Retreat in Costa Rica Play Therapy and Expressive Arts

The Play Therapy and Expressive Arts retreat unfolds in three sequential phases, each designed to deepen participants’ immersion in the world of play, art, and creative expression. By the end of the program, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the rich and multifaceted field of play therapy, along with practical tools to design and facilitate sessions that harness the transformative and healing power of play and expressive arts in therapeutic practice.

Step 1: Expressive arts in play therapy

The training program begins the use of expressive arts in play therapy. For this purpose, after an introduction to the field of play therapy, the neuroscientific assumptions for using the therapeutic powers of play and expressive arts in therapy will be explored; situations and populations with which their use is ideal and the most common limits in application with children, families, and groups will also be discussed. The days are enriched by practicing a variety of play therapy techniques.

Step 2: Expressive arts through firsthand practice

The second step allows participants to explore the realm of expressive arts through firsthand practice of a variety of playful and creative materials and introspective activities. It will be possible to experiment with the use of miniatures and sand, painting, modeling materials, movement, dance and music. Exploration will take place in a cozy and pristine natural setting.

Step 3: Integrating play therapy and expressive arts

The third step offer an integrative perspective. The trainers will present a series of activities in the recommended sequence for immediate use in daily work and invite participants to conduct practices with individualized feedback. We will address the development of an individual and group session integrating play therapy and expressive arts, what elements need to be considered in preparing the setting, and how to select tools and activities. We will also give space to how to use play and expressive arts for one’s own wellbeing as a professional.

A training program presented by Isabella Cassina (Switzerland), Eliana Gil (US), Claudio Mochi (Italy) and Sylvia Ketelhohn (Costa Rica). In collaboration with Centro de Estudios e Investigación de Artes Expresivas Latinoamérica (AELat) de ASART. Pre-register here!