Play Therapy: Value Beyond Words
April 2, 2015
Hosted by Dr. Beth Onufrak
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Young children do not use words as readily as adults to express their feelings. Play therapy is a prime treatment modality for this reason. Children use play in the context of play therapy for very weighty purposes: for making meaning out of their experiences, even tragic events; for expressing & releasing intense emotion; and for coping with big challenges early in life. My guest Teri Krull is the former president of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) and the Arizona Association for Play Therapy (AzAPT) and a leading national figure in the field. This episode serves as an introduction to the very deep service of play therapy and the history of this unique and powerful treatment.
Child Psych Central
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
Child Psych Central: Discover the KidBrain explains and demystifies child mental health issues in young children. From diagnoses to discipline, from family relationships to challenges of millennial life, Child Psych Central arms parents with preventive, accessible information for the critical early years. Dr. Onufrak and her expert guests discuss child psych matters of the day. We break down confusing concepts and explain how child development drives kids’ behavior and thinking. We peek inside the brain to reveal how brain function affects children’s choices. Finally, we describe diverse child treatments and offer parenting solutions and resources. Dr. Onufrak believes the greatest improvements in child behavior arise when parents change their view of a child. Child Psych Central may help you see your child in a different light, the first step toward greater compassionate competence in parenting. Tune in to Child Psych Central to change your view and what you think, say and do!
Dr. Beth Onufrak
Dr. Beth Onufrak is a Clinical Child Psychologist of more than 20 years. An early childhood specialist, she enjoys a thriving private practice devoted to preschool and primary age children. Pediatricians, educators and clinicians across the Phoenix, Arizona region refer young children to her specialty care and struggling parents to her workshops and seminars. She authors the blog A Child in Mind.
Dr. Onufrak holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida at Gainesville. She completed Research and Clinical Fellowships at Indiana University and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. A former Professor of Psychology, Dr. Onufrak enjoyed a decade of teaching undergraduate and grad curriculum at Arizona State University West and University of Phoenix, concurrent with her private practice. She consulted for six years to City of Phoenix Head Start, providing expert enrichment for Masters level clinicians. Dr. Onufrak is a frequent Continuing Education presenter for her mental health colleagues.
A respected clinician and parent educator, Dr. Onufrak is also an acclaimed speaker and transformative workshop presenter. Known for her accessible style, she translates complex concepts into commonplace terms with a colorful, lively delivery. Her mission is to help adults interpret children's needs, decode behavior, and respond with compassionate competence that builds healthy brains.