1 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, Dr Joy hard and Bradford, 5 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or 6 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: to find a therapist in your area, visit our website 7 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Black Girls dot com. While I hope 8 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: you love listening to and learning from the podcast, it 9 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: is not meant to be a substitute for relationship with 10 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much 11 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: for joining me for session one four of the Therapy 12 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: for Black Girls Podcast. Did you know that there's a 13 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 1: form of therapy called play therapy where things like toys 14 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: and games are incorporated into the work and it's not 15 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: just for kids. Today we have a guest therapist with 16 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: us who share all about how she uses play therapy 17 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,919 Speaker 1: with her clients. Air hockey can get very aggressive. Before 18 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 1: we dive into that conversation, he has a quick word 19 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: from our sponsor for today's episode, introducing the all new 20 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: and totally reimagined Ford Explorer. It's built for modern exploration, 21 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: whether venturing across country or simply across town, over various 22 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: terrains or through rough weather. It's all good. The Ford 23 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: Explorer is specifically designed for comfort, confidence, and a whole 24 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: lot of style. Ready to explore more. The Explore the 25 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: greatest exploration vehicle of all time, built Ford Proud Today, 26 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: We're Joe, owned by Althea Simpson. Althea is the founder 27 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: of Brighter Day Therapeutic Solutions and Unicorn Life Training. She 28 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: is a licensed clinical social worker and a registered play 29 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: therapist supervisor. Althea's experience in the fields of business and 30 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: mental health spans more than twenty years. Althea and I 31 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: chatted about how play therapy works, why it's not just 32 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: playing with toys and session, how it can be used 33 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: with people of all ages, and the qualifications one should 34 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: have to conduct play therapy. If you hear something that 35 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: resonates with you while listening, please share it with us 36 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: on social media using the hashtag tv G in session. 37 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: Here's our conversation. Thank you so much for joining us today, Althea, Well, 38 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: thank you for having me. Dr Joy. Yeah, I'm excited 39 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: to chat with you all about play therapy, so I 40 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: know that this may be something that lots of people 41 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: in our audience don't know very much about I honestly 42 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: don't know that much about play therapy myself, So can 43 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: you kind of give us an introduction to what play 44 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 1: therapy is well. Play therapy is a creative based and 45 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: treatment modality in the psychotherapy realm, and it pretty much 46 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: goes off of the psychodynamic theories, but you can incorporate 47 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: different theories into using play therapy. But it's just creative 48 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: based strategies to help clients individuals, families, couples, adults to 49 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: solve their own problems. So you use creative based techniques. 50 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: So oftentimes it's difficult for people to talk about what's 51 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: going on with them, their emotions, feelings and stuff. So 52 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: play therapy kind of access is that creative part of 53 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: the brain, so the right part of the brain to 54 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: help it talk to the cognitive part of the brain. 55 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: And so you just use It's outlined in the expressive therapies. 56 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: So you have play therapy, are therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, 57 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: all of those are expressive therapies to help you know, 58 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: condicitions to help their clients solve their own problems. So 59 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: you mentioned something that I find very interesting. You did 60 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: not stop at saying that it was just for children, right, 61 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: So I think most times people would probably think, oh, 62 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: if somebody's gonna do play therapy, would likely be for kids. 63 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: But you mentioned adults individuals, so it is not something 64 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: that's just for children. No, play therapy is not just 65 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: for children. Initially when play therapy was created, and then 66 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: you still have some play therapists who believe that play 67 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: therapy is just for children twelve and under, but research 68 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: is growing to show that play therapy is effective with 69 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: all ages throughout the lifespan. My youngest client is three 70 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: years old, and typically I go into the senior years 71 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: or the more mature as they would like to be 72 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: called the mature years. So I work with clients of 73 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: all ages throughout the lifespan using play therapy. Got it, Okay, 74 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: So you've already mentioned people working through trauma might benefit 75 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: from working with play therapy. Can you talk a little 76 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: bit about some other kinds of concerns where play therapy 77 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: might be helpful. Yes, play therapy is helpful for um, 78 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: you know, it's helpful for depression. I use it for depression, 79 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: I use it for anxiety, just general stress and like 80 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: I said, you just incorporate different creative based techniques. I 81 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: use saying, trade, I use art, I use legos, and 82 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: I give the clients prompts something like what can you 83 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: create a scene and the saying of the emotion that 84 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: you've experienced the most this week, and I leave it 85 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: up to them if it's happy or you know, positive 86 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: or negative emotion. And then also even the same thing 87 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: if I do legos, create a model using the legos 88 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: that represents your biggest worry. You just incorporate different creative 89 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: based things in to get individual family, whatever client classification 90 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: they are, you use different creatives based techniques to get 91 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: them to talking and accessing what is causing them stress. 92 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: My using with a d h D play therapists. Also 93 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: there is even ought to play a U T P 94 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: l A Y for children on the spectrum. So play 95 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: therapy is is good for whatever your clients are coming 96 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: in to talk to you about or to get help for, 97 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: as long as they're open to it. So can you 98 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: talk to me about, like an example, maybe with you know, 99 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: like a twentysomething year old who might be depressed, how 100 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: might you use play therapy with them to help them 101 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: address the depression. I would ask them if they're open 102 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: to it, because I always get their permission to bring 103 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: in creative based techniques. A lot of people are not 104 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: familiar with play therapy, and again they think that it's 105 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: just for children, so I would first secure their permission 106 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: to use play therapy with them. But I would typically 107 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: do an art based activity, and one of my favorites 108 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: is called the D D T House. You give them 109 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: different prompts to create a house. You start with the 110 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: foundation of the house, and you're asking them to write 111 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: down the values that govern their life or the morals 112 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: that they live by. As you go up and through 113 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: the activity, you ask them to write down emotions that 114 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: they want to feel less of or in a more 115 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: positive way, behaviors that they want to change. And it's 116 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: all while creating a house. And they can use different colors. 117 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: I have markers, crayons, color consues, whatever they want to 118 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: use to I think color magnifies what the issues are. 119 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: That's why I give them the option to use different colors. 120 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: And then even with the the billboard, uh in the activity, 121 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: you ask them too. You don't want to just look 122 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: at all of the negative things, so you ask them 123 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: to write things that they are proud of and want 124 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: others to see who supports you. So it's just the 125 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: directive play therapy activity that's arn't based using a house 126 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: and doors and trees and billboards. So I would imagine, 127 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: and you know, I love that you said that you 128 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: would ask permission for this, because of course, you know, 129 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: we want to make sure that we have buy in, right, um, 130 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: we're asking clients to do anything. But I would imagine 131 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: that this could really be helpful for somebody who is 132 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: maybe very anxious about therapy, right and so not quite 133 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: sure how to answer the questions, or just feeling a 134 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: lot of maybe performance anxiety about like interacting with the therapists. 135 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: And so then they're directing maybe some of that anxiety 136 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: on that activity that gives you another way into the conversation. Absolutely, 137 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: and with play therapy you have directive and non directive 138 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 1: play therapy. So what I just described is directive play 139 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: therapy you're give mean the client prompts or asking the 140 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: questions for them to respond to. And non directive play 141 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: therapy is when you ask them, you know, when you 142 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: just put it out there. Like if I was using 143 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: sand Trade, I could do directive or non directive sand trade. 144 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 1: I could just give them all of the miniatures sand 145 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: trade miniatures and a sand trade and just see what 146 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 1: happens and they just start putting things in. And it's 147 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: also good for introspective work. When you use sand trade 148 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: and legos, you start building things and then you process 149 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 1: that with the client and if it's anything that you 150 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: want to know no more about, then you just ask them, 151 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: could you tell me a little bit more about Let's say, 152 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: if they had a spider in the sand trade, could 153 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: you tell me a little bit more about the spider. 154 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: So you can do non directive and directive based play therapy. 155 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: And I mean, it's just great to get get clients 156 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: to reduce anxiety most of the time when I'm asking 157 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: them questions and stuff afterwards, and I mentioned something, you know, 158 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: like how did you know about that? Well, you said 159 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: it when you were processing whatever the activity that we 160 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: did in the session. Got it. I love that. So 161 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: you mentioned a couple of times Althia sand trade therapy. 162 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 1: Can you talk more about what that is? So sand 163 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: trade therapy, like I said, it is an expressive therapy 164 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: that can be incorporated into play therapy practice. And you 165 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: use a sand trade and saying there's a list of miniatures. 166 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: When you select these sand trade miniatures, you should be 167 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: selecting them with a purpose. It's not just random toys 168 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 1: and stuff that you just see and you pick up. 169 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: There's a list you should have people with disabilities, non disabilities, 170 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: you should have different like medical stuff, and it's just 171 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: a whole list of miniatures that you should have in 172 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: your sand trade collection to help clients address what they're 173 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: coming in to address. But the biggest thing about sand 174 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: trade is that we as the therapist or clinician, we 175 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: do not name what is in the trade. So if 176 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: someone put a chair in the sand trade and say 177 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: it's apple pie, it's apple pie, we do not name it. 178 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: We also don't yes what the sand trade is or 179 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 1: what even if you're doing art based therapy using creative arts, 180 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: you don't name what the client did. You allow the 181 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: client to tell you what it is because it could 182 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: be something different. Just like I said, if it's a 183 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: chair and someone is using a chair, but they're saying 184 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: it's apple pie, it's apple pie, got it, Okay? So 185 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: really a lot of this is like looking at what 186 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: kind of story the client is making and them um 187 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: kind of telling you what's important and what's relevant in 188 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: their lives based on maybe the things they're choosing to 189 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: play with, maybe the things they're choosing not to play with, 190 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: Like you are kind of opening conversation based on the 191 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: observations you're making while they're playing. Yes, and you just 192 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: mentioned big part of play therapy is observing. As the 193 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: play therapist, you are observing the client. You are observing 194 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 1: what they're doing as they work through solving their own 195 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: problems and addressing the experiences or feelings that's difficult for 196 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: them to express. We observe and then we interpret what 197 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: they're doing. And uh and a person who's untrained in 198 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: play therapy would not know that. M hmm. So talk 199 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: to me a little bit about the training, Like what 200 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: does training look like for somebody who wants to incorporate 201 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: more play therapy maybe into their practice. Okay, I'm glad, 202 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: Jax because I love play therapy. So to become a 203 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: registered play therapist, they are recredent you that you can get. 204 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: You could be a registered play therapist, a registered play 205 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: therapist supervisor, which I am a registered play therapist supervisor, 206 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: and a school based registered play therapist. The school based 207 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: registered play therapist is new in the recent years and 208 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: you only can get the school based registered play therapist 209 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: predent you if you work in a school, but the 210 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: process is still the same. You need a hundred and 211 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: fifty training hours. Of those hundred and fifty training hours, 212 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: only fifty of them can be what we call non 213 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 1: compact hours, and that's taken a training online where you 214 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: review a power point and then you answer the questions 215 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: and submit the questions and then get your certificate. Or 216 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: you read an article which can be accessed online through 217 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: the Association for Play Therapy or any play Therapy approved provider, 218 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: and so you read the article, you answer the questions. 219 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: Those are considered non contact hours and you can get 220 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: up to fifty of those. The other one hundred must 221 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: be in person, so that and in person means that 222 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:16,560 Speaker 1: you are able to interact with the trainer. So you 223 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: need a hundred and fifty training hours. You need thirty 224 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: five clinical supervision hours under a registered play therapist supervisor. 225 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: If you're getting your hours under a registered play therapists, 226 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: you need fifty clinical supervision hours. That is changing in 227 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: January because now there are enough registered play therapist supervisors 228 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: where they're changing the criteria where you have to get 229 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: your clinical supervision from a registered play therapist supervisor. That's 230 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: and so then you have to work two thousand hours. 231 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: It's just like getting a clinical license. And so that 232 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: deters a lot of people from getting credentials because they're like, uh, 233 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: that's just like getting another license, and it's like, Okay, 234 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: that's in my opinion, that's a good thing because you 235 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: want to be competent, and I think it's great that 236 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: you're required to, you know, hone in on your skills 237 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: to use these different treatment modalities. Yeah, yeah, completely, And 238 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: I think you know, and I'm, like I said, not 239 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: super familiar with play therapy as much either, But it 240 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: seems like when you are doing these things that require 241 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: maybe more projection, right, so you are using more interpretation 242 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: than it is important for you to kind of see 243 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: a variety of different cases to be able to talk 244 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: with your supervisor about these things so that you when 245 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: you're making these interpretations, you can be fairly certain that 246 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: you're making accurate interpretations. Absolutely, absolutely, because a lot of 247 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: it is you are really observing what the client is 248 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: doing and then interpreting what they're doing and what naming, 249 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: what they're doing, and they guide the sessions. And when 250 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: I work with clients, whether it's played therapy or non 251 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: played therapy, I always start the session with what are 252 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: we focusing on today? So I always leave it up 253 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: to to it being a client centered, the client guiding 254 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: their session, and if they say I don't know, then 255 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: I'm like, okay, well what about working on this that 256 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: you mentioned in a previous session? And I have training 257 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: directives for saying, trade directives for using like I said, 258 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: legos art. I even do messages in music, which is 259 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: another expressive therapy that you can incorporate in play therapy practice, 260 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: where I pick zones and the client pick songs and 261 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: we listen to the song, and then I asked them 262 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: questions about what they hear, How does it relate to 263 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: your life? Is any part of this related to your life? 264 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: Or you know, what do you think messages in this song? 265 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: How do you think the person singing the song was feeling? 266 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: How did it make you feel? Those type of things. 267 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: So it is very introspective and you are interpreting a 268 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: lot of what the client is thinking and feeling. Yeah, 269 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: so I feel like that could go one of two ways, right, 270 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,239 Speaker 1: And especially I'm thinking about, you know, working with like 271 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: black kids, right, so, I think that there is something 272 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: that you have to understand about black children to be 273 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: able to make accurate interpretations maybe around play or you know, 274 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 1: the kinds of things that they're doing. And so I 275 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: wonder if that's a part of the conversation right for now, 276 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 1: Black therapists being able to make accurate interpretations when they 277 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: are not necessarily familiar with the culture. Absolutely, And that's 278 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:50,680 Speaker 1: the whole reason why I created the Black Play Therapy Symposium, 279 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: to be able to have more culturally responsive treatment for 280 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: the Black community and other communities of color, because the 281 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: needs are different, the mindset is different. And what I 282 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 1: see often is when I go to trainings and workshops, 283 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 1: I am either the only person of color in the 284 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: training or one of three to fifty people fifty two 285 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: a hundred therapists that's in the training. And so I 286 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: was looking at that, and I've been doing this since 287 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: two thousand and ten. I always used creative based therapies 288 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 1: from the moment I started as a social worker out 289 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: of grad school getting my hours. But I was formally 290 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: introduced to play therapy in twenty ten and I was like, oh, 291 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: this is something that's for real, for real. I'm always 292 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 1: was there, but this is something that's for real. And 293 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: so from two until even now, there are not a 294 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 1: lot of black condissions that I see that show up 295 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: at these trainings to be formally trained in play therapy, 296 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: but a lot of people are using play therapy and 297 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,880 Speaker 1: saying that therapy play therapists without those credentious you are 298 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: not a play therapist. And there's a difference between plan 299 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: in therapy and using play therapy. And that difference is 300 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: it's like you can just uh, you can use games. 301 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: I use Trouble, I use Sorry, all of those types 302 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: of games that are games that we grew up on. 303 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: One these I know, I grew up on playing in 304 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: childhood and stuff, and I incorporate that in therapy. But 305 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,679 Speaker 1: you have to know why you're using that game and 306 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 1: not just using that game to pass time, to say 307 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: you're seeing clients. M M yeah, I mean, because when 308 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: you mentioned the thing about like using music in therapy, 309 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: like I've heard other therapists talk about that too. Um, 310 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: But I think again, like you mentioned, it really is 311 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:56,400 Speaker 1: important to be intentional about why you're using these things. Absolutely, 312 00:19:56,520 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: you have to be intentional about why using these games. 313 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: Even with a game Dominoes, I use Dominoes one for 314 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: decision making. You have to make a decision on where 315 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: to put that domino. And then I process with them 316 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: and incorporate things from their lives where they have to 317 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: make decisions about things, or if they get frustrated when 318 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: you use in trouble and sorry and they're they're just 319 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 1: so many ways to use those things. But if you 320 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: don't get the formal training, you really don't know why 321 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: you're using these games or these creative based treatment modalities. 322 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: And it just sounds glamorous to say I'm a play therapist, 323 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: but there's a lot of work that comes into being 324 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: a play therapist, absolutely, and I would imagine you likely 325 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: have some difficult conversations with parents also about like, well, 326 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: what are y'all doing in there for an hour? Like 327 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: y'alla playing Monopoly? Like is that what I'm bringing my 328 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,719 Speaker 1: child here for? So what kinds of concerns do you 329 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: sometimes hear from parents and how do you explain to them, 330 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: like what kind of work is being done in the treatment? Okay, 331 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,479 Speaker 1: So when I first started doing play therapy, I used 332 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 1: to be like, oh my god, I am just uh 333 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: in here playing with these kids, getting paid to play 334 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:18,959 Speaker 1: with kids, right, And uh, that was before when I 335 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 1: really realized that this is a treatment modality. Although they 336 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:27,479 Speaker 1: were making progress and we were working on things. I 337 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 1: think that my mind is just creative and I look 338 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: at why I'm working with a client and what their 339 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: needs are, especially when you're working with children and adolescence, 340 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: to make it not be so boring. Right. But then 341 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: have the parents when they go out. And I used 342 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: to say to my clients, you to you trying to 343 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: get me in trouble telling your parents you just played 344 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 1: the game. But I would have that conversation with the 345 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: parents and say that, you know, I would explain what 346 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: play therapy is. But I do that upfront when I 347 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: get that first call, and I talked to the parents 348 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: or even the client if they're an adult, I let 349 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: them know that I am a register play therapist and 350 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: I use a lot of creative based strategies in sessions 351 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: if you're open to it. But specifically for parents, I 352 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: have that conversation when I have that phone call, so 353 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: I explained to them what played therapy is, why I 354 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: use it, and I even incorporate the parents into play 355 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: therapy sessions because I do not work with anyone under 356 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: the age of eighteen without parental involvement, and they know 357 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: that up front from that first phone call with me. 358 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: So I just explained it. So I don't really have 359 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: too many issues with them coming out and saying, oh, 360 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: I just played the game and so. But if a 361 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: child says that when we are wrapping up, because I 362 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: give their parents an opportunity to do a wrap up 363 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: with me and um, and they say, oh, I just 364 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: played a game, and then so, well, what is the focus? 365 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: Can you tell your parents the focus of that game? 366 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: What were we focusing on? Why we were playing the game? 367 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,400 Speaker 1: And then apt The Association for Play Therapy has pamphlets 368 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: that details out what play therapy is and how effective 369 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: it is and why to use it and the benefits, 370 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 1: and I also give that to parents. Got it Okay? 371 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: So you also mentioned that I want to go back 372 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: to this, that play therapy might be an effective intervention 373 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: for couples. Have you done any couple's work with play 374 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: therapy and can you tell us, not of course specifics 375 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: about any particular couple, but how might you use this 376 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:40,479 Speaker 1: with a couple. So, play therapy with couples, I again, 377 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: I will use UH, I will use sand tray and 378 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 1: give them a prompt to create a scene of when 379 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: you first met. Create a scene of a problem that 380 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 1: you have, and they're using miniatures and stuff, and then 381 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: we talk about whatever it is that they created in 382 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: the saying, so use the legos to create a model 383 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: of a nightmare problem that you all have as a couple. 384 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: And I've even done date nights in my office for 385 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: couples where they had game night. And there are different 386 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: cards that you can use. The ones that I use, UH, 387 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: most is called the game. I don't like the using 388 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:24,160 Speaker 1: the board game. I used the cards, and now they 389 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: have different cards that come with it, and they have 390 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: cards specific for adults, for families, and for couples. And 391 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: so if I was using play therapy and during a 392 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: date night in my office with a couple that say, 393 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: I use Trouble. Trouble is a game that everyone has 394 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: and they could just pick that up at the store, 395 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:46,959 Speaker 1: and so I would tell them pick a number and 396 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: every time that number is plucked, you have to answer 397 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: a card. It's very specific that the partner cannot interrupt 398 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 1: what their other partners saying. Even if they don't agree, 399 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 1: they have to wait until they finished before they can respond. 400 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: So there are many ways to incorporate play therapy with couples. Yeah. 401 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: I love that, especially because then you're kind of teaching. Um, 402 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: it sounds like a part of what that activity would 403 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: be is listening for the purpose of listening and not 404 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: listening to respond, which of course we know is what 405 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,160 Speaker 1: happens with a lot of couples, right, Like you're listening 406 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: so that you can say what you want to say 407 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: to your partner as opposed to what the partner actually said. Um. 408 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: So it seems like you could do a lot of 409 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: really cool stuff with games and play therapy with couples then, 410 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: and then even when we are not using the games, 411 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 1: but we're using the cards. I have the chalkboards. Like 412 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 1: when the best time to get a whole bunch of 413 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: creative stuff to incorporate and play therapy is doing the 414 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: sales time after US um, after a holiday season. So 415 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 1: for Valentine's Day one year, I was able to get 416 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: these chalkboards that's like that's in hearts, like these black 417 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: and red glittery chalkboards and stuff and so, and it 418 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: has a string around it and so I got two 419 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: of those for the couples and stuff in the chalk 420 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 1: and you just um, you know, give them like you 421 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: ask them questions and have them respond and stuff. And 422 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: now even have a wand uh where there are couples 423 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 1: who get overly excited and like oh no, no, no, 424 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: that's not how it happened. They have to put up 425 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: the wand and that signals that you're not supposed to 426 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: be talking until I'm done, until I hand off, until 427 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 1: I hand off the wand to you. And uh those 428 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 1: are even shaped in like hearts and butterflies and those 429 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: types of things. Yeah, so I mean so that could 430 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: be the kind of thing that a couple could also 431 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: replicate at home, right, Like they learned from you, and 432 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: then they learned to incorporate that in their conversations at home. Absolutely, 433 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: and I encouraged them to do uh date nights at 434 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 1: um date nights at home. And for a couples who 435 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 1: really have trouble communicating with each other and it's difficult 436 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 1: uh for them to even uh interact uh and then 437 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: but they have a busy schedule to what I telling. 438 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: You have a jar at home and UH have piece 439 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: of paper and you write different types of notes, uh, 440 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: you know, affectionate notes, uh, things that you want to 441 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,159 Speaker 1: talk about at the end of the week or the 442 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 1: beginning of the week and stuff, and you just drop 443 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: those in the jar and then you spend some time, 444 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 1: you pick a day that that's your your time, and 445 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: then you just go through those things in the uh 446 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: that's in the jar. And some people are like, well, uh, 447 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: why would I want to be in a relationship where 448 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: I have to use paper and uh pull from a jar. Um, Well, 449 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 1: it's to get you to start conversing more with each other, um, 450 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: you know, and stuff you're not you're saying that communication 451 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: is a problem. Uh. So it's sounds like that there's 452 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: some meat uh for you all to uh be able 453 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 1: to uh converse with each other and especially positively. So 454 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: that's an activity that I have them do, um do 455 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 1: at home, especially for those who are who are busy. 456 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: Got it? Okay? So you mentioned earlier also healthier that 457 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: you might even use play therapy for kids younger than five, 458 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 1: especially if there's some trauma. Can you talk more specifically 459 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: about like how play therapy is used with kids who 460 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: have experienced trauma, well, depending on the depending on the age, UM, 461 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: I don't use saying trade with kids under the age 462 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: of five. I really don't like using saying trade with kids. 463 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 1: Uh that's uh five years old unless they are a 464 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: little more advanced, because there is a processing and a communication. 465 00:28:55,600 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: But for most kids play therapy, they really uh they 466 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: really learn how to resolve in their conflict on their 467 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: own with me just sitting there watching them play uh 468 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: their plan out, Uh what's going on in their world, 469 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 1: and you see that uh come to life in the 470 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: sand or even in a I have an aggressive playroom, 471 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: uh so uh, just even letting them play out that 472 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: aggression that they need to get out. But for children, 473 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 1: there are many things that you use a lot of 474 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: coloring pages. Um that's something very basic, something very simple. Uh. 475 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: You can get coloring books from the dollar store or 476 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: the dollar bin and stuff. And what I do is 477 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,760 Speaker 1: I have them color those and then we talk about 478 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: the emotions that's on the uh that's on the character's face. 479 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: What is this What do you think that this character 480 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: uh is feeling or what emotion um are they showing 481 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 1: and stuff? And we talk about that. Can you tell 482 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: me a time when you felt sad or angry or hurt? 483 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: Those types of things. So when they're under uh, when 484 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: they're under the age of five, you're very um, there's 485 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: not a lot that you can uh. Well, for me 486 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: because I'm very creative and I like uh, I like 487 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: doing a lot of activities and stuff. But for them, 488 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 1: it's very basic. But it's effective coloring. Um, I do 489 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 1: bubble art, I do painting. Uh. They can use paint 490 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: and paint the splatter your emotions using the color and 491 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 1: they asks them, well, um, can you tell me about 492 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: that color and how did it make you feel and stuff. 493 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: But for younger kids, it's really just allowing them to 494 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: play out. And that's why it's so important for you 495 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: to have the right tools and not just any picking 496 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 1: any types of toys to just have in your playroom. 497 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 1: So tell me more about this aggressive playroom. What kinds 498 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:05,680 Speaker 1: of things are in the aggressive playroom? So in my 499 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 1: aggressive playroom, I have a air hockey. Air hockey can 500 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: get very aggressive. I have I have an air hockey 501 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: machine in my aggressive playroom. Uh. They get very upset 502 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: when those little red uh disc go in and stuff, 503 00:31:25,560 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 1: and then they start just playing so aggressively to try 504 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 1: to get a point. I have different um, different characters, 505 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: the superheroes and stuff. And I have all things uh 506 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 1: army battlefields, UH, missus launchers. I have swords that I 507 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:49,479 Speaker 1: have different types of swords, some that light up and 508 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 1: make noise, some that that that don't they can uh. 509 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 1: I have costumes like the swat um swat. I have 510 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: a squat costume. I have a fireman's costume and uh 511 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: military costumes and stuff there they can dress up and 512 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 1: they just act out their aggression and I sit there 513 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: and I observe, and if it's any if I see 514 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: a theme that keeps coming up, then uh, in the 515 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 1: next session, I will ask them, can we do um 516 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: some type of activity that we um that's based off 517 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: of what I heard or saw or that recurring thing, 518 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: because sometimes you have recurring things when you're using and 519 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: play therapy, especially in sand trade, or if they keep 520 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: going to the same game or they keep wanting to 521 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: do the same type of activity, you wanna explore those themes. 522 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:50,520 Speaker 1: So then that's when I shift more into directive, and 523 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: I will say, okay, can we start off with an 524 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: activity uh that I want to do and then you 525 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 1: can do uh your lay. So that's to switch into 526 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 1: non directive because when kids are used to doing the 527 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,840 Speaker 1: non directive and you try to throw in a directive, 528 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: they're like, oh, I don't want to do this, but 529 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,440 Speaker 1: I asked them can we do? So I do my 530 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: non directive. That way, I am getting more information about 531 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: what I saw or what I wanted to know more 532 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 1: about by doing directive and then for fifteen minutes and 533 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: then letting the next thirty minutes to forty forty five 534 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: minutes be non directive. And I find that the kids 535 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: are usually open to that because they know that after 536 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 1: I do this to what miss out there wants, then 537 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: I will get to do my non directive play. Yeah, 538 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,400 Speaker 1: And of course the kid maybe thinks about it as 539 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 1: like a free play time, but you're still using all 540 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: of that as information. Yes, And then we talk. And 541 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: one of the things about play therapy is that you 542 00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 1: don't go into the child's play less they invite you in. 543 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: M they have to invite you in. And that's why 544 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 1: it's so important for you to be able to observe 545 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:14,359 Speaker 1: and interpret what's going on, because you cannot enter their 546 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:17,879 Speaker 1: play unless they invite you in. Okay, So like if 547 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,360 Speaker 1: you're playing air hockey, like they might invite you to 548 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 1: take the other pedal or whatever, Yes, got it okay, 549 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:28,440 Speaker 1: or they're doing aggressive play or sand tray um, and 550 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 1: then you don't talk to them because it can interrupt 551 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 1: the flow of what they're what they're trying to work through. 552 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: So what does progress in play therapy look like? Healthy? Like, 553 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 1: how can how can you tell that progress is being 554 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: made throughout the course of play therapy. I can tell 555 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 1: progress is being made throughout the course of plate therapy. UM. 556 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:53,279 Speaker 1: Let's say that a child was or even adult was 557 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:57,360 Speaker 1: highly anxious. And then so what I do is I 558 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: I check in. I do therapy check ins with them 559 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:05,399 Speaker 1: every couple of weeks to see where they were three 560 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 1: weeks ago. So if I do it in three weeks, 561 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 1: where were you three weeks ago? And how are those 562 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,720 Speaker 1: symptoms now? Uh, you can see a decrease in the symptoms. 563 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 1: If they were having nightmares, there's a decrease in nightmares, 564 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 1: especially for kids who UM was exposed to trauma UM 565 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 1: or even winning his domestic violence, and they're working that 566 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 1: stuff out there, getting it out of their system and 567 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: getting it out of their heads and stuff, and so 568 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:34,720 Speaker 1: they're able to sleep better. There, you start noticing less 569 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,880 Speaker 1: behavioral problems in school. UM I had UM. I do 570 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 1: UM contingency plans with UH with kids and even some 571 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,839 Speaker 1: adults because they like cheesecake and stuff. So so like 572 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: you meet these goals, then we'll have UH have a 573 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:58,320 Speaker 1: celebration and stuff. And so I would incorporate that into 574 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:02,760 Speaker 1: their UM into their treatment as well. And I always 575 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: secure the permission of the parents to UH bring in 576 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:11,760 Speaker 1: like the treats and stuff whatever where their favorite treats. 577 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 1: So if a kid is having a lot of behavioral 578 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 1: problems in school, I'll say, well, let's start off with 579 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 1: seeing if you can go two out of the five 580 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:23,680 Speaker 1: days without getting on blue. Because you want to make 581 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: sure that they feel capable, So you don't want your 582 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: goals and stuff for them to be overwhelming where they 583 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:33,719 Speaker 1: don't feel that they can reach them. And so but 584 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: when you start seeing a decrease in the symptoms and stuff, 585 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 1: then UH you know that the play play therapy or 586 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 1: the therapeutic interventions that you're using is UM is working 587 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:50,200 Speaker 1: for them. So once you start with someone using play therapy, 588 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:53,360 Speaker 1: is it kind of play therapy across the board or 589 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 1: you maybe switching back and forth between play therapy and 590 00:36:56,960 --> 00:37:03,439 Speaker 1: other modalities it depends. It depends on the client. I've 591 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 1: had UH clients, especially adults who UM. I started out 592 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:12,480 Speaker 1: with UH talk therapy. And here's the thing about play therapy. 593 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 1: You can incorporate UH cognitive behavioral therapy into play therapy. UM. So, 594 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: but I would start off with talk therapy or cognitive 595 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 1: behavioral therapy and UH. And then if they're not moving 596 00:37:27,960 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: and they're they're still they're not moving and they're complaining 597 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:34,600 Speaker 1: about still being in the same place, then I would 598 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:38,840 Speaker 1: ask them to UM if we can incorporate play therapy. 599 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:43,600 Speaker 1: And so when we incorporate that play therapy and stuff 600 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 1: and they start moving and moving in a different direction 601 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:52,560 Speaker 1: and they're not stuck. But for play therapy, you can UH. 602 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,040 Speaker 1: And then I have something that I started play therapy 603 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:57,399 Speaker 1: with and then they're like, you know what, I don't 604 00:37:57,400 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 1: want to do this, And we just sit there and 605 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:03,719 Speaker 1: we UM and we talk. But in a way, we're 606 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,319 Speaker 1: still kind of doing play therapy because I still use 607 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 1: my um my cards to promote conversation and UH around 608 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: different things. Because they're still blocked, they still have difficulty 609 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: talking about what's going on with them, and these cards 610 00:38:21,920 --> 00:38:26,719 Speaker 1: they provoke conversation. Got it, okay, And are there any 611 00:38:26,719 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 1: concerns althea UM that would not be appropriate for play therapy? Well, 612 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 1: let me, I haven't run into any uh, any situations 613 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:43,480 Speaker 1: where or any diagnoses that would not be appropriate for 614 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:47,239 Speaker 1: play therapy, but I wouldn't be able to tell you 615 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:55,760 Speaker 1: about using I would imagine psychosis called but I don't 616 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:59,920 Speaker 1: train in the areas of psychosis. I don't take client 617 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:05,400 Speaker 1: that that's diagnosed with psychosis. So play therapy has been Uh. 618 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:10,000 Speaker 1: I've been able to use play therapy with depression, anxiety, trauma, 619 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:16,120 Speaker 1: even uh, even some bipolar uh, some bipolar disorder, uh, 620 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:21,800 Speaker 1: clients that had bipolar disorder. I've used play therapy with Okay, 621 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:23,920 Speaker 1: So as far as you know, UM, at least in 622 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 1: your experience, there have not been any contraindications. Yes, and 623 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:32,600 Speaker 1: and I think it just depends on the Uh. It 624 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:37,160 Speaker 1: depends on the clinician too, and uh if you want so. 625 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 1: I am very creative and I like seeing what I 626 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:45,919 Speaker 1: can do with play therapy and uh so if I 627 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:50,640 Speaker 1: try something and it's like, Okay, this worked, but this 628 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 1: part didn't work, so I'll either try to revamp what 629 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:57,160 Speaker 1: didn't work or toss it out, but keep what worked 630 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:01,200 Speaker 1: and so, and being a clinicial and in private practice 631 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 1: and owning my own private practice, I have the ability 632 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,759 Speaker 1: to be as creative as I would like to be, 633 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: as long as I'm staying within ethical boundaries. But I 634 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:15,040 Speaker 1: even started a fire in my office, a fire pit 635 00:40:15,239 --> 00:40:21,160 Speaker 1: to do uh s'mores uh to so that and the 636 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: activity and that that was just something that I read 637 00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:26,399 Speaker 1: in a book and I was like, Okay, I want 638 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:30,319 Speaker 1: this person to have smores because it had a significant 639 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:33,600 Speaker 1: meaning to them. But they couldn't uh. And but they 640 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,000 Speaker 1: couldn't do us. I mean, they wasn't in a place 641 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:39,040 Speaker 1: where they can have them like um in the way 642 00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:42,840 Speaker 1: that they liked. Oh. I did a fire pit in 643 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:45,759 Speaker 1: my office and created smores. And I was like, but 644 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:50,040 Speaker 1: how do I make this therapeutic? And I was like, okay, 645 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:55,719 Speaker 1: I can make the graham crackers the body, the marshmallows 646 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,839 Speaker 1: the mind. And the chocolate can be the feelings you know, 647 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 1: uh you have. Sweet chocolate could be the positive feelings 648 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:05,680 Speaker 1: and dark chocolate could be the negative because that's a 649 00:41:05,719 --> 00:41:08,920 Speaker 1: little bit bitter and uh and just going there. So 650 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:13,680 Speaker 1: I think it all depends on them, on the clinician 651 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:18,799 Speaker 1: that's using play therapy and what they want to accomplish 652 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:22,359 Speaker 1: with it, but that still requires training to have that 653 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:28,239 Speaker 1: foundational knowledge about play therapy, right right? Got you? So 654 00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: what are some resources ALTHEA. Are there any kind of 655 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:35,920 Speaker 1: like non clinician focused resources that you would suggest for 656 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:39,040 Speaker 1: maybe parents who are interested in hearing more or if 657 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:41,520 Speaker 1: people are listening and thinking, oh, play therapy maybe a 658 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:43,640 Speaker 1: good fit for me. Are there any resources that you 659 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,840 Speaker 1: would point people to? Yes, I would point them to 660 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:52,640 Speaker 1: a four pt dot org and that's a the number 661 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:57,239 Speaker 1: four peers and Paul Tiers in training UH dot org. 662 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:01,520 Speaker 1: That's the Association for Play Therapy website and they have 663 00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:07,680 Speaker 1: a whole section for UH for parents okay, and then 664 00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:11,880 Speaker 1: they also have a section about education and training and 665 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:15,719 Speaker 1: what it what it takes, and they also have articles 666 00:42:15,719 --> 00:42:18,839 Speaker 1: and everything. So the best resource UH to learn more 667 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:23,280 Speaker 1: about play therapy, I would direct them directly to the 668 00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:26,839 Speaker 1: Association for Play Therapy website. They have a lot of 669 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:31,040 Speaker 1: information there. Perfect And where can we find you online? 670 00:42:31,120 --> 00:42:33,480 Speaker 1: Can you share your website as well as any social 671 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:38,080 Speaker 1: media handles you'd like to share? My website is UH 672 00:42:38,520 --> 00:42:45,239 Speaker 1: brighter UH www dot Brighter, hyphen Day dot net and 673 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: I am on UH Instagram and my Instagram handle is 674 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:56,720 Speaker 1: out there Simpson biz bi Z and out there something 675 00:42:56,840 --> 00:43:01,080 Speaker 1: on Facebook. And I also have a Unicorn likes Play 676 00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:04,440 Speaker 1: Therapy page where I post a lot of information and 677 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:09,520 Speaker 1: resources for parents and clinicians. Perfect and you mentioned um 678 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:12,920 Speaker 1: you also have the conference, yes, the Black Play Therapy 679 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,000 Speaker 1: Some Posum we had. I had the inaugural Black Play 680 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 1: Therapy Some Posum UH April twelfth through the fourteenth, UH 681 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:24,000 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, and it was focused on healing the black 682 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:28,960 Speaker 1: child and family. And so the second annual Play Therapy Conference, 683 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:33,120 Speaker 1: Black Play Therapy Some Posum, is April seventeen through the 684 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:38,320 Speaker 1: nineteenth at the Hightt Regency at Tyson's Corner in Fairfax, Virginia, 685 00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:42,160 Speaker 1: and the theme is healing communities of color. Perfect And 686 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:43,920 Speaker 1: of course we will include all of that in the 687 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:46,880 Speaker 1: show notes. Well, thank you so much for joining us today, Althea, 688 00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:49,719 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. Well, thank you for having me, 689 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:54,680 Speaker 1: Dr Joy. I'm so glad Althea was able to share 690 00:43:54,719 --> 00:43:58,160 Speaker 1: her expertise with us today. To find out more information 691 00:43:58,160 --> 00:44:01,200 Speaker 1: about her and her practice, check out the show notes 692 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:04,239 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Black Girls dot Com slash Session one 693 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:08,160 Speaker 1: don't forget to share this episode with two people in 694 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:11,200 Speaker 1: your circle and share your takeaways with us either on 695 00:44:11,239 --> 00:44:14,320 Speaker 1: Twitter or in your I G stories using the hashtag 696 00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:18,640 Speaker 1: tv G in session. A reminder for all of my 697 00:44:18,719 --> 00:44:22,520 Speaker 1: Atlanta listeners, I'll be in conversation with Dr Key Hallman, 698 00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:25,360 Speaker 1: the incredible founder of the Village Market a t L 699 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:29,560 Speaker 1: on this coming Sunday, September twenty two at five thirty 700 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:33,880 Speaker 1: pm at the Gathering Spot. We'll be chatting about prioritizing 701 00:44:33,880 --> 00:44:36,759 Speaker 1: our mental health as black women business owners and how 702 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,520 Speaker 1: taking care of ourselves helps us to thrive in life 703 00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:41,799 Speaker 1: and in business. So I'd love for you to come 704 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:44,160 Speaker 1: out and join us for there's conversation. There are a 705 00:44:44,160 --> 00:44:46,920 Speaker 1: few tickets left and you can grab one at Therapy 706 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:49,840 Speaker 1: for Black Girls dot com slash Dr Key And of 707 00:44:49,880 --> 00:44:52,360 Speaker 1: course this information will be included in the show notes. 708 00:44:53,320 --> 00:44:56,200 Speaker 1: Remember that if you're searching for a therapist in your area, 709 00:44:56,680 --> 00:44:59,720 Speaker 1: be sure to check out our therapist directory at Therapy 710 00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:03,440 Speaker 1: for at Girls dot com slash directory. And if you 711 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:06,200 Speaker 1: want to continue digging into this topic and meet some 712 00:45:06,239 --> 00:45:09,120 Speaker 1: other sisters in your area, come on over and join 713 00:45:09,239 --> 00:45:11,640 Speaker 1: us in the Yellow Couch Collective where we take a 714 00:45:11,680 --> 00:45:14,520 Speaker 1: deeper dive into the topics from the podcast and just 715 00:45:14,640 --> 00:45:17,680 Speaker 1: about everything else. You can join us at Therapy for 716 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:21,160 Speaker 1: Black Girls dot com slash y c C and don't 717 00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:24,200 Speaker 1: forget to visit our online store where you can grab 718 00:45:24,200 --> 00:45:28,000 Speaker 1: a copy of our guided affirmation track, breakup Journal, or 719 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:31,680 Speaker 1: your favorite Therapy for Black Girls T shirt, mug or sweatshirt. 720 00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:35,080 Speaker 1: Grab your goodies at Therapy for Black Girls dot com 721 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 1: slash shop. Thank you all so much for joining me 722 00:45:38,520 --> 00:45:41,279 Speaker 1: again this week. I look forward to continue in this 723 00:45:41,400 --> 00:46:00,319 Speaker 1: conversation with you all real soon. Take it care, what 724 00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:01,279 Speaker 1: what what