This course does not offer CE Credits. The same course is available for purchase and offers 3 CE hours for behavioral health clinicians. See "related products" below.
As divorce rates continue to rise, therapists are increasingly encountering families where ongoing conflict between parents severely impacts children’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
This course provides the essential tools and knowledge that therapists need to effectively support these families through one of the most turbulent experiences of their lives using play therapy techniques.
Participants will learn strategies to manage the intense emotional dynamics these families face during high-conflict divorces, where parents are often embroiled in bitterness, control struggles, and ongoing legal battles. Through a blend of theory, practical applications, and experiential learning, they will learn how to shift their approach by integrating play therapy principles to create a therapeutic environment that fosters healing, understanding, and emotional regulation. They will also develop practical play therapy skills to help children process their emotions and cope with the psychological toll of divorce, all while maintaining clear professional boundaries with parents.
The course also addresses common challenges therapists face in these cases, such as dealing with manipulative behaviors from parents, managing divided loyalties within the family, and navigating the complexities of working alongside legal professionals and court systems. Participants will learn to remain neutral, avoid taking sides, and focus on the child's well-being without becoming entangled in the parental conflict. They will explore ways to address their own emotional responses, ensuring they stay grounded and effective while working in high-stress environments. Additionally, they will gain insights into systemic approaches to therapy, including how to coordinate with legal professionals, refer to specialists, and create treatment plans centered around the child's needs, utilizing play therapy interventions.
With engaging activities and real-world examples, participants will leave the course empowered and confident in handling even the most challenging high-conflict divorce cases. They’ll be prepared to provide compassionate, effective care through play therapy to children and families in crisis.
Register today and take the next step toward becoming better at supporting families through high-conflict divorce.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course.
Instruction consists of 3 hours of video instruction and a course evaluation.
From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
We suggest the following supplies are available, if possible, during the training (for an experiential, play therapy intervention. (Not required in order to participate.)
- Several packets of model magic (any color)
- Small (5x8) silver, disposable tray with no holes
- A variety of sticks and twigs
- Approximately 8 oz of water
- Re-conceptualize the frame, based on play therapy principles, for working with families engaged in high conflict divorce
- Identify 3 clinician attitudes that are beneficial when working with families engaged in high conflict divorce
- Name 4 theoretical principles on which to base play therapy interventions when working with families engaged in high conflict divorce
- Describe 3 practices to adopt providing play therapy services to families engaged in high conflict divorce
- Experience 2 play therapy techniques that may improve outcomes when working with families engaged in high conflict divorce
- Document and commit to 3 action steps, based on the information provided during the training, that will prepare participants to provide play therapy services to families engaged in high conflict divorce
- List resources for improving clinical competency when utilizing play therapy with families engaged in high conflict divorce
Kris Marowski, M.Ed., LPC, RPT-S, ACS, CCMHC, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. She has worked with children, adolescents and families for over 16 years, providing play therapy, individual counseling, and family counseling. She specializes in working with children that have survived trauma. Kris has extensive experience working with children whose parents are separated or are divorcing, who serve in the military and/or who are first responders. Kris offers parents specific, tangible skills that they can utilize at home to create desired changes and connect with their children in a more meaningful way. She practices primarily from a child-centered perspective, incorporating Jungian, Existential, and Cognitive Behavioral approaches to increase the effectiveness of counseling. She provides a safe, supportive environment where parents, children, and adolescents can process through difficult life experiences and develop a sense of mastery over them.
Kris completed her Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Psychology from Elmira College in 1999 and earned a Masters of Education Degree (M.Ed) in Counseling and Human Development with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College in 2005. She went on to become credentialed as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) while completing her Play Therapy certification. Kris is currently working toward becoming a Sandplay Practitioner through Sandplay Therapists of America.
Disclosure Statement:
The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.
This course does not offer CE credits, just great content.
The same course is available for purchase and offers 3 CE hours for behavioral health clinicians. See "related products" below.
Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of attendance to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course.
To receive your certificate of attendance you must complete the course in its entirety.
To complete a Training Video Course, one must register, log in, select the My Courses option from the menu items, click the Course Title, attend to the video content, and complete the course evaluation, then claim the certificate of attendance.
You can download or print your certificate of attendance by logging into your account, navigating to the course by selecting the My Courses option from the menu items, clicking the Course Title, scrolling to the Certificate of Attendance section, and clicking on the Certificate of Attendance link to either download it or print it.
Participants may request a printed version of their certificate of attendance to be delivered by mail. A shipping/handling fee of $6.95 will be charged per request. Shipping internationally may require an additional charge.
Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Practice level: Intermediate
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation. The courses may include required reading.
