Into the Shadows: Creative Interventions with Children after the Death of a Loved One

 

Into the Shadows: Creative Interventions with Children and Adolescents after the Death of a Loved One

Saturday, March 30, 2019
1:00 - 4:00pm

3.0 CEs for NYS LCAT, LCSW, LMSW, LMHC 
Location:  The Drama League of New York, 32 Avenue of the Americas, NYC
Taught by: Rebecca Versaci, MA, LCAT, RDT, CCLS
$95

This workshop will explore the use of therapeutic intervention for children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a loved one. The workshop with include a didactic component in which the presenter will review the aims of treatment for grieving children and adolescents as well as developmental considerations for children of different ages. The training will include hands-on and experiential learning to familiarize participants with some specific play-based therapeutic interventions that can be used with bereaved children and adolescents.

Participants will then engage in role-play scenarios in which they practice in “therapist-client” dyads. Discussion will provide an opportunity to reflect on personal experiences with loss and grief that have the potential to emerge as countertransference during clinical work. Participants will learn a theoretical framework and practical skills and techniques that can be directly applied to their clinical practice.

Description of teaching methods to be used

  • Lecture and discussion to introduce developmental considerations and creative arts therapy theory.
  • Facilitator modeling of several interventions that may be used with bereaved children and adolescents.
  • Role-play dyads of ‘therapist-client’ to practice activities and demonstrate the application of theory.
  • Group discussion of role-play experiences and impressions of activities to reinforce facilitation skills.

Learning Objectives for the Course.  Participants will be able to:

  • Articulate some of their own thoughts and feelings about death and dying that impact their work with clients.
  • Define the aims of treatment for grieving children and adolescents.
  • Describe developmental considerations for bereaved children of different ages.
  • Identify several therapeutic directives that may be facilitated with bereaved children and adolescents to meet therapeutic goals.

Instructor: Rebecca Versaci, MA, LCAT, RDT, CCLS
Ms. Versaci is a graduate of New York University’s Master’s Program in Drama Therapy. She is a practicing drama therapist and child life specialist working at NYU Langone Health. She has extensive experience providing clinical intervention for children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a sibling, parent, or grandparent. Rebecca has presented on the use of drama therapy techniques with children experiencing medically-related stress at the North American Drama Therapy Association and Child Life of Greater New York annual conferences.

Price: $95.00
Saturday, March 30 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM