Friday Evening Program: The Power of Creative Play, Presented by Alva Ackley, LMFT

MARIN COUNTY CHAPTER OF CAMFT

THE POWER OF CREATIVE PLAY        Presented by Alva Ackley, M.S., MFT 

Tap into the power of the creative mind with social connection, mindful awareness and improvisational play. Improvisational techniques are currently being used with a number of therapy modelsundefinedfrom the post-modern to the cognitive and behavioral approaches. These practices are used to reduce anxiety, to boost resilience and to enhance receptivity to change. Improvisational warm-ups and games bring attention into the now and provide the opportunity to venture into the unknown, to collaboratively create and to play. When done regularly, these practices can have profound positive effects upon our own lives and neurobiology as well as upon our clients!

Join us for a playdate! This interactive, experiential program will lead participants in a sampling of improvisational warm-ups and games. None of our activities will be strenuous. We will have a short time for participants to share their experience of the activities and to explore how these and similar practices might enhance therapeutic work. We can enjoy the magic of connection with our colleagues while we bring more vitality and joy into our lives!

Alva Ackley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice for over 20 years. Her specializations are assisting with life transitions, treating grief and loss and helping people to improve their relationships.

Alva served as Program and Clinical Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marin prior to being hired by the County of Marin, where she worked to serve families with children in the Department of Health and Human Services. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an M.S. degree in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University of California. She is a graduate of the Executive Development for the Human Services Training Program at University of California, Berkeley, Extension.

For her facilitation of a multiagency partnership to assist young adults with severe mental illness, Alva was awarded a grant by the Zellerbach Family Fund. For her work at Marin Suicide Prevention and Grief Counseling Center, she was named a Marin County Volunteer of the Year. She is honored to be a Past President of Marin CAMFT.

Following her work at the County of Marin, Alva took her first improvisation course. That was three years ago and she admits to addictive, improvisation-seeking behavior ever since. In addition to her private practice and her pre-occupation with improvising, Alva provides CEU trainings, facilitation, and consultation in various clinical, business, and agency settings.