Alexza Gutierrez
LCSW, RPT-S
Presenter's Bio
Alexza Gutierrez, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York with more than 20 years of experience. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Service Studies and Social Work, and from New York University with a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. She is currently a Doctor of Clinical Social Work (DSW) candidate at New York University. She has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work and the City University of New York, Hunter College, Silberman School of Social Work, and New York University Silver School of Social Work for the past 10 years. She has spent the last 18 years at the Mt. Sinai Health System in New York City as a bicultural, bilingual clinical social worker and administrator in the outpatient child psychiatry clinics.
Building Resilience in Children through Family Play Therapy
Course Summary
The past decade has seen a trend towards increased psychological stress on children, testing the resilience of each child. Resilience is the ability to adapt and thrive despite adversity. It can be difficult for children to process the impact of these challenging experiences verbally. Play is the language of children. Play therapy creates a therapeutic environment that offers children a safe, supportive space to understand themselves, explore their surroundings, and build the skills needed to develop competency in an uncertain environment.
This interactive workshop proposes merging family therapy and play therapy into family play therapy to address the needs of children and their families in a developmentally appropriate format. Participants will explore how the essential ingredients of resilience, (a) supportive relationships and (b) opportunities for growth and skill building, are supported by family play therapy interventions.