May is Mental Health Awareness month and we know from all the news headlines that children and adolescents are struggling with their mental health.

If you’re in the child and adolescent mental health field then you’ve likely heard of play therapy, but why is it so effective?

How is it possible that play therapy has become the go-to treatment approach for children to address their mental health challenges?

What is it that sets play therapy apart from other treatment modalities?

How has play therapy evolved to what it has become today?

Well, to explore this further I thought I’d go to one of the big influencers for play therapy here in the United States to get their insights about the growth of play therapy and why it’s so powerful.

The Association for Play Therapy APT) has been a significant part of the growth of play therapy here in the United States, and even internationally.

Since APT was formed in 1982, its role in shaping and influencing the quality of play therapy has been enormous.

I’m excited to have as my guest this week Kim Vander Dussen, Psy. D., RPT-S, and current APT Chair!!! 🎉

Join me for this free weekly livestream on Wednesday, May 08, 2024, at 7:00 am Pacific time (Los Angeles)/ 10:00 am Eastern time (New York)/3:00 pm UK -London time.

We’ll explore trends in play therapy and how the play therapy field has grown to what it is today.

We’ll also explore the role of APT for this phenomenal growth of play therapy to help children and their families heal.