Grant makes the compelling case for reframing and replacing a reductionistic pathology orientation with a neurodivergent-affirming one that effectively and respectfully serves the needs of ADHD, autistic and other neurodivergent children and teens, while collaborating with parents and teachers to offer resources and strategies they can use outside the playroom. By watching Grant work, you will learn to conceptualize counseling theories of play therapy through a neurodiversity-informed lens, transition from a top-down orientation to a collaborative and empowering one, and gain the confidence and skills needed to move your young clients forward on their developmental journeys.

In this course, you’ll learn how to:

• Implement play therapy theories through a diversity-affirming lens
• Confidently tailor interventions to support each child’s needs
• Support the development of advocacy skills for your clients and their families
• Adopt a collaborative, client-led approach to play-based interventions
• Empower clients by developing strategies they can use to achieve their goals
• Create a space where neurodivergent children are fully understood and valued

Grounded firmly in both research and Grant’s wealth of clinical experience, the interventions demonstrated are tailored to primarily support common developmental and clinical needs that therapists are likely to encounter. The interventions are presented in 4 volumes, grouped by their areas of focus.

VOLUME 1: Regulation/Sensory Interventions

Help clients understand their sensory and regulatory systems, finding play practices that help them self-regulate and collaborating with the adults in their lives to provide opportunities for coregulation. Grant uses play interventions such as:

• Bubble Pop Brain Blast
• Body Part Bubble Pop
• Midline Mirror Moves
• Patty Cake Categories
• Together Balloons

VOLUME 2: Emotional Identification Interventions

Assess clients’ abilities to identify their emotions, validate the ways in which they experience their emotions, and developing tools for communicating with others about their feelings. Interventions include:

• One Color Picture
• Musical Feelings
• LEGO Build
• Animal Feelings

VOLUME 3:Identity Awareness Interventions

Nurture clients’ understanding of themselves as neurodivergent individuals through strengths-based play and language that builds self-worth. Play interventions include:

• Look at my Strengths
• Quiet and Loud
• Rate Yourself 1-10

VOLUME 4: Social Navigation Interventions

Work with clients to identify their social goals and tailoring play to help them succeed, as well as supporting needs that might exist around safety and self-advocacy in a neuro-normative world. Grant uses the following play interventions:

• Collaborative Drawing
• Sculpture
• My Safety Wheel
• Sculpture

Robert Jason Grant, EdD, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor who specializes in working with neurodivergent children, teens, and their families. He practices through an integrative family play therapy framework.

He is best known for creating AutPlay® Therapy, a diversity framework designed to address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children and adolescents.

He utilizes several years of advanced training and his own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. Grant is also renowned international speaker, consultant, and trainer who is a multi-published author of titles including The AutPlay® Therapy Handbook: Integrative Family Play Therapy with Neurodivergent Children.

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Therapist Disclosure

Robert Jason Grant was compensated for his contribution to this course. None of his books or additional offerings are required for this course. Should such materials be referenced, it is only as additional resources.

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• Apply an affirming lens when working with neurodivergent children and teens
• When appropriate, design treatment plans that incorporate directive play interventions working with neurodivergent clients
• Evaluate play interventions and when needed, adapt them to best
  Support the individual needs of neurodivergent clients