Presenter:  Jonathan B. Singer, PhD, LCSW, an internationally recognized expert in youth suicide and social work technology. He is Professor of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago, Past-President of the American Association of Suicidology, author of over 100 publications, co-lead of the Social Work Grand Challenge “Harness Technology for Social Good,” and founder and host of the award-winning Social Work Podcast, for which he was named an NASW Social Work Pioneer in 2023. In 2024 he was named a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, and in 2025 he was named Distinguished Alumni at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.

This live webinar presentation will review the neurobiological benefits of play for adults, covering the properties of play, assessing the audience’s own level of playfulness, differences in play for the purpose of therapy or simply for “FUN”. The examination of various play forms will be offered including improvisation, therapeutic humor, play groups, novelty, and surprise. Explanation of how to incorporate these play modalities into clinical practice will be explored through experiential exercises with the audience.