Conceptualizing Play Therapy Clients through the Adlerian Concept of the Crucial Cs

Lew and Bettner (1996) identified the Crucial Cs--four “attitudes” that promote healthy emotional development in children.  These attitudes include feeling connected to others, knowing you are capable to take care of yourself, having the faith that you count, and feeling courageous.  Terry Kottman, founder of Adlerian play therapy, incorporated these elements into her approach to conceptualizing children’s interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics.  In Adlerian play therapy (Kottman & Meany-Walen, 2016), the therapist uses the Crucial Cs diagnostically and prescriptively.  The therapist assesses whether children have mastered each of the Crucial Cs and custom-design play therapy strategies for helping children capitalize on their stronger Crucial Cs and increase their mastery of their weaker Crucial Cs.  Throughout this workshop, the presenters will share play therapy techniques for the playroom that focus on enhancing children's sense of connection and connecting skills, helping them develop a sense of competence, instilling a sense of importance and worth in them, and improving their willingness to be courageous.  In addition, presenters will offer ideas to share with parents and teachers to further foster the healthy development of the Crucial Cs outside the playroom.  They will also help the participants learn skills for developing methods for assessing the Crucial Cs of specific clients and developing targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the Crucial Cs that those clients might be lacking. 

4 Live Webinar CE hours (Non-Contact)  (Includes 1 Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, 3 hours on Special Topic) This workshop meets APT's definition of "Live Webinar."

APT Approved Provider 99-055

League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists (LEAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7402. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists (LEAPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

9:00 AM - Start

11:00 - Break (15 minutes)

1:15 PM - End

1. List the four Crucial Cs utilized to assist in assessing Lifestyle in Adlerian play therapy.
2. Discuss the basic aspects of each of the four Crucial Cs in Adlerian play therapy.
3. Describe two play therapy techniques to assess a child’s mastery of each of the Crucial Cs.
4. Identify three play therapy techniques to move each Crucial C from an area of weakness to one of strength.