Intensive Filial Therapy Training - Alaska

2009 workshop August 31-September 3, 2009  Anchorage, AK Register Early – These workshops have limited seating and fill up quickly! Directions and lodging information will be sent with confirmations by email.   **If you have 6 people in your area interested in this workshop, it can be offered locally.  Please contact Dr. VanFleet by phone for details.  (717-249-4707).**

About the Workshop
Filial Therapy is a highly effective intervention integrating family therapy and play therapy to address child and family problems. Therapists learn how to train and supervise parents as they conduct special child-centered play sessions with their own children (ages 3-12+), an approach designed to resolve presenting problems while strengthening family relationships.

Filial Therapy has been used successfully with many child and family problems: oppositional behaviors, anxiety, depression, abuse/neglect, single parenting, traumatic events, attachment/adoption/foster care, relationship problems, divorce, family substance abuse, family reunification, chronic illness, and others. A research history spanning more than 45 years has consistently shown Filial Therapy to be cost-effective in facilitating positive and long-lasting child and family change. The use of this relatively short-term, evidence-based approach has increased dramatically worldwide in recent years due to its effective, empowering approach to strengthening families.

Filial Therapy has been used in many different settings. Furthermore, it has been embraced by many cultural and ethnic groups throughout the world because of its respectful involvement of parents as partners in the process of family change.

Learning Objectives Participants in this training will be able to… describe at least 2 advantages of Filial Therapy over individual play therapy or other family therapy modalities. describe at least 5 populations with which Filial Therapy is effective and why. describe 2 circumstances under which FT would not be the initial treatment of choice. explain what is meant by the “theoretically integrative” nature of FT. briefly summarize the empirical history of FT. perform the basic 4 skills taught to parents. train parents in the play session skills using mock play sessions. provide constructive feedback to parents that facilitates parent skill development. help parents understand their children’s play and play themes in context. discuss parent reactions to their children’s play during the play sessions. know how to access information about different FT formats. explain the importance of the generalization phase of FT.

Prerequisite Training
Participants must have prior training and supervised experience in nondirective play therapy and a live introductory workshop or distance learning course in Filial Therapy (FT). The distance learning course includes the book Filial Therapy and the DVD workshop, Intro to FT. Both are available at low cost on our on-line store. Please attach a brief description of your background & how you meet the prerequisites with the registration form or via an email to Dr. VanFleet. If you have questions about your background, please contact Dr. VanFleet at Risevanfleet@aol.com.

Training Methods
The Intensive Filial Therapy Training Program is limited to 6 participants per training leader to permit extensive skill practice with individualized coaching & feedback. Dr. VanFleet & assisting instructors present brief lectures, live and videotaped demonstrations, case studies, and supervision/feedback to participants as they practice during role plays. All is done in a playful, positive learning atmosphere.

Participants
This training is for psychologists, social workers, counselors, psychiatrists, family therapists, school counselors, & other experienced professionals who work with children & families and meet the prerequisites.

Schedule
This training program has 27 actual training hours. Training dates are on the back. Unless otherwise specified, the daily schedule is as follows:

Day 1: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Day 2: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Day 3: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Day 4: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Participants need to plan to attend the entire workshop; early departures on the last day forfeit all CE credits!

Please dress informally--although intensive, the atmosphere is relaxed and fun! 

About the Instructor Risë VanFleet, Ph.D., RPT-S...is the Founder and President of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc., in Boiling Springs, PA, an organization specializing in the training and supervision of child, family, and play therapy professionals. She is a PA-licensed Psychologist and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor who brings 35 years of experience to her work. She has trained thousands worldwide, and her books & materials have been translated into several languages & used in over 65 countries. Dr. VanFleet specializes in strengthening family relationships through play, and has subspecialties in chronic medical illness, disaster mental health, child/family trauma and attachment interventions using play therapy, and canine-assisted play therapy. She is the author of Filial Therapy: Strengthening Parent-Child Relationships Through Play, A Parent’s Handbook of Filial Play Therapy, coeditor with Dr. Louise Guerney of the Casebook of Filial Therapy, and photographer/author of The Faces of Play. Her latest book, Play Therapy for Kids & Canines was honored by the Dog Writers Association of America. She is featured on 4 best-selling play therapy video workshops: Child-Centered Play Therapy; Overcoming Resistance: Engaging Parents in Play Therapy; Introduction to Filial Therapy, & the American Psychological Association’s DVD, Filial Play Therapy.

Dr. VanFleet has been honored with the Bernard G. and Louise F. Guerney Award for Outstanding Contributions to Practice and Training in Filial Therapy (AFREM) and the Play Therapy Professional Education & Training Award (APT). She is the founder of the International Collaborative on Play Therapy and a Past President/Board Chair of the Association for Play Therapy. She is also involved in the research and involvement of animals in play therapy, and uses one of her dogs as a play therapy dog. She is a popular featured speaker at national and international conferences. Participants in past Intensive Filial Therapy Training Programs have consistently commented that this is one of the best trainings they have ever attended.

Risë is also an accomplished pianist and an award-winning nature photographer specializing in Alaskan wildlife.

In some locations, Dr. VanFleet is assisted by experienced Filial Therapy professionals who have been specially trained and invited by Dr. VanFleet to help conduct this training. The participant to leader ratio is 6:1 to facilitate skills practice and individualized feedback. The overall workshop size is kept relatively small so that all participants have opportunities to interact with Dr. VanFleet, the assisting leaders, and other participants.

Continuing Education - optional 3-6 CE credit add-on at minimal additional cost!
The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The FEAPT Center maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. The Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center is approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (5732) to offer continuing education credits to counselors. The FEAPT Center follows all CE guidelines. It is also an Association for Play Therapy (APT) Approved Provider 95-014. This program has been approved by a number of state social work boards (please contact us for this info). 27 continuing education credits will be awarded to participants who attend the entire training. Partial credit cannot be given. No exceptions can be made to this policy. Please call with any questions about your CE needs.

Fees & Cancellation Policy
EARLY BIRD (before 6/15/09): $885
REGULAR FEE (after 6/15/09): $950

Registrations are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Fees include 27 hours of training, handout book, light refreshments. Lunches and dinners are on your own.

$150 of the registration fee is nonrefundable. Written cancellations received 12 weeks prior to the training will receive a full refund of the balance of the fees. Cancellations received within 12 weeks of the training are subject to an additional $200 processing fee, with the remainder being refunded.

We regret that no refunds can be given within the 4 weeks preceding the training. (When someone from the waiting list can substitute, credit toward future trainings may be given.) Due to the limited seating capacity of this workshop, no exceptions can be made to this policy.

Special Needs
We are committed to making workshops accessible to everyone. Please contact us if you have special needs.

To Register...
Please register using our online store.

or download the full brochure and submit the registration form that is on it.