8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Limits are an integral part of all healthy relationships and life. Children must internalize appropriate limits and develop self-control in order for them to thrive as individuals and as members of society. The therapeutic relationship serves as a unique relational template where children discover parts of themselves and from where they will transfer insights and skills to other areas of their lives. Therapeutic limits provide the necessary boundaries in which life skills, such as self-control, can develop. Although limit-setting is essential in play therapy, it is not easy to accomplish. In fact, one of the most challenging skills for a play therapist is the ability to effectively set limits with a range of children and behavior – from the child who becomes hostile toward the therapist to the child who starts crying the moment his/her behavior is limited. Furthermore, personality characteristics, attitudes and nonverbal behaviors of therapists contribute greatly to the success or failure of the therapeutic process. This is especially true for limit-setting in play therapy. The therapist needs to monitor his/her own internal processes and know how to swiftly respond to various forms of resistance and emotions in the child, while maintaining the relationship and facilitating the child’s growth. This workshop explores basic reasons for setting limits in play therapy, describes behaviors that need to be limited and a presents an effective therapeutic limit-setting model that helps children develop self-control. A portion of the workshop will be devoted to exploring therapists’ inner experiences that can influence
the process.

8:30 am - 5:30 pm

In this workshop we will discuss the dynamics of expressive and relational affects and how we can use play therapy to help children understand their experiences so that they can become more self-accepting and proud. Participants will learn specific play therapy methods for helping their young clients work through their shame to a fuller sense of well-being and more satisfying relationships with others.

Felicia Carroll has been in private practice for over twenty years and currently also serves as the Clinical Supervisor at Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County. She has presented at conferences and workshops nationally and internationally. Her publications include work on shame and anger. She is the Founder-Director of the West Coast Institute for Gestalt Play Therapy.