Addressing Developmental Trauma in Play Therapy

Introduction

Play therapy can include working with children with perplexing symptoms that do not fit into diagnostic boxes including psychotic features. Diagnoses with these children may vary between ODD, DMDD, IED, and bipolar disorder by different play therapy providers and mental health professionals. This training addresses identifying and assessing developmental trauma in play therapy that may be unconscious to a child. Play therapy skills of building rapport with “difficult” clients and evidence-based stabilization skills for fight, flight, and freeze responses will be taught along with the role of the therapist as the client reintegrates back into the present.

Nik has been a private practice counselor at the Center for Counseling and Family Relationships since 2017. He works with children aged (4+), adolescents, and adults, specializing in complex trauma, dissociative disorders, and play therapy. Previously Nik worked at an agency in Missouri providing play therapy to children in the foster care system. He offers continuing education to professionals especially within the topics of working with developmental trauma, dissociative disorders, and play therapy.