We are proud to announce that Julie Nash, Ph.D. and Behavioral Health Clinician at CHC, is now a fully-certified Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor! This esteemed credential is granted by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) and is the highest level of recognition awarded through the organization.

Now, you might be thinking, what exactly is play therapy? According to Julie, there are two definitions of play therapy that are particularly helpful. The first is the formal definition provided by APT, which states “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.” The second, more of a layperson’s definition, is “the treatment approach in which licensed professionals use the natural benefits of play to improve the mental health of children, families, and adults.” Though both definitions approach the concept of play therapy from different perspectives, it certainly sounds like a fun and effective form of behavioral health treatment.

Julie is always working to spread her knowledge of play therapy, and leads two seminars on it during the year. She also supervises members of CHC’s Psychology Postdoctoral Residency Program in this innovative form of treatment.

Julie had this to say about her achievement:

“I do love play therapy and the way it can impact people while being enjoyable for both client and therapist. Being able to use a child’s primary language of play and communicate in that way is quite powerful. As an RPT-S, I am now certified to both provide supervision in play therapy as well as provide the services.”

For more information about the APT, the organization’s website can be found at www.a4pt.org.

To read the article written about Julie’s accomplishment in the Hartford Courant, use this link http://www.courant.com/community/hcrs-69306hc-chester-20121221,0,3114634.story.