Cindy Puccio

BA, Middlebury College. MA, Sarah Lawrence College. MSW, New York University. PhD, Fielding Graduate University. Developmental psychologist and clinical social worker. Areas of speciality and interest in autism and developmental disorders, infancy and early childhood mental health, child-centered play therapy, humor development, therapeutic work with parents, and sensory processing and integration in young children. SLC, 2017–

Undergraduate Courses 2024-2025

Psychology

The Power and Meanings of Play in Children’s Lives

Intermediate/Advanced, Seminar—Fall

PSYC 3664

Prerequisite: prior college-level course in psychology

Play provides us with an amazing and informative lens for observing the development and complex inner lives of young children. Yet, play is being threatened by increasing amounts of time spent on technology and a growing societal focus on scheduled activities and academic goals. This course will offer an introduction to the many fascinating aspects of play, including the importance of unstructured free play, how play shapes the brain, sensory processing and self-regulation in play, outdoor play, cultural contexts of play, and humor development in play. Through readings, video illustrations, and discussion of student fieldwork at the Early Childhood Center, we will explore the many ways in which play contributes to the complex social, cognitive, emotional, and imaginative lives of children. This course will provide a foundation for the spring course, Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Families.

Faculty

Graduate Courses 2024-2025

MA Child Development

Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Families

Graduate Seminar—Spring

7220

This course will explore several early-intervention approaches for young children and their families, with a particular emphasis on the theory and technique of play therapy.  While this course will focus most on child-centered play therapy (CCPT), we will also look at the methodology of other types of approaches and how those approaches address treatment issues. In addition, course material will highlight cultural considerations, therapeutic work with parents/caregivers, challenges in treatment, self-reflection, self-regulation, sensory processing, interoception, and analysis of case studies. Readings, class discussions, group play-based activities, and video illustrations will provide students with both a theoretical and an introductory clinical basis for play-based therapeutic work with young children in early-intervention approaches.

Faculty

The Power and Meanings of Play in Children’s Lives

Graduate Seminar—Fall

7162

Play provides us with an amazing and informative lens for observing the development and complex inner lives of young children. Yet, play is being threatened by increasing amounts of time spent on technology and a growing societal focus on scheduled activities and academic goals. This course will offer an introduction to the many fascinating aspects of play, including the importance of unstructured free play, how play shapes the brain, sensory processing and self-regulation in play, outdoor play, cultural contexts of play, and humor development in play.  Through readings, video illustrations, and discussion of student fieldwork at the Early Childhood Center, we will explore the many ways that play contributes to the complex social, cognitive, emotional, and imaginative lives of children.  This course will provide a foundation for PSYC-7220, Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Families. Fieldwork at the Early Childhood Center is required for this course.  

Faculty

MSEd Art of Teaching

Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Families

Graduate Seminar—Spring

7220

This small seminar will explore several early-intervention approaches for young children and their families, with a particular emphasis on the theory and technique of play therapy. While this course will focus mostly on child-centered play therapy (CCPT), we will also look at the methodology of other types of approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and DIR/Floortime. In addition, course material will highlight cultural considerations, therapeutic work with parents and caregivers, challenges in therapeutic treatment, self-reflection, self-regulation, and interoception. Readings, class discussions, group play-based activities, and video illustrations will provide students with both a theoretical and introductory clinical basis for play-based therapeutic work with young children in early intervention.

Faculty

Previous Courses

MA Child Development

Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Their Families

Graduate Seminar—Spring

This small seminar will explore several early-intervention approaches for young children and their families, with a particular emphasis on the theory and technique of play therapy. While this course will focus mostly on child-centered play therapy (CCPT), we will also look at the methodology of other types of approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and DIR/Floortime. In addition, course material will highlight cultural considerations, therapeutic work with parents and caregivers, challenges in therapeutic treatment, self-reflection, self-regulation, and interoception. Readings, class discussions, group play-based activities, and video illustrations will provide students with both a theoretical and introductory clinical basis for play-based therapeutic work with young children in early intervention.

Faculty

Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Their Families Cynthia Puccio

Graduate Seminar—Spring

This course will explore several early-intervention approaches for young children and their families, with a particular emphasis on the theory and technique of play therapy.  While this course will focus most on child-centered play therapy (CCPT), we will also look at the methodology of other types of approaches and how those approaches address treatment issues.  In addition, course material will highlight cultural considerations, therapeutic work with parents/caregivers, challenges in treatment, self-reflection, self-regulation, sensory processing, interoception, and analysis of case studies. Readings, class discussions, group play-based activities, and video illustrations will provide students with both a theoretical and an introductory clinical basis for play-based therapeutic work with young children in early-intervention approaches.

Faculty

The Power and Meanings of Play in Children’s Lives

Graduate Seminar—Fall

Play provides us with an amazing and informative lens for observing the development and complex inner lives of young children. Yet, play is being threatened by increasing amounts of time spent on technology and a growing societal focus on scheduled activities and academic goals. This course will offer an introduction to the many fascinating aspects of play, including the importance of unstructured free play, how play shapes the brain, sensory processing and self-regulation in play, outdoor play, cultural contexts of play, and humor development in play.  Through readings, video illustrations, and discussion of student fieldwork at the Early Childhood Center, we will explore the many ways that play contributes to the complex social, cognitive, emotional, and imaginative lives of children.  This course will provide a foundation for PSYC-7220, Early Intervention Approaches for Young Children and Families. Fieldwork at the Early Childhood Center is required for this course.  

Faculty