Oaklander Training Parts IV, V, VI: Learning Objectives & Agenda

Part IV: Learning Objectives

Group Therapy

Participants will:

  1. Describe and be able to identify the advantages to children who participate in play therapy with groups.

  2. Be able to set appropriate goals for play therapy with groups.

  3. Describe and identify play therapy activities that work well in group therapy.

  4. Explain the dynamics of the group process using play therapy with groups.

  5. Learn the recommended size of play therapy groups per age level.

Technology and Teens

Participants will:

  1. Identify and list the three reasons screen time impacts teen’s brain development and how play therapy can be used to address this issue.

  2. Explain the problems with multitasking and how teens can learn this about themselves using play therapy techniques.

  3. Identify the risks of social media and children and teens using play therapy.

  4. Design and  apply strategies for their own clients to regulate the use of technology and social media, using creative problem solutions based upon play therapy.

  5. List and identify the different types of screen time and their associated impact. Included in the discussion is how screen time/play therapy apps can be powerful tools in the process.

Adolescent Developmental Factors, Including Addiction and Bullying

Participants will:

  1. Describe why the common assumptions regarding adolescents are myths and how play therapy can address their developmental needs in an engaging way.

  2. Identify the reasons why adolescents are more likely to engage in at-risk behaviors, and how to engage them using play therapy. 

  3. Analyze the likely demographic of adolescent’s most likely to be bullied and play therapy approaches to manage this problem.

  4. Identify signs of adolescents who are being bullied, using play therapy techniques.

  5. Describe some executive functioning issues and challenges in adolescence, and how play therapy techniques can address them.

Happiness

Participants will:

  1. Explain the two reasons why children come for gestalt play therapy according to the principles of the Oaklander Model and why focusing upon Happiness is a worthwhile goal.

  2. Demonstrate how to promote Happiness and well-being using play therapy techniques

  3. Explore how adults might block children’s expressions of happiness.

  4. Using play therapy techniques, demonstrate how to assist children to identify, name and express their feelings of happiness.

  5. Describe how to use play therapy to enable children to both contain and appropriately express their happy feelings.


Adolescence

Participants will:

  1. Identify and analyze the polarities typical of adolescence and how to use play therapy techniques to address these.

  2. Explain the main dilemmas for parents of adolescents and how to include them in the therapeutic process using play.

  3. Describe how to help parents redefine their roles with adolescents to correspond to their developmental needs using gestalt play therapy using the Oaklander Model.

  4. Identify the primary tasks of adolescence and how to facilitate healthy ways to accomplish them using play therapy techniques.

  5. Utilize several play therapy techniques that are applicable and appropriate for adolescents using the Oaklander Model

Part V: Learning Objectives

Participants will learn how the Oaklander Model applies to:

  1. Learning and Emotions - demonstrate how addressing both using play therapy with the Oaklander model improves children's academic and emotional functioning

  2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - list and identify how to use play therapy using the Oaklander model to enhance the 4 contact functions, including the intellect to strengthens children and adolescent's sense of self a key goal in the Oaklander Model

  3. Executive Functioning (EF) - participants will identify and explain key executive functioning concepts and how they affect children's cognitive and emotional functioning. Play therapy techniques will be taught to address executive functioning skills.

  4. ADHD - participants will demonstrate how to engage children and adolescents with ADHD using the Oaklander Model and play therapy techniques. A general introduction of ADHD subtypes will be provided, and techniques to address them will be discussed and experienced by the group.


Part VI: Learning Objectives

Participants will learn how the Oaklander Model applies to:

  1. Diagnose Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents.

  2. Apply the principles of Play Therapy using the Oaklander Model to Treat Depression and Anxiety.

  3. Analyze and discuss the issues pertaining to Suicide in Children and Teens.

  4. Apply the principles of play therapy using the Oaklander Model to treat suicidal children and teens.

Part IV: Daily Agendas

Day 1: Adolescence: Primary Tasks, Parents and Interventions; Addiction and Bullying; Tech
Saturday, January 7, 2023: 8:00am - 12:30pm

8:00 - 8:15 - Welcome
8:15 - 9:00 – Adolescence presentation
9:00 - 9:50 – Drawing experience
9:50 - 10:05 – Break
10:05 - 10:30 – Addiction and Bullying
10:30 - 11:15 – Drawing
11:15 - 11:35 – Tech and Adolescents
11:35 - 11:50 – Break
11:50 - 12:20 – Activity of reflection
12:20 - 12:30 – Q & A


Day 2: Group Process and Happiness
Sunday, January 8, 2023: 8:00am - 12:30pm

8:00 - 8:15 – Check in
8:15 - 9:00 – Group Process Presentation
9:00 - 9:50 – Group Process Activity
9:50 - 10:10 – Movement break and break
10:10 - 10:30 – Happiness
10:35 - 11:30 – Happiness sandtrays
11:30 - 11:45 – Break
11:45 - 12:20 – Activity
12:10 - 12:30 – Questions and closure

Part V: Daily Agendas

Day 1: Learning & Emotions, ADHD
Saturday, February 25, 2023: 8:00am - 12:30pm

8:00 - 8:45 Check in
8:45 - 9:30 Q & A
9:30 - 9:45 Theory
9:45 - 10:00 ADHD Experience
10:00 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 10:45 Drawing Experience
10:45 - 11:05 Discussion
11:05 - 11:20 Break
11:20 - 12:15 Working With Clay
12:15 - 12:30 Closure

Day 2: Executive Functioning
Sunday, February 26, 2023: 8:00am - 12:30pm

8:00 - 8:45 Check in
8:45 - 9:00 Executive Functioning Activity
9:00 - 10:00 Assess and Set Goals
10:00 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 11:30 Sand Tray
11:30 - 11:45 Break
11:45 - 12:15 Puppets
12:15 - 12:30 Closure

Part VI: Daily Agendas

Day 1: Depression and Anxiety
Saturday, March 25, 2023: 8:00am - 12:30pm

8:00am - 8:30am — Intro activity and questions
8:30am - 9:30am — Drawing Activity
9:30am - 9:45am — Break
9:45am - 10:45am — Anger work with clay
10:45am - 11:00am — Break
11:00am - 12:15pm — Sandtray
12:15pm - 12:30pm — Closing

Day 2: Suicide
Sunday, March 26, 2023: 8:00am - 12:30pm

8:00am - 8:30am — Check-in and questions
8:30am - 9:30am — Case Study
9:30am - 9:45am — Break
9:45am - 11:00am — Working with Introjects
11:00am - 11:15am —Break
11:15am - 12:00pm — Experience
12:00pm - 12:30pm — Closing