14 FREE Tele-Play Resources, Activities, and Trainings

At this point in the Tele-Play journey, it kind of feels like we all need to be earning badges.

I’m thinking along the lines of badges like the having a pet interrupted your session badge, throwing yourself together 2 minutes before the top of the hour badge, the “I can hear you, but I can’t see you” badge, the roller coaster room tour badge, and my personal favorite – the complete tech crash badge!

And if you have been in this for the long haul (like me since March) you really need to get yourself a Tele-Play sash to display all your badges. 

As COVID-19 numbers are climbing and things are getting even more unprecedented (ugh…I didn’t know that could even be a thing), Play Therapists are ramping up to begin to return to virtual, start virtual for the first time, or are plugging away at the Tele-Play marathon – like this girl right here!

I wanted to do a roundup of my most favorite resources from The Playful Therapist Blog as well as the other brilliant Play Therapists around the internet to help energize and support you no matter where you are on your journey!  I found I was sending these resources to supervisees and wanted to share them with you too!

Let’s dive in to The Playful Therapist resources:

1. An introduction to Telemental Health for Child and Adolescent Therapy along with an absolutely FREE course HERE!
2. 20 Free and Minimal Supply Activities for Tele-Play – a HUGE list of easy, simple, low cost and prep activities that are perfect for Tele-Play.    
3. Thinking about sending Play Therapy kits to clients?  Check out these Portable Playroom kits and complete source list and links!  Kits use Child Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, and Sand Tray theoretical orientation.
4. If you don’t want to leave the Sand Tray behind – check out these three options for non-technology Sand Trays HERE!
5. If you are having trouble and struggling here is a Q+A of the Top 5 Questions I get asked for Troubleshooting Tele-Play!
6. If you’re wondering how to create a neuroception of safety when we are not in person and meeting screen to screen, check out this article HERE!

​Now, on to my most absolute favorite Tele-Play resources from around the internet:

1. Get in community with these absolutely wonderful Facebook groups: Tele-PLAY Therapy Resources and Support and Creative Play Therapists: Tele-Play Therapy for resources and virtual play therapy troubleshooting!
2. Learn how to therapeutically and safely play online games with your clients with this FREE webinar archive from the Let’s Play Therapy Institute! They include games like Fortnite, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft!
3. Dr. Rachel Altvater is brilliant and a pioneer in virtual therapy.  Her Youtube channel is fantastic and has videos on topics such as an introduction to Tele-Play therapy, how to create a virtual play therapy room, and how to use a virtual play therapy room!
4. Want to know more about setting up Virtual Play Therapy rooms?  Check out this article from Dr. Pascale Paradis HERE!
5. Tammi Van Hollander also has an AMAZING YouTube channel HERE and has a series on Tele-Play activities and demonstrations!
6. Liana Lowenstein’s Tele-Play activity and resource list HERE is amazing!
7. Dr. Karen Fried has a FREE online Sand Tray resource that is great for Tele-Play and screen sharing HERE!
8. Lisa Dion also has therapists backs and has a ton of content for therapists around regulation.  Check out her FREE training Regulating Through The Coronavirus – Part One!
9. Okay...the list turned out to be 15 - but who can get mad about MORE resources?  Jackie Flynn always has something that is packed with resources and value! Check out her FREE training HERE on Online Play Therapy Techniques to support clients virtually HERE and her training on 10 more Play Therapy techniques for virtual Play Therapy HERE! Each training is around an hour and PACKED with value! 

BONUS: Dr. Katysue Tillman is a veteran in the Tele-Play space with over 7 years of Tele-Play experience! Although I can’t currently find any freebies or recorded courses she has available, she has put a TON of free trainings out for Play Therapists and usually posts and updates in the Facebook groups above! ***UPDATE*** Dr. Tillman has a YouTube channel where she has uploaded her first Tele-Play training as well as other Tele-Play Therapy videos!  Check it out HERE! 

These are my favorite and most used and recommended resources for a Tele-Play practice!  What are yours? Drop your favorite free resources below! 

AND most importantly - what are your favorite play therapy "badges" you have earned (without client information of course)?

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