Children’s Therapy Centre – 1 Day International Training Event
ADHDPlay – An Integrated Approach for ADHD
Children and Teenagers
with
Dr. Heidi Kaduson
Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick Saturday 28th June 2025
Building on decades of experience as a play therapist with this population, ADHDPlay has recently been created by Dr Heidi Kaduson to focus on the use of play as a therapeutic approach that is particularly effective for ADHD children and teenagers. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in self-regulation, executive function, attention and impulsivity. Children who are ADHD often experience challenges with regulating their emotions, focusing their attention, and controlling their impulses. ADHDPlay activates the therapeutic powers of play to alleviate these difficulties, support healthy development, and address the challenges that often lead to an ADHD diagnosis. And all while having FUN! ADHDPlay helps children, and families, understand and respond appropriately to the unique profile of the specific neurodiverse child. We do not take the ADHD away: we address challenges while honouring the individuality of the child.
ADHDPlay provides these children with a safe and structured environment where they can express themselves through play, allowing them to explore their thoughts and feelings in a non-threatening way. Play Therapy, and the therapeutic use of play, enables professionals to use play based approaches that validate and support the identities and experiences of all children and teenagers. This is pivotal in ensuing neuro-affirming practice is at the heart of what we do. Through the therapeutic powers of play ADHD children and teenagers can be supported and empowered and can learn to better understand and manage their emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and improve their social interactions.
This innovative course will go in depth and examine the joys and delights, as well as the difficulties and challenges we can experience when working ADHD children and teenagers. Play-based therapeutic approaches that help facilitate the healing process, through the use of structured and directive play interventions to guide the child towards specific therapeutic goals, such as developing impulse control or improving social skills will be highlighted and explored. By providing structure and guidance during play, suitable professionals help the child learn new skills and coping strategies while also building a trusting therapeutic relationship. The challenge of psychological treatment is minimized through play therapy and the broader use of therapeutic play. Not only do children love to come to these sessions, but the parents also learn how to overdose the positive and enjoy their children more. This course will teach the attendees about the characteristics of play therapy, and how the therapeutic powers of play can aid in play-based work with ADHD children and teenagers through techniques and games created for this population. In addition, parent training will be provided so that the professional can help in a multi-modal approach to this work. Techniques will be taught, along with some experiential work. Actual client presentations will be discussed and viewed. This course is particularly suitable for those trained, training, or interested in training in play therapy, and for those who have opportunities to use play therapeutically with children and/or adolescents who are ADHD.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the three components of ADHD and how they are manifested in therapeutic sessions.
- Describe two play-based techniques that help with symptoms of ADHD.
- Identify how to assess attention span and impulsivity through play.
- Explain 2 cognitive-behavioral play techniques to help with psychological difficulties inherent with children with ADHD.
- Describe strategies for parents in play therapy to assist children.
- Explain why play therapy is a treatment of choice along with behavioral methods for parents.
Suitable for: This training is suitable for a range of professionals working with neurodiverse children and adolescents, particularly those with ADHD. This includes, but is not limited to, trainee and qualified, play therapists, creative arts therapists, counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists, working within the range of psychotherapeutic modalities including. The course is also suitable for non-therapist professionals who work with children and teenagers and are interested in learning more about this area and gaining some new knowledge and skills to use within their current professional role.
Our Distinguished Trainer
Dr. Heidi Gerard Kaduson is a licensed clinical child psychologist in New York and New Jersey and a Registered Play Therapist and Play Therapy Supervisor. She specializes in evaluating and intervention services for children with behavioral, emotional, and learning difficulties. Dr. Kaduson uses play therapy for individual counselling, group psychotherapy, and social skills training. She has lectured worldwide on Play Therapy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Learning Disabilities. She has trained and/or supervised thousands of individuals around the world. Dr. Kaduson is Past-President and a past-member of the National Association for Play Therapy Board of Directors. She is also the Director of The Play Therapy Training Institute.
Dr. Kaduson is editor and author of many books: The Quotable Play Therapist; The Playing Cure; and 101 Favorite Play Therapy Techniques, 101 More Favorite Play Therapy Techniques, 101 Favorite Play Therapy Techniques, Vol. III, Short Term Play Therapy, Game Play Therapy, Short Term Play Therapy, Second Edition, Contemporary Play Therapy, and Foundations of Play Therapy, Second Edition, as well as Short Term Play Therapy, Third Edition (in press). Dr. Kaduson also has a CEU DVD Series entitled Play Therapy for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, as well as a DVD Series entitled Play Therapy for Children with ADHD. She is presently working on a new book and DVD Series tentatively entitled Individual and Play Therapy Approaches with Traumatized Children, and Play Therapy Throughout the Lifespan (in press). Dr. Kaduson maintains a private practice in child psychotherapy and play therapy in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
ADHDPlay – An Integrated Approach for
ADHD Children and Teenagers
with
Dr. Heidi Kaduson
Booking Details
Venue: Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick
Date: Saturday, 28th June 2025
Times: 10am – 5:30pm
Training Fee: Standard Fee €165, Discounted Rates Available
- Early Bird Rate……………………………………………………… €135 (Paid in full by 31st March)
- Standard Fee ……………………………………………………….. €165 (Paid in full by 31st May)
Tea/coffee breaks and hot lunch included in the course fee.
Bookings: Please book online at www.childrenstherapycentre.ie. Please include your professional details when you make your booking.
Cancellations: In the event of any cancellation the non-refundable booking fee of €50 will be retained. Full fee is non-refundable in the event of cancellations within 1 month of the event.
Further Details: Email: ctccourseinfo@gmail.com