Engaging Young Children in Therapy through Play

Description of training

In Massachusetts, we are fortunate to have robust Medicaid-supported behavioral health services for children from birth. Early Childhood Mental Health (inclusive of Infant Mental Health and Early Relational Health) has developed into a specialized field of study and scope of practice in the state as well. And yet, non-specialists need to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families in the general children’s behavioral health service delivery system. In this workshop, first we will look at a definition of Early Childhood Mental Health and consider its 3 components from the lens of non-specialized behavioral health service providers. Then we will consider the critical step of engaging adults and adolescents in play to treat young children in the context of culture and community. Finally, we will explore using the framework of Regulation-Informed Interactive Play in outpatient and community/home-based therapeutic interventions. Throughout we will pause for self-reflection and skills practice essential to this work. Attendees will leave with increased confidence and capacity to engage young children in therapy through play

Objectives that answer, “After completing this training, participants will be able to:”

• • Apply a 3-part definition of Early Childhood Mental Health to their area of clinical practice
  • Identify 2 ways culture and context impact family engagement with therapeutic play-based practices
  • Describe the Regulation-Informed Interactive Play framework and how it supports young children’s engagement in therapy services