Associate Professor Social Work

Year Joined RCNJ: 2018

Contact Information

  • Phone: (201) 684-7849
  • Email: cmarti13@ramapo.edu
  • Office: G-262
  • Office Hours: Monday 10-11 Thursday 2-4 and by appointment

Education:

  • Ph.D. 鈥� Rutgers University
  • M.S.W. 鈥� Rutgers University
  • B.S.W. 鈥� Rutgers University

Convening Group:听Social Work

Courses Offered:

  • Introduction to Social Work
  • Human Behavior in the Social Environment I-Theory
  • Human Behavior in the Social Environment II 鈥� Life Cycle
  • Theory and Practice of Social Work I/ Practicum I
  • Theory and Practice of Social Work II/ Practicum II
  • Research I
  • Research II
  • Introduction to Play Therapy

Teaching Interests:

  • Play Therapy
  • Direct Practice
  • Trauma
  • Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
  • Clinical Practice with Children and Families
  • Measurement in Social Work Practice
  • Program Development and Evaluation

听Research Interests:

  • School based wellness, prevention and intervention
  • Anti racism and anti racist organizational change
  • Social work education
  • Relationships in the teaching and learning process

Publications:

Martinez, C.D. (in press) A Survey of Social Workers鈥� Experiences and Beliefs About Play Therapy Coursework, Journal of Social Work Education.

Martinez, C.D. & Trammel, B. (2025). Practical Applications of Play Therapy Principles in Early Childhood Classrooms, Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education, 9(1), 1-22.

Sacristan, D. & Martinez, C.D. (2023). Using Clinical Simulation to Assess MSW Students鈥� Engagement Skills, Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 43(2), 155-174.

Martinez, C.D. (2021). Latrice鈥檚 Story. In J.L.M. McCoyd, J.M. Koller & C.A. Walter (Eds.) Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan (pp.71-75). Springer.

Martinez, C.D. & Blair, S. (October 2015). Education Policy & Reform: What Do You Think? NASW NJ Focus, 24 (5), 19-20.

Martinez, C.D. & Dowd, P. (December 2012) Bringing Play Therapy To School. Play Therapy Magazine, 14-19.

Baer, J. C. & Martinez, C. D. (2006). Child Maltreatment and Insecure Attachment: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 24 (3), 187-197.

Conference Presentations:

Refereed Conference Presentations

Martinez, C.D., Hocutt, A., Martinez, Y.听 & Ober, C. (April, 2021) Student Voices on Social Work Education During the COVID – 19 Pandemic. Roundtable moderator of student panel at Global Social Work Symposium, virtual.

Martinez, C.D. & Williams, J. (March, 2021) Envisioning Anti Racist Social Work Organizational Change: Amplifying the Grey Literature. Paper presented at Social Work, White Supremacy, and Racial Justice: Reckoning with Our History, Interrogating our Present, Re-Imagining our Future Symposium, virtual.

Martinez, C.D. (January 2021) Building Community for Online Course Success. Presentation at Faculty Resource Network Teach Share, virtual.听

Martinez, C.D. (November, 2009) A Simple, Useful Play Technique for Your Child, Adolescent and Adult Clients. Interactive workshop presented at听 Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, San Antonio, TX.听

Martinez, C.D. (March, 2005) An Introduction to Play Therapy for Social Work Educators and their Students. Presented at Council on Social Work Education Annual Program Meeting, New York, NY.

Refereed Poster Presentation

Martinez, C.D. & Baer, J.C. (January, 2005) Child Maltreatment and Insecure Attachment: A Meta-Analysis. Poster presented at Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Miami, FL.

Conference Talks:

鈥淯sing Play Therapy at School with Young Students with Emotional and Behavioral Issues鈥� –听 New Jersey Education Association Convention. Virtual, November 5, 2020.听

鈥淯sing Group Play in the Classroom to Foster Relationships, Cooperation, and Community鈥� –听 EdCamp SEL.听 Mahwah, NJ, May 30, 2019.听

鈥淯sing Group Play in the Classroom to Foster Relationships, Cooperation, and Community鈥� – New Jersey School Boards Mental Health Conference. 听 West Windsor, NJ, April 9, 2019.听

鈥淯sing Group Play in the Classroom to Foster Relationships, Cooperation, and Community鈥� – NJ Council for Exceptional Children Annual Spring Conference.听 Mahwah, NJ, March 22, 2019.

鈥淯sing Play Therapy at School with Young Students with Emotional and Behavioral Issues鈥� –听 New Jersey Council for Exceptional Children Annual Spring Conference. Mahwah, NJ, March 12, 2018.听

鈥淓ffective Classroom Teams: The Classroom Teacher, the Paraprofessional, and How the Social Worker Might Assist鈥� (With co-presenter Allison Turon).听 New Jersey Education Association Convention. Atlantic City, NJ, November 9, 2017.

鈥淪chool Based Play Therapy and How to Become a School Based Registered Play Therapist鈥� – New Jersey School Counselor Association Fall Conference, Edison, NJ, September 29, 2017.

鈥淯sing Play Therapy at School with Young Students with Emotional and Behavioral Issues鈥� –听 New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education鈥檚 15th Annual Summer Inclusion Conference. Montclair, NJ, June 27, 2017.

鈥淐oping Tips for Staff and Students Dealing with Test Anxiety鈥� – New Jersey Education Association Convention. Atlantic City, NJ, November 5, 2015.听

鈥淭est Taking and Student Anxiety鈥� – New Jersey Association of School Social Workers Spring Institute. Woodbridge, NJ. May 18, 2015.听

鈥淧lay Therapy at School鈥�-听 New Jersey Association of听 School Social Workers Spring Institute. Monroe, NJ,听 April 7, 2014. 听

Webinars:

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders. 鈥淓ssential Connections: Navigating a Path to College Success鈥� November 20, 2024.

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders. 鈥淭he Important Work of Play鈥� April 22, 2021.听

NJ Association of School Social Workers. 鈥淭he Important Work of Play (during COVID)鈥� January 13, 2021.

NJ Council for Exceptional Children.听 鈥淲hat is Play Therapy鈥� December 9, 2020.听

NJ Council for Exceptional Children.听 鈥淭he Important Work of Play鈥� July 30, 2020.听

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders.听 鈥淒emystifying DSM 5: What Parents and Educators Should Know鈥� March 15, 2017.听

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders.听 鈥淧lay Therapy: What is it and How Can it Help My Child?鈥� June 1, 2016.听

NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders.听 鈥淎nxiety and Test Taking鈥� August 18, 2015.听听

Workshops and presentations:

鈥淭ransforming Relationships through Child-Directed Play鈥� – Things you Learn in Therapy with Dr. Beth Trammel podcast episode 76. December 9, 2023.

鈥淗arnessing Behavior Strategies to Keep Recess in Schools鈥� – Things you Learn in Therapy with Dr. Beth Trammel podcast episode 75. December 1, 2023.

鈥淯nderstanding the Magic of Play Therapy with Dr. Colleen Martinez鈥� – Things you Learn in Therapy with Dr. Beth Trammel podcast episode 74. November 24, 2023.

鈥淗arnessing Behavior Strategies to Keep Recess in Schools鈥� – Kids These Days: Tools for Supporting Children’s Mental Health podcast episode 118. October 23, 2023.

鈥淩eclaiming the Power of Play with Dr. Colleen Martinez鈥� – Kids These Days: Tools for Supporting Children’s Mental Health podcast episode 113. September 11, 2023.

鈥淭he Importance of Play in Children鈥檚 Development鈥� – Leap-ei, Bloomfield, NJ,听 February 21, 2023.

鈥淯sing Play Therapy with Students with Emotional and Behavioral Issues鈥� –听 Monmouth and Ocean Regional Professional Development Academy. Eatontown, NJ,听 December 14, 2022.

鈥淭he Importance of Play in Children鈥檚 Social and Emotional Development鈥� – NASW NJ Monmouth Ocean Unit. Virtual, March 11, 2022.

鈥淯sing Play to Help Students Return to School and Connect鈥� – Rutgers Health, University Behavioral Health Care. Piscataway, NJ, August 30, 2021.

鈥淧lay in the Time of Online Learning鈥� – TEAM Charter: Newark for Newark Camden, and Miami TEAM Charter Schools. Virtual,听 March 19, 2021.听

鈥淧layful Ways of Coping with Anxiety鈥� – Bergen County Technical Schools Mental Health Awareness Day. Virtual, March 12, 2021.

鈥淭he Important Work of Play鈥� – Cannon Conversations: Parents Helping Parents Podcast. Virtual, July 14, 2020.听

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, December 13, 2019.

鈥淯sing Play Therapy with Students with Emotional and Behavioral Issues鈥� – KIPP: Newark. Newark, NJ,听 December 4, 2019.

鈥淯sing Play Therapy with Students with Emotional and Behavioral Issues鈥� –听 Monmouth and Ocean Regional Professional Development Academy. Eatontown, NJ,听 November 20, 2019.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Paramus, NJ, October 25, 2019.听

鈥淭he Mother and the Sexually Abused Child鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, October 11, 2019.

鈥淯sing Play Therapy with Preschool Aged Children with Emotional and Behavioral Challenges鈥� –听 NJ Association for Infant Mental Health and NJ Association for Play Therapy.听 Montclair, NJ, June 20, 2019.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, June 14, 2019.

鈥淎n Introduction to Play Therapy for School Counselors鈥澨� – Bergen County School Counselors Association, Paramus, NJ, September 28, 2018.听

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, June 1, 2018.

鈥淭he Role of the Mother-Child Relationship in Child Sexual Abuse: Using an Attachment Framework Approach to Engagement in Services and Treatment鈥� –听 State University of New York at Buffalo.听 Buffalo, NY, April 27, 2018.

鈥淧lay Therapy with Children and Families鈥� –听 New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work and the Clinical Social Work Guild. Montclair, NJ, April 12, 2018.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, February 14, 2018.

鈥淎ttachment Theory: A Helpful Framework for Understanding and Intervening with At Risk Children and their Caregivers鈥� – Care Plus New Jersey.听 Paramus, NJ, November 30, 2017.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Bridgewater, NJ, September 22, 2017.

鈥淭he Mother and the Sexually Abused Child鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, June 7, 2017.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, May 25, 2017.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Paramus, NJ, May 11, 2017.

鈥淧lay Therapy with Children and Their Families鈥� – Care Plus New Jersey.听 Paramus, NJ, May 4, 2017.

鈥淐reative and Expressive Techniques for the Trauma Therapist鈥� – Audrey Hepburn Children鈥檚 House at Hackensack University Medical Center. Hackensack, NJ, November 2, 2016.

鈥淧lay Therapy Skills for the Trauma Therapist鈥� –听 Audrey Hepburn Children鈥檚 House at Hackensack University Medical Center. Hackensack, NJ, October 26, 2016.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, June 10, 2016.

鈥淭he Mother and the Sexually Abused Child鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Teterboro, NJ, June 3, 2016.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, May 20, 2016.

鈥淧lay Therapy with Children and Families鈥�-听 George J. Otlowski, Sr. Center for Mental Health Care. Perth Amboy, NJ,听 March 22, 2016.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, December 4, 2015.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, June 4, 2015.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, May 14, 2015.

鈥淔avorite Play Therapy Techniques鈥� –听 New Jersey Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Morristown, NJ, May 1, 2015.听

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, June 13, 2014.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, June 6, 2014.

鈥淭he Mother and the Sexually Abused Child鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Paramus, NJ, May 16, 2014.

鈥淭he Importance of Movement and Play in Learning鈥� – Irvington Public Schools. Irvington, NJ, April 2, 2014.

鈥淲orking with Difficult Students鈥� – Irvington Public Schools Middle and High School Special Educators. Irvington, NJ, January 28, 2014.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Flemington, NJ, January 21, 2014.

鈥淲orking with Difficult Students鈥� – Irvington Public Schools Preschool and Elementary Special Educators. Irvington, NJ, January 7, 2014.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, August 9, 2013.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. New Brunswick, NJ, July 12, 2013.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Piscataway, NJ, June 11, 2012.

鈥淢ental Health Issues in the Classroom鈥� – Irvington Public Schools. Irvington, NJ, May 3, 2012.听

鈥淧lay Therapy with Adolescents鈥� – Bergen County Division of Family Guidance. Hackensack, NJ, March 30, 2012.听

鈥淯nderstanding and Working with Challenging Student Behaviors: A Play Therapist’s Perspective鈥� – Irvington Public Schools. Irvington, NJ, March 27, 2012.

鈥淢ental Health and Academic Functioning鈥� – Irvington Public Schools. Irvington, NJ,听 December 9, 2011.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, October 10, 2011.听

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Hackensack, NJ, May 12, 2011.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Piscataway, NJ, October 8, 2010.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, July 16, 2010.

鈥淎ttachment Theory鈥澨� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Piscataway, NJ, May 27, 2010.

鈥淭he Mother and the Sexually Abused Child鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, April 2, 2010.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Piscataway, NJ, July 10, 2009.

鈥淧lay Therapy Techniques that You Can Use Today鈥� – Rutgers School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education. Parsippany, NJ, December 11, 2008.

Credentials

听NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker

NJ Clinical Social Work Supervisor

Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor

 

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