Curating Culturally Safe Spaces in the Playroom – Live Webinar – October 23, 2020

Curating Culturally Safe Spaces in the Playroom Webinar

Presenters: Melanie Davis, LCMHC and NBCC and Clair Mellenthin, LCSW and RPT-S

Date: October 23, 2020 from 9:00AM to 12:00 Noon

Location: Live webinar via Zoom. Registrants will receive a meeting ID and password separately after paid registration.  CEU’s are available after attending the webinar and completing a short quiz.

Description:

In today’s world, understanding the importance of curating culturally safe spaces in the playroom is more important than ever. Play therapists need to understand how children and families of color are impacted by our therapeutic settings, the therapeutic relationship, and the world around us. Black American children in particular face conscious and unconscious bias in clincial settings and are often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and tend to be over/under-treated by mental health clinicians. Play therapists can play an important role in creating safety within the therapeutic relationship, incorporating the therapeutic powers of play in treatment, demonstrating acceptance and unconditional positive regard, and helping to bring awareness to the various systems the child client interacts with. Being cognizant of what and how microaggressions take place in play therapy practice is critical, as is knowing how to create and cultivate cultural safety through the selection of toys, materials, decorations, and more. Join Melanie Davis, LCMHC and Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPTS for a morning of learning, reflection, art, and play.

Learning Objectives:

1. Conceptualize appropriate care and play therapy interventions for Black American children

2. Analyze the meaning and presence of microaggressions within the play therapy process

3. Implement culturally sensitive environments within your practice space and playroom

4. Evaluate awareness surrounding cultural stereotypes and cultural representation in play therapy

5. Create art-based representations to process and explore identity, self-worth, and cultural identity

Agenda

9:00-10:00 am Lecture/Discussion on microaggressions, unconscious bias, and working with Black American families in play therapy

10:00 – 11:00 am Lecture/Discussion on creating culturally safe therapeutic settings including representation, diversity, and avoiding stereotypes

11:00 – 11:45 am Engage in play therapy interventions to explore identity, self-worth, and unconscious bias. Process art intervention in small groups

11:45 – 12:00 Q&A

Melanie Davis, LCMHC, NBCC, owner of Empath Healing and Wellness Mental Health Practice and Founding member of The Black Clinicians practitioner group, is a highly regarded speaker, educator, child advocate and psychotherapist.

In addition to being an experienced child and family therapist and presenter, she frequently appears on local media as an expert on children and family issues, cultural topics and transracial adoption related topics.

As a practitioner of holistic psychotherapy, Melanie’s treatment approach places an emphasis on the mind-body relationship and is both experiential and pragmatic. Melanie specializes in the treatment of Mood disorders, Anxiety and Trauma, as well as culture-based identity experiences. She works with individuals and couples to help them develop deeper connections to themselves and stronger more fulfilling relationships with others, resulting in increased vitality, liveliness and joy. Melanie finds honor in the opportunity to partner with her clients on their journey towards restoration and growth.

Following the completion of her undergraduate degree in Sociology from University of Utah, Melanie worked within varying clinical settings before going on to complete her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling at University of Phoenix. She has also completed advanced training in Nutritional Psychology through John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA.  In addition to her clinical work, Melanie is also an accomplished artist, loves to spend time with her family and finds joy in serving her community in various capacities.

Melanie’s creative therapeutic interventions have been featured in Attachment Centered Play Therapy, Play Therapy: Proven Strategies for Childhood Disorder. 

Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S is an  international speaker, award winning author, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.  She  holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Throughout her career, she has specialized in providing play therapy to children, teens, and their families. She is currently the Director of Child & Adolescents at Wasatch Family Therapy. Ms. Mellenthin frequently presents professional play therapy and family therapy professional trainings on Attachment Centered Play Therapy, Family, and Trauma issues both nationally and internationally.  

 Ms. Mellenthin is a sought-after supervisor, training graduate students and interns in play therapy, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern California MSW program.  She is the Past-President of the Utah Association For Play Therapy and remains an active member on the Board of Directors.  She is the author of Attachment Centered Play Therapy;  Play Therapy: Engaging & Powerful Techniques for the Treatment of Childhood Disorders;  My Many Colors of Me Workbook, and has authored several chapters and articles.  In addition to being an experienced play therapist and professor, Ms. Mellenthin frequently presents professional play therapy and family therapy trainings and appears on local and national TV and radio as an expert on children and family issues.

Due to COVID-19 health concerns, this one-time online event has been approved by APT for 3 CONTACT CE Hours

APT approved provider #98-036

Cancellation Policy: UAPT does not offer refunds for live or recorded webinars.