Embracing the Body: A Gestalt Play Therapy Approach to Body Image Culture

Course overview

Trainer: Toni Davis, LPC-S, RPT-S As clients navigate the world, their bodies experience judgment from the surrounding cultural standards. Using a Gestalt Play Therapy approach to these experiences, clients can learn through play the needs of their bodies to move towards change. The perceived standards of acceptable bodies in culture, including differences in size, abilities, skin tones, and gender, create an impact on clients mental health beginning at a young age. The aim of this workshop is to create an awareness of these cultural differences within the playroom, analyzing how these differences mold the clients experience of the world and their needs for self. As the workshop will utilize a Gestalt Play Therapy to approach these topics with clients, participants will engage in experiential ways to support clients to understand and nurture their bodies to move towards change for the clients. Objectives: 1. Identify the concepts of diversity found in cultural views of the body 2. Explain the principles of Gestalt Play Therapy as it interacts with body differences 3. Demonstrate Gestalt Play Therapy interventions and techniques to utilize with clients experiencing struggles with differences in their bodies NON-CONTACT 3 APT CE