Helpful Information
For Parents
We’re Glad You’re Here
Play Therapy
for Families
Welcome to our page for parents! We hope to provide useful information here for parents about the value of play in child development and family life as well as some descriptions and tips about play therapy. If you have questions or comments, don’t hesitate to e-mail us!
Articles
How Parents Can Help Children Through Traumatic Events – Expanded
Too often our world is shaken by traumatic events such as natural disasters (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods), war, school and community violence, acts of terrorism, accidents, housefires/wildfires, life-threatening illness (and pandemics), separations, loss of a family member or pet, kidnappings, and so on. Such events can leave all of us feeling helpless, and children may be particularly sensitive to events that make them feel unsafe. This article discusses ways that parents can help their children through traumatic events and help them feel safe in the face of frightening or anxiety-provoking circumstances.
What is Play Therapy?
[Parts of this section are adapted from VanFleet, 1998, A Parent's Guide to Filial Therapy. Printed in VandeCreek, Knapp, & Jackson (Eds.), Innovations in Clinical Practice: A Source Book...
Strengthening parent-child relationships through play: Filial Therapy
[Parts of this section are adapted from VanFleet, 1998, A Parent's Guide to Filial Therapy. Printed in VandeCreek, Knapp, & Jackson (Eds.), Innovations in Clinical Practice: A Source Book...
What makes strong families?
In 1985, Nick Stinnett and John DeFrain published the results of an extensive research project designed to learn more about the characteristics that were associated with strong families (Secrets of...
How parents can help children through traumatic events
Too often our world is shaken by traumatic events such as natural disasters (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods), war, school and community violence, acts of terrorism,...
Finding a play therapist
I sometimes receive emails from parents looking for a play therapist for their children. This segment discusses ways to find a play therapist. Credentials, finding a play therapist in your...
Help for Fearful Dogs
If your dog is fearful, anxious, or has fear-based aggressive behaviors, there is hope and help! Risë's article below entitled Zoom-Zoom-Zoom: Lessons Learned from a Semi-Feral Dog highlights the...
Kirrie’s Doggie Dictionary
One of the challenges of play therapy work with canines is to ensure that children use the cues, both verbal and nonverbal, with which the dog has been trained. Kathy Sdao, an associate Certified...
Finding the Right Dog Trainer
Whether you plan to involve your dog in therapy work or not, you care about your companion canine. You want your dog to be happy and healthy and to enjoy being with you as much as you enjoy being with him or her. There are many myths and controversies swirling around the subject of dog training these days, and it can be confusing.