Creative Play-Based DBT Activities for Children and Their Caregivers

Children feel emotions in many ways. At times, the intensity of children's emotions can create difficulties at school, home, and social settings, and obstruct children's relationships with others in their lives. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) has been proven as an evidence-based intervention for teenagers and adults with various mental health diagnoses that focuses on mindfulness, interpersonal relationships, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation. This helpful workbook guides clinicians to translate DBT principles through play therapy-informed activities for children and their caregivers. Supportive activities and techniques for use in the therapy room and at home with children are provided to assist children in managing their emotions and strengthening their relationships. Blending the facilitative powers of DBT and play therapy allows children to use the needed tools and techniques to process their internal conflicts. Utilizing these skills while combining the therapeutic powers of play allows children to better understand their world.

Kellie Giorgio Camelford, PhD LPC-S, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor specializing in adolescent and women's issues. As an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans she enjoys teaching and supervising students in Practicum and Internship. Her research interests are adolescent issues and interventions, school counseling, and ethical issues in counseling. Prior to teaching, Dr. Camelford was a professional school counselor at a local parochial high school in New Orleans, and a private practitioner specializing in adolescence. Dr. Camelford also provides supervision to provisional licensed professional counselors seeking licensure as professional counselors in Louisiana. She presents locally and nationally on topics including adolescent counseling, private practice, school counseling, and self-harm. Finally, Dr. Camelford promotes her profession through service on the LACES executive board, the Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Steering Committee, and through active membership in related professional counseling organizations.
Krystal Vaughn, PhD LPC-S, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor specializing in children ages 2-12. As an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans she enjoys teaching as well as providing clinical services with a certification of AutPlay. Her research interests are supervision, play therapy, neurodevelopmental disorders, dysregulation issues, other developmental disorders, and mental health consultation. Dr. Vaughn has extensive experience providing mental health consultation in childcare centers, private schools, and local charter school systems. Dr. Vaughn also provides supervision to counselor interns seeking licensure as professional counselors. She received specialized training in the fields of infant and early childhood mental health and play therapy, which she presents on locally and nationally. Additionally, she serves on numerous boards and committees to promote professionalism in the fields of play therapy and clinical supervision.
Erin Dugan, PhD, NCC, CRC, LPC-S, is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor specializing in children (ages 2-12), attachment disorders, and child-parent relationship therapy including filial therapy and family play therapy. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Dugan is a Professor in the Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Counseling at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans and serves as the Interim Department Head of the Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Counseling as well as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the School of Allied Health Professions at LSUHSC. With nearly 15 years of experience as a Registered Play Therapist, she is recognized as a leader in the field of play therapy, presenting both nationally and internationally at professional conferences and publishing scholarly works on the subject. Dr. Dugan is a current member of the American Counseling Association, the International Association of Play Therapy, and many other professional organizations in the field. She has served on several committees and most recently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Play Therapy.