About This Course

This is a LIVE, VIRTUAL training that will take place on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CST).

The live training is limited to 40 participants.  The training will be recorded and participants who are unable to participate in the live training will be able to register for the Home Study course and view the recording of the training, complete the corresponding quiz, and receive 3 Non-Contact Hours Credit.

This is an introductory training that focuses on the AutPlay Therapy process. AutPlay is an integrative family play therapy approach to working with autistic children and adolescents, neurodivergent children, children with developmental disabilities and their families. AutPlay Therapy emphasizes a neurodiversity affirming an informed approach and harnesses the therapeutic powers of play to help address mental health issues for autistic children and their families. This training presents an overview of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. How to build relationship and assess (utilizing several AutPlay inventories) for target goal areas is covered along with parent and child co-change agent processes. Goal areas of connection, emotional regulation, and social navigation are described with example play therapy interventions for each area. The three progressive phases are presented (intake and assessment, structured play interventions, and termination).

Parent/family/child involvement is explained with protocol for working with parents and children as partners in the process. The AutPlay Therapy Follow Me Approach is explained briefly for how to work with children with little to no engagement and attunement ability creating special play times to improve connection and relationship development. Additional components such as theoretical underpinnings, understanding dysregulation, improving regulation ability, research, and case examples are covered. 

 

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
  2. Describe the components of AutPlay Therapy including conducting an AutPlay Therapy session, theoretical underpinnings, phases of therapy, assessment and screening instruments, and goal planning.
  3. Identify several structured play therapy interventions to use for addressing target areas. 
  4. Identify play therapy interventions to address dysregulation issues.
  5. Describe the AutPlay Follow Me Approach, designed for children with limited engagement and attunement ability.
  6. Explain research and evidence-based practices in AutPlay Therapy.

Continuing Education

This training is approved for 3 CE Hours for the following continuing education bodies:

Association for Play Therapy

Revelation of Hope Counseling Services is an APT Approved Provider #21-653.

**Play Therapy Credit will NOT be awarded to non-mental health professionals. **

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

National Association of Social Workers
This program was approved by the National Association of Social Workers – Tennessee Chapter (Provider Number: NASWTN 2022-0012) for 3.0 continuing education units.

Professionals in attendance at this conference are encouraged to review Chapter 1365-1 to ensure the workshop they are attending is applicable and appropriate to their professional development.  The Tennessee Board of Social Work Certification and Licensure does not pre-approve continuing education programs.  It is the responsibility of the LMSW/LCSW, using their professional judgment, to justify that the continuing educational program meets the guidelines of Chapter 1365-1 and is relevant to their professional practice. 

National Board for Certified Counselors
Revelation of Hope Counseling Services has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7203.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Revelation of Hope Counseling Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Participants are responsible for ensuring this program meets the individual requirements of your licensure and/or certificate.

Instructor(s)

Owner/Founder of Behavior Services of the Mid-South

Susan Elswick, Ed.D., MSSW, LCSW, LSSW, RPT-S, IMH-E

Dr. Susan Elswick has over 16 years of clinical mental health experience that includes community mental health, case management, residential programming, ABA-based programming, school-based programming, parent coaching, integrated behavioral health, infant mental health, and home-based services. Her research interests include the use of evidence-based behavioral interventions for addressing client’s needs, supporting schools in developing effective school-based mental health programs that are trauma-responsive, the use of expressive art therapies/ experiential therapies in the field of social work practice, and the use of informatics and technology in the field of social work. Dr. Elswick is an LCSW in AR, MS, and TN, and she is a licensed school social worker in TN. She is a nationally certified CBITS, TFCBT, AutPlay, and EMDR clinician. She is endorsed in Infant Mental Health in the state of TN, is Certified as an Animal Assisted Interventionist, and she is also a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor (RPT-S). She is also a national trainer and supervisor for a number of evidence-based modalities and trauma-based interventions. Additionally, Dr. Elswick is a local/regional trainer for the following evidence-based interventions: CBITS, EMDR, and AutPlay (a play-based intervention for children with neurodiversity). This allows Dr. Elswick to bring these evidence-based interventions and training to the local community without the burden of traveling to other locations to access and obtain this training knowledge. Dr. Elswick is working to utilize the processes of curriculum infusion within the graduate level programs at the University of Memphis to ensure current students are trained and certified in evidence-based interventions prior to graduation.

Course curriculum