EIU Master of Science in Counseling

Stay tuned for informaiton on our

2025 Play Therapy Conference

4th Annual Play Therapy Conference

Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM (Doors open at 8:00 AM)

Eastern Illinois University

University Ballroom, MLK Union

We are thrilled to welcome internationally renowned lecturer, writer and clinician, Dr. Eliana Gil to Eastern Illinois University's 4^th Annual Play Therapy Conference!  Dr. Gil is an expert in the areas of child and family play therapies and assessment, as well as the treatment of childhood sexual abuse and sexual behavior problems.

USING PLAY THERAPY TO HELP TRAUMATIZED

CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Registration: $75 for professionals; $40 for students  

SORRY, REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Conference Description: 

This workshop will first explore the impact of traumatic experiences on children’s development and then discuss useful strategies for building a trusting therapy relationship and beginning to address trauma-related concerns. In addition, we will discuss the importance of engaging families so that we can support their strengths and address vulnerabilities they may have. This approach is designed to identify and reinforce personal strengths, resources, and successful relational patterns. Given that no one single approach works for every traumatized child, we will explore the broad range of play therapy treatment models that might be appropriate to integrate in order to promote target goals. This workshop will highlight the use of play therapy and expressive therapies such as art, play, and sand.

Objectives:  Participants will be able to:

1.  Identify three developmental issues impacted by traumatic events;
2.  List two assessment strategies;
3.  Describe two aspects of using play therapy and art work which might be useful;
4.  Name the three phases of treatment;
5.  List three treatment goals according to the NCTSN.

PLEASE NOTE:  Participants will be required to complete an evaluation upon conclusion of the workshop to receive 6 CEUS thru NBCC. This conference provides an additional 6 APT CEs approved provider 07-200.

About the Presenter:  

Dr. Gil is Founding Partner of Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery & Education, LLC, a group private practice in Fairfax, Va, where she currently works as a Senior Clinical and Research Consultant. She is an Approved MFT Supervisor as well as a Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor and a Registered Art Therapist. She is also a Circle of Security Certified Parent Educator, a Level II Theraplay provider, and is also certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics.  Dr. Gil is Senior Consultant of Starbright Training Institute for Child and Family Play Therapy in Fairfax, VA. In the last two decades, Dr. Gil has directed two child sexual abuse treatment programs in Northern Virginia and continues her work in the field of child abuse prevention, education, and advocacy. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who received her doctorate in family therapy from the California Graduate School of Family Psychology in San Rafael, California. She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abused of Children and the National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse. She is also a former President of the Association for Play Therapy and received APT’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

Dr. Gil is the author of numerous chapters, journal articles, books and educational videos on child abuse and related topics. Her most recent books include Post-Traumatic Play: What Clinicians Should Know and the second edition of Play in Family Therapy.

Dr. Gil also co-authored a book with Dr. David Crenshaw on Termination Challenges in Psychotherapy.  Her classic book Outgrowing the Pain, has been translated into many languages.  Dr. Gil is bilingual and bicultural with Ecuadorian parents.  Since 2014, she has been semi-retired and continues to consult, supervise, mentor, and teach.  She also sponsors the Mid-Atlantic Play Therapy Institute in Northern Virginia on an annual basis.

Target Audience:

Graduate level mental health students & licensed mental health practitioners. This seminar is a beginning level course. This workshop is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. 

It is the responsibility of each professional to check with their state or national licensing board to obtain continuing education credit for this seminar. Most state and national licensing boards will approve continuing education courses which cover clinical topics, practice management skills, legal and ethical responsibilities and stress management. It is your responsibility as the license/certificate holder to be aware of and abide by the continuing education rules and guidelines set forth by your licensing board.