein and I are compiling a book which we hope to publish later this year.  it will include family play therapy techniques that are creative, original, and play based.  if you have such a technique that you would like us to consider for the book, please contact liana at lliana@globalserve.net or call her at 416-495-0667.

5...on january 31 GAPT rented and staffed a booth at the kids enabled resource fair 2010.  the event was well attended.  children and adults enjoyed time in the sand as well as expressing themselves with a few hits and kicks of bobo.

being able to meet with parents provided gAPT an opportunity to provide written and verbal information regarding the value of play therapy and credentialed play therapists.

6...if you are a supervisor, and did not see aPT's February  mining report, we have it available on the professional book reviews and articles page of the website.  you can also click here.

7...the newton county school counselors recently requested that GAPT present play therapy with the grieving child.  the lecture was presented at the newton county campus of perimeter college on January 13.

8...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.  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.

9...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

10...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  if you would like to see a description of the course click here.   

11…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.

12...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.

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

14…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. 

15...I want to recommend that you read and share Kids enabled magazine with parents of children with learning differences.  this magazine is locally published, is free, and readily available at whole food, the school box, CHOA satellite rehab locations, and the marcus center. GAPT Also has copies available if you email your mailing address to us at trudypostsprunk@charter.net it has an excellent resource directory. please notice that there is a category listing for play therapy.

16...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.

17...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

18...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.

19...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