Play the Neurodivergent Way

CPD

Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

Handouts

Speaker

Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™ Related seminars and products

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Dr. Robert Jason Grant is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy. He is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, supervisor, and consultant. He utilizes several years of advanced training and his own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. He is an international trainer and keynote presenter and multi-published author of several articles and books on the topics of child and play therapy and neurodiversity.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Robert Grant is the owner of AutPlay Therapy Clinic. He receives royalties as a published author. Robert Grant receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Robert Grant is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Mental Health Counselors, the Association American Counseling, the Association of Missouri American Mental Health Counselors, and the Association of Missouri Association for Play Therapy.

Additional Info

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Objectives

1. Identify the neurodivergent spectrum of presentation to understand how the neurodivergent child client functions in play therapy.
2. Analyze non affirming and ableist manifestations in play therapy room setup.
3. Evaluate the mental health needs of neurodivergent children that can be addressed through play therapy.
4. Select neurodiversity-affirming play therapy interventions that will increase engagement in play.
5. Determine how a “fluid” approach to play therapy progression better meets the needs of neurodivergent children.
6. Use an affirming play therapy termination process that addresses possible negative impact on function.

Outline

What Neurodivergent Children Need from Play Therapy

• The neurodivergent spectrum of presentation
• Neurodivergent play (preferences and interests)
• What play therapy can do for neurodivergent children
• What neurodivergent children need play therapists to understand

STEP-BY-STEP STRATEGIES
Intake and First Contact
Check Your “Internalized” Ableist Beliefs at the Door

• Affirming the intake process and paperwork
• Create a safe waiting room, office staff, and first impression experience
• Accommodations, adjustments, and diversity sensitivity
• Reflective Exercise

Play Therapy Pragmatics
Setting Up a Sensory Affirming Environment

• Play therapy room set up considerations
• Toy and material selection
• Sensory awareness of room

Affirming the Therapeutic Process
Don’t Get Stuck in Non-Affirming Processes

• Neurodivergent mental health needs
• Assess and create play therapy goals
• Formulate a realistic therapy plan
• Reflective exercise

Fluid Approach to Play Therapy
Implementation and the Flexible, Adjustable Pivot

• What to do and not do with neurodivergent children
• Choose and implement a play therapy approach
• When to adjust, how to adjust, and staying fluid

Graduating out of Therapy
Considerations for Saying Goodbye

• Knowing how and when to terminate
• Create a termination process
• Limitations and potential risks

Target Audience

• Play Therapists
• Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counsellors
• Art Therapists
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Psychologists
• Social Workers
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• School Counselors