What You'll Learn
Introduce participants to basic skills in reflecting both content and feelings to begin effectively communicating understanding and validating children's experiences.
Present the concept of facilitating children's self-understanding through acknowledging efforts rather than outcomes, and explore the difference between encouragement and praise.
Provide an overview of the ACT (Acknowledge, Communicate, Target) model for therapeutic limit setting, demonstrating how to respect children's feelings while establishing necessary boundaries.
Explore the importance of focusing on the child rather than the problem, helping participants understand how relationship-building creates a foundation for positive behavior change and emotional growth.
Meet Our Expert Presenter
Lisa Parsons, M.Ed., LPCC-S, NCC, RPT-S, CHT, CECP, CBCP
Clinical Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, Trainer, Owner, and Mother of 5
Lisa Parsons is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S) and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) with over 35 years of combined volunteer and professional experience working with children and families. She is a dedicated trainer in play therapy who specializes in attachment, trauma, and healing relationships. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Lisa was honored with the 2022 Mental Health Counselor award by the Kentucky Counseling Association. Lisa's holistic approach integrates traditional therapeutic methods with energy work, creating powerful healing experiences for clients of all ages. She artfully incorporates expressive arts and sandtray techniques following the Oaklander Model and Jungian insights, allowing clients to access deeper levels of healing through creative expression. Her work with parent-child relationships is particularly transformative, helping families rebuild connections and develop secure attachment patterns. For over a decade, Lisa has been the visionary owner of Parsons Counseling & Play Therapy Center, building it into a respected therapeutic haven with locations in both Berea and Richmond, KY. Under her leadership, the center has earned the distinction of "Best Family Counselor" every year since 2016, reflecting her commitment to excellence and the profound impact her approach has on the families she serves. Her practice embodies her belief that healing happens most effectively in environments that honor the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. As a mother of five, Lisa uniquely understands the challenges families face. Her therapeutic approach focuses on strengthening attachment, establishing healthy boundaries, and healing through both the emotional and cognitive aspects of the brain. Her passion for family systems work and dedication to continuing education makes her an invaluable resource for parents and professionals seeking to transform their approach to children.
About the Training
This introductory 90-minute training explores the fundamentals of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) principles applied to parenting. Designed for both parents and professionals working with families, this session introduces participants to a relationship-focused approach that emphasizes understanding the child rather than simply addressing problematic behaviors. Participants will learn the foundational skills of reflecting content and feelings, acknowledging children's efforts, and setting therapeutic limits using the ACT model (Acknowledge, Communicate, Target). Drawing from Dr. Garry Landreth's work, this training highlights how play serves as children's natural language and demonstrates practical techniques for communicating effectively at the child's level. The session covers the importance of building self-esteem through encouragement rather than praise, returning responsibility to children in age-appropriate ways, and creating a relationship where children feel understood and capable. Through examples, practice scenarios, and discussion, participants will begin to develop the language and mindset needed to implement child-centered principles in their interactions with children. This training provides a first step toward understanding how focusing on the relationship, rather than the problem, creates lasting positive change in children's behavior and emotional well-being.
Transform Your Relationships with Children Today!
Unlock the secrets of effective communication and connection with children. Sign up now to enhance your interactions and build stronger bonds with the young ones in your life.
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