DDP Certification Program

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Integrated Attachment Family Therapy Training

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Playful | Present | Passionate

Dafna is an international trainer and supervisor for practitioners who work with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor/consultant in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Dafna’s expertise is drawn from 25 years of working with families with attachment in many settings: at-risk after school programs, therapeutic foster care, in-home crisis stabilization, residential care and private practice. Dafna’s style, whether as a therapist or teacher, is combining the light-hearted with the profound by bringing a playful, intense and passionate presence to every encounter. She is as likely to break out into song as engage in serious intellectual discourse.

A Model Developed by Dan Hughes

Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) Certification Program

Join Dafna Lender for a 5-day course on Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, an approach which assists therapists and other professionals to understand and effectively support children, young people and their families.

LEVEL 1
- June 5-7, 12, 13 at 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Central Time, USA & Canada)
- October 17, 18, 19, 23, 24 at 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Central Time, USA & Canada)

LEVEL 2*
- May 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 at 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Central Time, USA & Canada)
- December 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 2023 at 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Central Time, USA & Canada)

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Dafna DDP 2022 3

Inspired Parenting: Parenting from an Attachment/Trauma Perspective

JOIN DAFNA LENDER FOR A FREE MONTHLY SERIES

Sessions start at 12 noon ET for one hour, with a bonus on March 17 for a two-hour special on bullying.

CE is available for live sessions only – $50 per session.

Parenthood often brings otherwise competent people to their knees as they try to deal with the frustrating behaviors or strained relationship with their child. There is nothing more painful than feeling resentful, hopeless, helpless or depressed when it comes to your parent identity. Perhaps you have already read many parenting books and vowed that you would not react negatively towards your child. Or maybe your teenager is painfully rejecting you and you vacillate between trying your hardest to be kind and crying or screaming, making things even worse. Or perhaps you feel like your child is ruining your life as he behaves in a destructive or dangerous manner and you feel frightened or out of control.

Session 1 – Friday, January 6 – How To Incorporate More Playfulness into Day-to-Day Parenting
Session 2 – Friday, February 17 – How To Regulate a Child Who Is Acting Silly/Chaotic
Session 3 – Friday, March 17 – 2-HOUR SPECIAL – Bullying: Empowerment for the Victim and Healing for the Bully
Session 4 – Friday, April 14 – How To Handle Problem Behaviors Like a Sore Loser or a Child Who Lies or Steals
Session 5 – Friday, May 12 – How To Regulate Your Reaction To Your Child
Session 6 – Friday, June 16 – How To Respond To A Child’s Nonverbal Signals
Session 7 – Wednesday, July 19 – How To Deal with Aggression and Out-of-Control Behaviors
Session 8 – Wednesday, August 16 – How To Validate A Child’s Feelings

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DAFNA LENDER BY AZUREE WIITALA 8459

Dafna is a godsend, I have been to therapy to heal my own trauma to be a better parent and wasted no end of money. What I have learnt with Dafna through TRF is helping me to be the parent I have always wanted to be to my two adopted children who also have their trauma.The way Dafna talks is as though it is to me directly, her experience is visible in the examples she provides which is very relatable, whether talking about the children or how I experience my children as a parent.That saying of heal yourself first before healing your child is so true, I can now stop and think what may be coming up for me and my children through those difficult moments. Thank you TRF for introducing Dafna to my world.

Katie T.

I loved the real life examples of how to implement what Dafna taught. I've learned to be less monotone with my voice, and that part of my child's behavior is normal for their age. I also like that she talked about regulating ourselves as parents before we react to our kids.

Kristen M.

Dafna does an excellent job of explaining the approach she uses with high-needs children and teens. She gives very specific examples which are helpful to get a sense of how to use these strategies in real life. I loved when she demonstrated techniques with participants as the child or client. I like that Dafna says the hard things to parents--as in you need to work on yourself so you can show up better for your child.

Brooke F.

I liked the real life examples, and Dafna's expertise is amazing. I particularly like that she looks beyond the behavior to what is driving the behavior. And the ideas about body placement, eye-contact, touch or no touch in regards to connection and de-escalation are priceless.

Michele T.

I liked Dafna's straightforwardness. She obviously knows the common problems parents are facing and is able to talk directly about the solutions. I like how her approach is compassionate, and she opened up my mind about how a child's nervous system could be affecting their behavior.

Stephanie W.

Dafna is a great presenter, SO knowledgeable, and she shares the information in a thoughtful, gentle way.

Becki W.

Best parenting class I've attended so far, and I've attended many. I like the main philosophy, focusing on the behavior of the parents.

Jessica C.

RESOURCES

New Blog Post!

The Trauma Therapist Project Podcast Interview

Check out the latest interview with Guy Macpherson on his podcast The Trauma Therapist Project. They talked about Dafna's work with kids and families, her approach, experience and much more.

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Dafna Podcast Trauma Therapist Project
Online Learning

Expert Discussions

Sit down with Dafna Lender as she shares with you conversations with 3 different experts: Peter Levine, Stephen Porges, and Bessel van der Kolk.

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A conversation with
Essential Read

Theraplay: The Practioner's Guide

Theraplay is an intervention that focuses on enhancing the connection, trust and joy between a child and a parent. It involves interactive, playful activities using simple face-to-face reciprocal interactions, and involves using all of the senses, including rhythm, movement and touch.

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Theraplay book cover

Latest Blog Posts

How to use posture
#50 – Posted Thursday November, 17th 2022

How to Use Posture When Working with Kids

The way you position your body when interacting with your child can have more of an impact than you might think.

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How therapists can support
#49 – Posted Tuesday July, 5th 2022

How Therapists Can Support Parents and Children Impacted by Mass Shootings

Following the tragic Highland Park Parade shooting, Dafna visited a Highland Park school to provide emotional support.

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To the parents
#48 – Posted Tuesday July, 5th 2022

To parents of children who witnessed the shooting in the Highland Park Parade

To parents of children who witnessed the shooting in the Highland Park Parade, or to those who have friends and family who were victims or witnessed the shooting.


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