VSOF NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024
November 2024
—– VSOF Conference, online and in person, June 27 through 29, 2025 ——
—— The Oaklander Model Goes to Nairobi ——
—— Certification in the Oaklander Model —– —
VSOF Conference
June 26 through 30, 2025
Our conference will be a “hybrid” event, with both online and in-person portions. The in-person part of the conference will begin Thursday evening and run through Monday noon at the Women’s Center in Carpinteria, California with the possibility of other in-person portions happening elsewhere “around the globe”. The on-line part of the conference will run from 6 AM through 2 PM PDT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28-29. Online workshops and presentation will be divided into some longer sessions, some shorter, some community-building across countries, etc.
For more information or to get involved contact Peter Mortola at pmortola@lclark.edu
The Oaklander Model Goes to Nairobi
By Karen Fried, Chair of the VSOF Board
Some Just for Now participants might have been in attendance when, among those gathered to meet Violet, was Florence Mueni, who calls herself “Mueni,” from Kenya. We have a great video clip of her holding up her well-used copy of Windows and saying it was the first book she used when starting her career working with children, and thanking Violet for being present and for having provided this valuable resource.
Florence then became connected to VSOF. She participated in the Oaklander online training; attended many JFNs; presented her now-famous, fun “hippo breathing” technique; and presented at the conference. Along the way, we also met wonderful Kenyan professionals, including Hamida Ahmed, who presented her experience working in schools during the pandemic at a JFN along with school-based professionals from the US, Italy and Sri Lanka. Each presenter’s conclusion informed us about their students’ experiences—and that we have more in common than we have differences.
As Chairperson of the Association of Play Therapy Kenya, Mueni invited me, as an Oaklander Model trainer, to present in person to 41 play therapists, psychologists, school counselors and teachers in Nairobi. I happily accepted this fortunate opportunity.
The VSOF Board of Directors voted to purchase all 40 copies of Violet’s Windows to Our Children. Then, Molly Rawle, MSW, publisher at Gestalt Journal Press, generously agreed to provide them to us at cost. After receiving this incredible news, all I had to do was fit the books into our luggage so I could deliver the precious gifts.
I then met the wonderful group in Nairobi for a 5-day Oaklander Training. First, we covered the reasons Violet found that children come to therapy: to build a better sense of self and to connect to their contact functions. During the training we explored many of the media she used to help them do so: drawings, clay, sand tray, puppets, collage. I had brought a picture of a violet-framed window, and towards the close of our time, all the participants together made a collage of the many views each of us saw through the windows after the training experience.
I enjoyed every minute and am so grateful for the experience.
Certification in the Oaklander Model
Training participants around the world can get certified in the Oaklander Model. Rugile Ridzeviciute of Lithuania is an active foundation member and serves as the foundation’s support person for applicants pursuing certification. Rugile guides applicants through the certification process and provides all necessary resources to applicants
Here are the VSOF requirements for certification.
- 70 Training Hours – with a VSOF-approved trainer. These 70 hours may be completed online.
- 10 Supervision Hours – with a VSOF-approved supervisor We have supervisors fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, Lithuanian, Russian, Hindi, Tamil, Bulgarian, Portuguese, Polich and SInhala.
- Written exam provided by VSOF
- Written case study showing successful use of the Oaklander Model
VSOF trainings meet the qualifications for continuing education for LMFT’s and LCSW’s who reside in California as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
VSOF Virtual Trainings meet the qualifications for contact hours of continuing education via live webinar for the Association for Play Therapists. VSOF In-Person Trainings meet the qualifications for contact hours of continuing education for the Association for Play Therapists. Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals. APT Approved Provider 21-640.
VSOF trainings meet the qualifications for continuing education towards certification from the Violet Solomon Oaklander Foundation (VSOF).
For more details, please contact our certification administration Rugile and her team by email at VSOFcertification@gmail.com
