Virtual Webinar In-Person On-Demand

When Interpersonal Trauma Closes the Door to Play Therapy, Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy Opens a Window: Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy for Developmental Trauma through the Lens of Interpersonal Neurobiology of Trauma”: Room C

Presented by Nancy Parish-Plass, MA, Licensed Social Worker, Credentialed Animal-Assisted Psychotherapist
1.0 CE Hours Clinical
When Interpersonal Trauma Closes the Door to Play Therapy, Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy Opens a Window: Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy for Developmental Trauma through the Lens of Interpersonal Neurobiology of Trauma”: Room C

Information

Date & Time

  • -

Location

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Identify 3 goals of play therapy for children suffering from developmental trauma due to maltreatment.

  • Define the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms behind play therapy.

  • Explain the psychological and neurobiological sources of barriers to play therapy caused by interpersonal trauma.

  • Describe numerous psychological and neurobiological influences of the presence of and interactions with animals on the client suffering from developmental trauma.

  • Analyze how psychological and neurobiological influences may lower or circumvent barriers to the therapy process caused by interpersonal trauma.

  • Describe 4 unique mechanisms of animal-assisted psychotherapy that are likely to help the client work through their trauma experience, leading to insight and capability for healthier relationships.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is to understand the mechanisms behind the field of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy that help children suffering from developmental trauma process their experiences of maltreatment and develop the capability for healthier relationships. 

Description

Chronic maltreatment by a caretaker in early childhood, known as developmental trauma, results in serious deleterious effects on childrens’ present and future physical and psychological health, self-regulation, and ability to function in interpersonal relationships. However, the symptoms of developmental trauma form barriers to some of the very principles of play therapy meant to treat sufferers of developmental trauma. This presentation will describe barriers to play therapy created by interpersonal trauma, and then discuss both psychological and neurobiological effects of the integration of animals into the play therapy process that are likely to bring down or circumvent these barriers.

 

 

Target Audience

  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • Veterinarian

Presenters

Nancy Parish-Plass, MA, Licensed Social Worker, Credentialed Animal-Assisted Psychotherapist

Nancy Parish-Plass worked as an animal-assisted psychotherapist and social worker for 19 years at the AHAVA Emergency Shelter for children taken out of the home by emergency court order due to extreme maltreatment, helping children with the aid of her animals. With experience from living on Kibbutz Usha (a communal rural settlement) in Israel, having completed studies in animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP), advanced psychotherapy, and social work (M.A.); Nancy is an AAP clinician and clinical supervisor, researcher and author of articles and chapters in the area of AAP. She is editor of the book Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: Theory, Issues and Practice. She is currently a lecturer and clinical group supervisor in the AAP certificate program at Tel Hai College in Israel. She is also the founding and current chairperson of the IAAAP – Israeli Association of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy.

Financially Sponsored By

  • International Association of Veterinary Social Work