About Ken Gardner

Professional Background

Ken is a Registered Psychologist with a background in clinical, school and community psychology. He has been practicing as a Psychologist since 1989, as a Certified Child Psychotherapist and Play Therapist since 1999, and as a Certified Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapist Supervisor since 2008.

Ken specializes in the areas of play therapy for children with developmental, emotional and behavioral concerns. Ken also has many years of experience in conducting  educational evaluations for students experiencing learning and/or developmental difficulties. His practice areas include childhood adjustment issues related to depression, anxiety, attachment, and emotion regulation.

In addition to child-focused therapy services, Ken provides individual therapy services to adolescents and adults, along with parent consultation and family counselling. Comprehensive psychoeducational assessments, for both children and adolescents, form part of his specializations.

As the former co-director of the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute (RMPTI) Ken has extensive experience as a consultant and trainer in the field of Child and Play Therapy, both nationally and internationally. Ken is a past-co-owner of Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, which provided specialized assessment and therapy services to children and families in the Calgary region for over 10 years.

Ken is a past executive board member of the Canadian Association for Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapy (CACPT), the Alberta Play Therapy Association (APTA), and the Calgary SCOPE Society. In 2011 Ken was presented the Monica Hebert Award for his contribution and dedication to Play Therapy in Canada.

CV Highlights

PUBLICATIONS

 

Ken is the co-author of the Play Therapy Dimensions Model: A Decision-Making Guide for Integrative Play Therapists (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Second Edition, 2012). This book has been used extensively in training and university-based education programs for child and play therapist.

 

 

Ken co-edited this book for play therapists. It features an international group of authors from a wide variety of practice models in child and play therapy. The book, Turning points in play therapy and the emergence of self: Applications of the play Therapy Dimensions Model (Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2019), has been widely used in educational program for child and play therapists.

For more information on Ken’s professional experience as a trainer, educator and  author, please refer to the CV Highlights section (accessed above).