Healing through Play- Nonmember rate

Healing Through Play: Mastering the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play

Therapy with Children and Adolescents

Karen Fried, Psy.D., LMFT

Friday, March 5, 2027

9am-4pm

Junior League of Nashville

2202 Crestmoor Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37215

This advanced, experiential training equips mental health professionals with the theoretical

framework and practical tools of the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play Therapy. Rooted in the

therapeutic philosophy of Dr. Violet Oaklander, this course explores how to foster a strong sense

of self and enhance contact functions in younger clients through creative, multi-media

approaches. Participants will dive deep into the therapeutic process, focusing heavily on the

vital I/Thou relationship and Peter Mortola’s four-part process for play therapy exercises.

Moving beyond early childhood, the training explicitly addresses the unique developmental

landscape of adolescence. Common myths regarding teenagers will be addressed, offering

instead a clear look into executive functioning challenges, at-risk behaviors, and the dynamics

of bullying. Through a blend of theoretical analysis and hands-on technique demonstrations,

attendees will learn how to use play therapy to engage even resistant adolescents, recognize

signs of distress, and support them through critical developmental milestones.

Learning Objectives

By the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

● Explain the core concepts of Gestalt Therapy and their specific application to children

and adolescents via the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play Therapy.

● Utilize multiple media modalities to help young clients develop a strong sense of self, a

foundational tenet of the Oaklander Model.

● Describe the concept of the I/Thou relationship and analyze its critical role within the

play therapy process.

● Apply childhood developmental concepts to the therapeutic process, demonstrating how

the Oaklander Model directly addresses these milestones.

● Implement Peter Mortola’s four-part process across various play therapy exercises.

● Analyze how contact functions allow children to achieve an improved sense of self

through experiential learning.

● Demonstrate specific Oaklander play therapy techniques designed to strengthen a

child's contact functions.

● Outline the definitive stages of the Oaklander Model therapeutic process and their

practical application.

● Deconstruct common myths regarding adolescents and explain how play therapy meets

their developmental needs in an engaging manner.

● Identify the underlying reasons driving adolescent at-risk behaviors and apply play

therapy strategies to effectively engage this population.

● Analyze demographic data regarding the adolescents most vulnerable to bullying and

formulate play therapy approaches to manage the resulting trauma.

● Identify the behavioral and emotional signs of adolescent bullying using targeted play

therapy assessment techniques.

● Describe executive functioning challenges in adolescence and demonstrate how play

therapy techniques can be used to address these deficits.