FRI-002: Healing Circles & The Power of Symbols to Support Grieving Communities

Douglas Gotel, LICSW, RPT-S™

Contact CE Hours: 2

CE Classification: Skills & Methods; Cultural & Social Diversity

This individual session includes admission, session handouts & materials, and snacks & beverages.

Healing Circles are powerful and transformative spaces that promote emotional well-being and growth through communal support and shared experiences. Grief is a universal human experience, and Healing Circles can be an effective restorative protocol for individuals and communities dealing with loss and bereavement. Healing Circles and symbols can be used as a therapeutic approach that draws on traditional ancestral healing practices and, when integrated with play therapy practice, can honor cultural traditions, foster community support, and provide a framework for individuals to express their grief, ultimately contributing to the healing and resilience of the Black community. In the context of using symbols in play therapy, this session aligns with the play powers, helping individuals and groups increase personal strengths, facilitate communication, and ultimately foster emotional wellness. This session will introduce Healing Circles and provide practical tools and insights to effectively integrate the use of symbolic interaction techniques to engage individuals and groups in play therapy sessions. In this experiential learning session, participants will gain valuable tools to create healing spaces that empower individuals and communities on their therapeutic journey.

After attending this session, participants will be able to…

1. Identify the essential components of Healing Circles within a play therapy framework, focusing on cultural relevance and their role in fostering open and honest communication, safety, and inclusivity within the circle to move grieving individuals and communities toward emotional healing.
2. Describe the role of rituals and the integration of sand tray symbols as a technique in Healing Circles, emphasizing their capacity to facilitate emotional expression and enhance participants’ overall experience.
3. Apply play therapy principles of creating a safe and supportive space to demonstrate the facilitation of a Healing Circle using symbols as a means to encourage dialogue and emotional expression.

*CE Credit for mental health professionals only.

**If you require any specific accommodations to access or participate in any aspect of this symposium, please get in touch with our event organizers no later than July 1, 2024 at hello@blackplaytherapy.com.