Facing Fears with Monsters Inc.

About this Event

Stories have been used for healing and learning for centuries and the therapeutic benefit of storytelling is well documented. Disney provides a unique opportunity for children to step into familiar narratives with beloved characters and rewrite their own experiences to foster learning, healing, and personal growth. In this training, participants will learn about the expansive world of Disney the benefits of therapeutic storytelling, and strategies for translating fanfiction into intervention in the play therapy room for use with clients today!

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will demonstrate the ability to identify developmentally appropriate strategies for comprehending, articulating, and treating anxiety presentations in children, integrating evidence-based approaches and considering individual differences in clinical practice.

2. Participants will articulate the role and importance of externalized representations of anxiety in therapeutic interventions for children, showcasing an understanding of how externalizing techniques can enhance the therapeutic process for children experiencing anxiety.

3. Participants will identify and analyze representations of anxiety and resiliency within character roles present in Disney’s Monsters Inc series, applying this understanding to their clinical practice and considering the potential therapeutic implications of these representations.

4. Participants will develop proficiency in identifying and implementing play therapy interventions that leverage characters, themes, and narratives present in the Monsters Inc series, utilizing these elements to effectively harness the therapeutic power of play for supporting the mental health and overall well-being of children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with anxiety.

Course Instructor:

Rebecca O’Neill is a licensed clinical social worker/developmental therapist in private practice in Leesburg and Reston, Virginia. Rebecca is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based approaches to therapy with individuals, groups, and families. As a DIR/Floortime, certified Autplay Play Therapist, and certified therapeutic game master and geek therapist, Rebecca provides neurodivergent children and their families with effective, holistic, and accessible intervention that supports development while honoring individual differences, passions, and needs.

Rebecca holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Simmons University in Boston, Ma, and a Certificate in Early Intervention From Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In addition to her clinical work, Rebecca provides extensive training to parents and professionals in autism and disability inclusion in education, developmental approaches to parenting and teaching, mindfulness, and child development. In her spare time, you can find Rebecca gaming, playing D&D with her family, reading, painting, or enjoying time with her kids and husband.

Disability Accommodations

It is the responsibility of the Individual to contact Geek Therapeutics to request disability accommodations at Hello@geektherapeutics.com.   

Geek Therapeutics is committed to helping each student reach his/her academic potential and to providing every student equal opportunity to participate in and engage with the course.  In keeping with this commitment, effort has been made to develop accessible learning materials that provide equal access.  Please contact Geek Therapeutics immediately if access to course materials is restricted due to a disability so the issue(s) can be resolved in a timely manner.

Continuing Education Credits:

Psychologists: Geek Therapeutics is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Geek Therapeutics maintains responsibility for this program and its content

Counselors: Geek Therapeutics has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7042. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Geek Therapeutics is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Social Workers: Geek Therapeutics, #1769, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Geek Therapeutics maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 05/19/2022 – 05/19/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credits.

Play Therapists:  Geek Therapeutics has been approved by APT as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, No. 21-649. Programs that do not qualify for APT credit are clearly identified. Geek Therapeutics is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Other Professions: This activity qualifies for the specified number of hours of instructional content as required by many licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your course outline and certificate of completion, and contact your board or organization for specific requirements. Completion of the course(s) with a post-test score of 80% or better is required to receive continuing education credit; there is no partial credit.