Kevin O'Connor, PhD, RPT-S

Alliant International University
5130 E. Clinton Way
Fresno, CA 93727

Phone: (559) 456-2777, ext. 2273
Fax: (559) 253-2267
Email

Dr. O'Connor's CV

Specialties and Interests

• Ecosystemic Clinical Child Psychology
• Play Therapy
• Child Abuse
• Pediatric Psychology
• Cross-cultural Models of Child Psychotherapy

Programs and Research Projects

• Assessment of Caretaker-Child Interactions
• Bonding Evaluations
• Development of a rating system for the MIM

Courses Taught

• Ecosystemic Theory and Application
• Play Therapy I: Theory, Assessment and Case Formulation
• Play Therapy II: Interventions
• Teaching Parents Parenting Skills
• Pediatric Psychology

Research: Publications (past 5 years)

• O’Connor, K.  (2002)  The Value and Use of Interpretation In Play Therapy.  Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.  33(6), 523-528.
• O'Connor, K.  (2003)  Ecosystemic Play Therapy.  Schwierige Kinder Journal.  29, 16-21.
• O'Connor, K.  (2004)  Creating a coherent attachment history: Combining Theraplay and Cognitive-Verbal Interventions.  The Theraplay Institute Newsletter.  Summer, 5-8.
• O’Connor, K.  (2005)  Combining Play and Cognitive Interventions in the Treatment of Attachment Disordered Children.  In S. Brooke (Ed.)  Creative Arts Therapies Manual.  Springfield, IL: C.C. Thomas.
• O’Connor, K.  (2005)  Ecosystemic Play Therapy.  The Japanese Journal of Psychiatry.  19(3), 273-284.
• O’Connor, K.  (2005)  Addressing Diversity Issues in Play Therapy.  Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 566-573.
• O’Connor, K.  (2006)  Ecosystemic Play Therapy.  Japanese Journal of Addiction and the Family.  22(4), 347-356.
• O’Connor, K.  (2007)  “It Hurts Too Much” Using Play to Lessen the Trauma of Sexual Abuse Early in Therapy.  In S. Brooke (Ed.)  The Use of Creative Therapies with Sexual Abuse Survivors.  Springfield, IL: C.C. Thomas.
• O’Connor, K.  (2007)  Starting APT.  Play Therapy.  2 (2), 15.
• O'Connor, K., Coker, A., Clare, G. & McCollum, V. (2006). Intergenerational issues: "In big mama's house."  In S. M. Hobson & L. A. Carlson (Eds.), Critical Incidents in Counseling Children.  Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association, pp. 147-157.
• O’Connor, K. & New, D.  (2002)  The Color-Your-Life Technique: Advances and Innovations. In C. Schaefer and D. Cangelosi (Eds.)  Play Therapy Techniques, Second Edition. Northvale, NJ: Aronson.
• O’Connor, K. & New, D.  (2003)  Ecosystemic Play Therapy. In C. Schaefer (Ed.)  Foundations of Play Therapy. New York: Wiley. 

Professional Presentations (past 5 years)

• Assessing Attachment Clinically: The MIM Rating System. 10/11/02 18th Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference, St. Louis, MO.
• Essential Considerations in the Treatment of Child Abuse. 1/24/03 Korean Association for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Children, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA.
• Ecosystemic Play Therapy with Traumatized Children. 3/15/03 1st Annual Nevada Association for Play Therapy Conference, Reno, NV.
• Recent Advances in the Development of the MIM – Rating System. 6/26/03 1st International Theraplay Conference.  Chicago, IL.
• Theraplay and Cognitive Verbal Interventions. 6/27/03 1st International Theraplay Conference.  Chicago, IL.
• Play Therapy Around the World: A Panel Presentation (Germany, Korea, Mexico, U.K. and U.S.) 10/10/03 20th Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference.  Norfolk, VA.
• Play Therapy for Children with Chronic vs. Acute Medical Conditions 10/11/03 20th Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference.  Norfolk, VA.
• Augmenting Your Practice by Offering Short-Term, Secondary Prevention Services. 10/9/04 21st Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Denver, CO.
• Goal Oriented Play Therapy: The Ecosystemic Approach. 4/7/05 California Psychological Association Convention, Pasadena, CA.
• Helping Attachment Disordered Children: Creating Coherent Attachment Histories. 4/9/05 California Psychological Association Convention, Pasadena, CA.
• Ecosystemic Play Therapy. 7/8/06 Annual Conference, Play Therapy United Kingdom, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM.
• Ecosystemic Play Therapy with Traumatized Children. 7/9/06 Annual Conference, Play Therapy United Kingdom, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM.
• Ecosystemic Play Therapy with School Aged Children. 7/9/06 Annual Conference, Play Therapy United Kingdom, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM.
• Ecosystemic Play Therapy: Assessment, Treatment Planning & Interventions. Special Considerations in the Treatment of Abused Children. 9/14-15/06 Biannual Conference, Utah Association for Play Therapy, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Interpretation in Play Therapy (co-presented with Teri Krull, LCSW). 10/13/06 23rd Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Toronto, CANADA.
• Choosing Toys for the Playroom: Its not all Fun and Games. 10/15/06 23rd Annual Association for Play Therapy International Conference, Toronto, CANADA.
• Theories of Play Therapy. 2/23-24/07 1st Diplomado Internacional de Terapia de Juego, National Association of Play Therapy & the Center for Family and Couples Therapy, Mexico City, DF, MEXICO. 

Degrees, Professional Licenses, Certifications and Honors

• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology
• California License PSY9308 
• Registered Play Therapist & Supervisor 0002 
• New York Certificate 7065, (Inactive) 
• American Psychological Association
  Member & Fellow: Division 12, Society of Clinical Psychology
  Member & Fellow: Division 29, Psychotherapy
  Member & Fellow: Division 53, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Association for Play Therapy: Director Emeritus, Member and Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor
• Theraplay Association: Member
• Michigan State University School of Social Work, College of Social Science, Ruth T. Koehler Conference on Clinical Social Work with Children: Advisory Board Member
• American Council on Education International Collaborative: Liaison representing Alliant International University.

Professional and Honorary Memberships

• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Society of Clinical Psychology, 2006
• Association for Play Therapy, Director Emeritus, 2004
• Achievement Award for International Education, San Joaquin Psychological Association, 2003
• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 2001
• Fellow, American Psychological Association, Division of Psychotherapy, 1997
• Psychologist of the Year, San Joaquin Psychological Association, 1994
  

Community Service

• Independent Practice: Provide assessments and psychotherapy for a wide variety of, primarily, child clients. Specialize in children with severe abuse histories and significant attachment problems. Subspecialty in children coping with severe or chronic illness or medical trauma. Practice also includes some adults struggling to cope with their very disturbed children as well as gay and lesbian clients resolving adjustment problems. Assessment work focuses on bonding and attachment studies for use in termination of parental rights and adoption cases.