Issue: 5  
Spring  2014  
In This Issue
Self-Care!
Book Review
Children's Books
Group Services
Conference News!
Recommended Resources
ADVOCACY WATCH
 
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) released new and additional resources regarding
ARTICLE WATCH
 
A thought-provoking article on gender and the power of toys shaping girls' perceptions of their career potential. 


RESOURCE WATCH
The Center for Family Policy and Practice (CFFPP)

CFFPP is a national policy advocacy organization, 
a progressive, nonprofit organization with expertise in child support and social welfare policies. 
 


Dr. Eliana Gil's
STARBRIGHT TRAINING INSTITUTE
Calendar Updated!


Recommended Video from APT! 
A great, playful video by the the Association for Play Therapy!


SIGN UP FOR STARBRIGHT & 
GIL INSTITUTE NEWS

Reflections from Eliana
I was recently asked to write a new version of a book I wrote 20 years ago called Play in Family Therapy!! Can you imagine that? Twenty years have passed quickly and with determination. 
 
I've never done an edited book before and I was asked to talk a little about what's new or different about what I do now. This caused some very interesting reflections....Read more

 

 




"A Child's View on Therapy"

by Andrea Driggs McLeod, LCSW, Gil Institute

 

When I was first told about 7 year old Sarah, I was warned that she hated therapy. She had been to several different therapist and had often refused to come into the session. I'm always up for a challenge so I was excited to get to know her. At the time of her first session, she begrudgingly came back to my play room carrying every object she could hold out of our waiting room. "You have a lot of stuff to bring into our work together." The first reflection I ever made to her. She went through that first session of Child Centered Play Therapy never once stopping to complain. She set up scenario after scenario for us to act out. I was the Hair stylist and she had come to get her hair fixed...I brushed her hair and she softened. "You are the doctor and you have to use allllll those tools to find out what is wrong with me...but you can't see it, it's inside." I searched and searched with every tool she had given me. "You like being taken care of." "It is nice to have someone care about what is wrong with you."

 

Reflection after reflection I made and the more and more she showed me about her and the problems she had on the inside that I can't see. Near the end of our 3rd session together, Sarah looked at me and said, "So this is therapy? You get to take care of me and I don't have to talk about everything bad that has happened all over again?" To which I responded "You're tired of talking about the bad stuff. It's nice to just have someone take care of you." And she said, "sheesh, finally, you get it." I'm honored to be the one she trusts to explore the things she feels are wrong with her on the inside.

 

*Names and all identifying information has been changed

"Never Too Soon (or too late) for Self-Care!"

by Lizzie Konrath, LCSW, RPT, Gil Institute

 

I had only been a therapist for a short three years before I decided I was going to quit and become a dog walker. At the time, I was convinced that this career just wasn't for me. Despite how hard I had worked to become a therapist, how passionate and dedicated I once had felt about the work, I believed I simply wasn't cut out for it. It was too hard, too exhausting, too sad. I didn't realize that during that time, I was experiencing severe burn out and compassion fatigue. 

 

We often save those terms for therapists who have been working for 20 or 30 years, but the truth is, without support and self care, anyone at any point can-and will-experience burn out.... Read more

A Book Review: The Therapeutic Powers of Play

by Myriam Goldin, LCSW, RPT-S, Gil Institute

 

The Therapeutic Powers of Play: 20 Core Agents of Change (2nd edition) is a thoughtful, well-researched guide for clinicians. This anthology illuminates the role that clinicians play in facilitating change, growth, and mastery. This book is divided into four parts: communication, emotional wellness, social relationships, and personal strengths. Within each part, the editors highlight different core agents of change, ranging from self-expression to counter-conditioning of fears, from attachment to resiliency. 

 

The vignettes and reflective analyses give the reader a deeper understanding of play and its driving forces. This book is a must read for clinicians involved in play therapy! This book is available through our friends at the Self Esteem Shop, www.selfesteemshop.com.

 

The Therapeutic Powers of Play: 20 Core Agents of Change (2nd Ed.). Edited by Charles Schaefer, Ph.D., RPT-S and Athena Drewes, Psy. D., RPT-S

 

GIL INSTITUTE'S FAVORITE  

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

children-reading.jpg
The team at Gil Institute would like to share some additional favorite books for children that introduce the practice of
mindfulness and mindfulness meditation. When ordering books please remember The Self-Esteem shop, a book store interested in books for children and a favorite resource of Dr. Gil and the Gil Institute staff. They can be found at
selfesteemshop.com 
  

SPRING 2014 GROUP THERAPY SERVICES!

FOR CHILDREN   

Girls with a History of Sexual Trauma 

Boys with a History of Sexual Trauma

Children of Divorced or Separated Parents

Boundary Project: Children with Sexual Behavior Problems

 

FOR ADOLESCENTS 
Adolescent Girls with a History of Sexual Trauma

Adolescent Boys with a History of Sexual Trauma

Self-Esteem Building: Group for Adolescent Girls 

 

FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS 
Circle of Security - Parenting Program (COS-P)-English & Spanish

Support Group - Parents of Abused Children-English & Spanish

Support Group - Parenting after Separation / Divorce 

Boundary Project: for Caregivers of Children with SBPs

 


ONE WEEK REMAINING TO REGISTER ONLINE! 
  GIL INSTITUTE FOR TRAUMA RECOVERY & EDUCATION
8626 Lee Highway, Suite 200
Fairfax, VA  22031   P: 703.560.2600