HSCP Office funded course run by Social Care Ireland - Integrating Play Therapy and Occupational Therapy: Where does one begin

Social Care Ireland is delighted to be collaborating with Carol Duffy and Kylie Mahon to further develop and expand the Attachment and Trauma-Informed Care in a Health and Social Care Context workshops, building on the success of those facilitated over recent years.

This workshop is also an interdisciplinary event with the Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland (AOTI) and the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (ISLT). Funding for this event was provided by the HSE National Health & Social Care Professions Office (NHSCPO) to support training and professional development opportunities for Health and Social Care Professionals working within HSE-funded roles.

This is a National HSCP Office funded course and as such is open to any OT in a HSE-funded role (including S38/S39) regardless of AOTI membership. Only OTs working in a HSE funded role (including S38/S39) are eligible to apply for these funded places.

Through clinical practice experiences that together offer over 30 years of clinical knowledge, Carol and Kylie have noted significant overlap and complementarity between their unique clinical fields. Both Kylie and Carol propose that drawing knowledge from each of their clinical perspectives will heighten all clinicians capacity to respond with greater depth and respond more meaningfully in practice when faced with complex referral needs. At times where there may be an absence of a more multidimensional and multi-disciplinary thinking approach, clinicians may find that this could inadvertently create misattunement and create barriers in therapeutic outcomes.

Carol and Kylie propose that sharing language and an appreciation of one another’s clinical concepts, and integrating understanding from each other’s professional fields, may go some way towards protecting against this. A person’s attachment needs influence therapeutic engagement and may significantly alter or impede a child’s therapeutic intervention. Conversely, attachment disruptions can be the direct result of functional challenges that affect performance and activities. These issues, when unrecognised can coexist, multiply and inadvertently create problems rather than resolve them.

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will engage with an experiential workshop examining the intersection of Occupational therapy and Play therapy interventions

• An overview of basic Play Therapy concepts and how they cross over to Occupational Therapy

•An overivew of basic Occupational Therapy concepts and how they relate to Play Therapy

• An exploration of referral and intervention dilemmas

Biography:

Carol Duffy is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist specialising in play therapy and a former Senior Play Therapist in Tusla in Mayo. She is also a clinical supervisor. She is a Core Trainer and Academic Registrar at The Children’s Therapy Centre in Westmeath and a Clinical Supervisor. She has over 22 years’ experience working therapeutically with children and their families. Carol specialises in the areas of attachment, trauma, and play. She has significant experience of working with children in care and with children who have experienced attachment disruptions and developmental/relational/complex trauma. Carol delivers training widely, facilitates many workshops, has published videos and blogs online. Carol has published chapter contributions on the many therapeutic benefits of play and playfulness and the process of therapy. Carol developed a model called the R.R.I.G.H.T. Play Therapy Techniques to promote trauma informed and trauma responsive practices.

Kylie Mahon has over 9 years of experience across many clinical settings, including children’s disability services. She also has experience working with adults with Occupational Therapy needs. Kylie has multiple CPD training and has a specific interest in neurodisability and neuro- affirming practices. Some of her training includes: OPC –Occupational Performance Coaching by Dr. Aine O’Dea; Studio III Training Managing stress and distress behaviours using low arousal approach Facilitated by Paul Phillips; ASI Module 1 &2; Ayres Sensory Integration 1; Understanding Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordintion Disorder (DCD) Facilitated by Dr. Aine O’Dea; Paediatric Neurodisability with the Royal College of Surgeons. She delivers training for parents on supporting their understanding of their childs sensory differences and needs.

Application and Payment information:

• Payment in full is taken at the time of application.
• Payment of the fee does not guarantee you a place at this event.
• Full payment must be received prior to the closing date in order to secure your place.
• If the event is oversubscribed you will be provided with a full refund.
• Successful applicants will be notified that they have a place at the event following the closing date.
• Places are limited and members are advised to apply early to secure a place.
• Please note: notifications will be sent to the email address entered on this application form. Please make sure to enter correctly the email address you wish to use for communication about this event.
• Please read our CPD events cancellation/refund policy. See AOTI T&Cs