FirstPlay® is so named because it focuses on the therapeutic aspects of pre-symbolic play, or play that happens first in a child’s life. “First-play” is, for example, the early joyful reciprocal exciting play that happens between a parent and infant such as “patty cake,” “peek-a-boo,” or sing-song type games. FirstPlay® Therapy is an attachment-based Ericksonian storytelling approach that incorporates fun interactive touch-based activities that gives children the foundation needed to build healthy interpersonal relationships. Brain research supports that pre-symbolic play wires the brain for life-long intimacy, and for advanced cognitive ability and emotional regulation of distress.
FirstPlay® Practitioners guide parents through a FirstPlay Parent Manual© to provide caring, respectful and attuned nurturing touch to their infants as given through a guided attuned therapeutic story called, The Baby Tree Hug©. Practitioners do not touch the infant. Practitioners instruct, direct, model and supervise parents (on a baby-doll) in the techniques of FirstPlay® Infant Play Therapy Storytelling. While the FirstPlay® Practitioner is demonstrating the techniques, the parent(s) simultaneously follows along and practices the FirstPlay® movements and storytelling with their own baby. The FirstPlay® Practitioner then guides parents on how to incorporate FirstPlay® sessions into their daily schedules.
In this workshop practitioners learn how to facilitate respectful and caring touch in parent-child relationships by demonstrating the touch-based activities via a baby-doll for the FirstPlay® Infant Massage Storytelling and via a large stuffed animal, for example, in Kinesthetic Storytelling for older children. Practitioners also support respectful touch by teaching parents how to ask permission of the child (or even the infant) to touch. The practitioner therefore promotes the healing value of touch, but does not touch the child ~ thus removing the practitioner from any concerns of professional liability regarding the touching of children. Note that this training consists of experiential training exercises that involve the use of touch. For example, participants will practice Kinesthetic Storytelling® by drawing and telling a story on another participant’s back. In this way you will learn how to demonstrate and facilitate the techniques by role playing with other participants. By experiencing the touch activities you will also gain a sense of what a child client might feel and experience from receiving caring touch with their parents or caregivers.
In this workshop practitioners learn how to facilitate respectful and caring touch in parent-child relationships by demonstrating the touch-based activities via a baby-doll for the FirstPlay® Infant Massage Storytelling and via a large stuffed animal, for example, in Kinesthetic Storytelling for older children. Practitioners also support respectful touch by teaching parents how to ask permission of the child (or even the infant) to touch. The practitioner therefore promotes the healing value of touch, but does not touch the child ~ thus removing the practitioner from any concerns of professional liability regarding the touching of children. Note that this training consists of experiential training exercises that involve the use of touch. For example, participants will practice Kinesthetic Storytelling® by drawing and telling a story on another participant’s back. In this way you will learn how to demonstrate and facilitate the techniques by role playing with other participants. By experiencing the touch activities you will also gain a sense of what a child client might feel and experience from receiving caring touch with their parents or caregivers.
In this workshop practitioners learn how to facilitate respectful and caring touch in parent-child relationships by demonstrating the touch-based activities via a baby-doll for the FirstPlay® Infant Massage Storytelling and via a large stuffed animal, for example, in Kinesthetic Storytelling for older children. Practitioners also support respectful touch by teaching parents how to ask permission of the child (or even the infant) to touch. The practitioner therefore promotes the healing value of touch, but does not touch the child ~ thus removing the practitioner from any concerns of professional liability regarding the touching of children. Note that this training consists of experiential training exercises that involve the use of touch. For example, participants will practice Kinesthetic Storytelling® by drawing and telling a story on another participant’s back. In this way you will learn how to demonstrate and facilitate the techniques by role playing with other participants. By experiencing the touch activities you will also gain a sense of what a child client might feel and experience from receiving caring touch with their parents or caregivers.
In this workshop practitioners learn how to facilitate respectful and caring touch in parent-child relationships by demonstrating the touch-based activities via a baby-doll for the FirstPlay® Infant Massage Storytelling and via a large stuffed animal, for example, in Kinesthetic Storytelling for older children. Practitioners also support respectful touch by teaching parents how to ask permission of the child (or even the infant) to touch. The practitioner therefore promotes the healing value of touch, but does not touch the child ~ thus removing the practitioner from any concerns of professional liability regarding the touching of children. Note that this training consists of experiential training exercises that involve the use of touch. For example, participants will practice Kinesthetic Storytelling® by drawing and telling a story on another participant’s back. In this way you will learn how to demonstrate and facilitate the techniques by role playing with other participants. By experiencing the touch activities you will also gain a sense of what a child client might feel and experience from receiving caring touch with their parents or caregivers.
Dr. Joyce C. Mills
Founder of The StoryPlay Center
“When I teach the FirstPlay® caring touch storytelling interventions to parents, my heart leaps in awe when I instantly see the positive responses of the infants and children come alive. And, then my heart melts even deeper when I observe the parent’s amazement to their babies and child’s awakening.”
Janet Courtney, PhD, FirstPlay® Founder
Check out our Parent Website for more about FirstPlay Infant Massage Storytelling
Once you complete the Reflective Supervision requirements, you will:
Once you complete the Reflective Supervision requirements, you will:
Once you complete the Reflective Supervision requirements, you will:
Highlights OF Training
(Adapted schedule online)
The workshop includes the FirstPlay® Therapy Training Manual© consisting of ten chapter/modules that will be followed throughout the training. Training methods include lectures; touched-based experiential exercises; live demonstrations; role playing with other participants; journaling; and work in clay. Participants will also receive the FirstPlay® Parent-Child Manual© that will be used when training parents in the FirstPlay® Therapy methods. This parent manual is intended for participants to give to the parents and additional copies can be purchased at a minimal cost.
The workshop includes the FirstPlay® Therapy Training Manual© consisting of ten chapter/modules that will be followed throughout the training. Training methods include lectures; touched-based experiential exercises; live demonstrations; role playing with other participants; journaling; and work in clay. Participants will also receive the FirstPlay® Parent-Child Manual© that will be used when training parents in the FirstPlay® Therapy methods. This parent manual is intended for participants to give to the parents and additional copies can be purchased at a minimal cost.
The workshop includes the FirstPlay® Therapy Training Manual© consisting of ten chapter/modules that will be followed throughout the training. Training methods include lectures; touched-based experiential exercises; live demonstrations; role playing with other participants; journaling; and work in clay. Participants will also receive the FirstPlay® Parent-Child Manual© that will be used when training parents in the FirstPlay® Therapy methods. This parent manual is intended for participants to give to the parents and additional copies can be purchased at a minimal cost.
The workshop includes the FirstPlay® Therapy Training Manual© consisting of ten chapter/modules that will be followed throughout the training. Training methods include lectures; touched-based experiential exercises; live demonstrations; role playing with other participants; journaling; and work in clay. Participants will also receive the FirstPlay® Parent-Child Manual© that will be used when training parents in the FirstPlay® Therapy methods. This parent manual is intended for participants to give to the parents and additional copies can be purchased at a minimal cost.
The workshop includes the FirstPlay® Therapy Training Manual© consisting of ten chapter/modules that will be followed throughout the training. Training methods include lectures; touched-based experiential exercises; live demonstrations; role playing with other participants; journaling; and work in clay. Participants will also receive the FirstPlay® Parent-Child Manual© that will be used when training parents in the FirstPlay® Therapy methods. This parent manual is intended for participants to give to the parents and additional copies can be purchased at a minimal cost.
Developmental Play & Attachment Therapies, Inc. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Developmental Play & Attachment Therapies, Inc. is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. “NBCC ACEP No. 7951”
Developmental Play & Attachment Therapies, Inc. (DPAT) is an Approved Provider for Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling in the State of Florida. BAP #1035 Exp. 3/2027 AND an Approved Provider through the Florida Board of Massage Therapy
Developmental Play & Attachment Therapies, Inc. is an Approved Provider through the Association for Play Therapy: APT Approved Provider 10-287
This is a recorded 35 hour online play therapy course that is self-paced and to be taken at any time. Learn how to create custom-made therapeutic stories for child clients. In the FirstPlay Kinesthetic Storytelling® training (“BACK Stories™” as kids know them….stories that can be told on a child’s back), practitioners demonstrate on a stuffed animal/pillow while parents are guided to practice the stories with their child. (Watch Janet’s TEDx Talk to learn more about Kinesthetic Storytelling® ). Two supervision sessions required. APT Approved Provider 10-287.
You Can Earn 18 APT CE Hrs (6 Hrs each) by Reading these Books. Check out the THREE (3) Book Bundle Discount APT Approved Provider 10-287: See: Courses.jentaylorplaytherapy.com
