Presenter: Kimberly Jayne, PhD, LPC, RPT-S

This session will focus on applying developmental knowledge in practice, promoting protective factors and resilience, preparing the playroom and structuring the therapeutic process, adapting CCPT skills and interventions, partnering with caregivers, and responding to common challenges with 3-5 year olds.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe developmental experiences, skills, tasks and considerations for preschool children (ages 3-5) in play therapy.
2. Identify factors that impact early childhood mental health, protective and risk factors, and common presenting concerns for preschoolers in play therapy.
3. Apply specific strategies to make the playroom and play therapy process developmentally and culturally responsive for children age 3-5.

Level: Intermediate
Primary Area: Seminal or Historically Significant Theories | Skills and Methods | Special Topics
Content Focus: Preschool, Theory / Process
Theoretical Basis: Attachment | Child-Centered | Humanistic / Relationship

Continuing Education:
2 Hrs

Presenter: Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S

Much is at stake when using play therapy with sexually abused children. Countertransference and compassion fatigue can be challenging/complex. This advanced discussion will explore the impact of countertransference and compassion fatigue on the play therapist and the play therapy process.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the potential impact of countertransference on the play therapist and the play therapy process in cases of child sexual abuse.
2. Discuss the potential impact of compassion fatigue on the play therapist and the play therapy process in cases of child sexual abuse.
3. Describe play therapy interventions to explore and process countertransference reactions and compassion fatigue in self and supervisees.

Level: Advanced Discussion
Primary Area: Special Topics
Content Focus: Trauma
Theoretical Basis: Integrative

Continuing Education:
2 Hrs

Presenter: LaKaavia Taylor, PhD, LPC, RPT & Dee Ray, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S

The presenters conducted the first randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) on the social-emotional competencies of African American children. Based on positive findings and clinical observations, this presentation will address essential issues related to serving African-American children, cultural adaptations to CCPT for African-American children, and how to effectively serve African-American parents. Presenters will also discuss issues related to therapist-client cultural match and ways in which play therapists can be advocates for African-American children.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the relationship between social-emotional competencies, African-American children, and play therapy intervention.
2. Identify at least 2 signs of racial-related stress and challenges that may appear in African-American children's lives and play therapy sessions.
3. Identify modifications to child-centered play therapy in order to address cultural competence in working with African-American children and their families.

Level: Intermediate
Primary Area: History
Content Focus: Research, Theory, Cultural Competence
Theoretical Basis: Child-Centered

Continuing Education:
2 Hrs

Presenter: Jeff Ashby, PhD, RPT-S & Terry Kottman, PhD, LMHC, RPT-S

In this fun, interactive workshop, you will get to explore the concepts, skills, and strategies of Adlerian play therapy, a seminal approach to working therapeutically with children, parents, and teachers that integrates the ideas of Individual Psychology with play therapy.

Learning Objectives:
1. List the goals of misbehavior (Attention, Power, Revenge, Proving Inadequacy), and explain how the goals of misbehavior are used in Adlerian play therapy.
2. Explain what lifestyle is and why thinking about it is important in Adlerian play therapy.
3. Describe 2 strategies for exploring the child's lifestyle in Adlerian play therapy.

Level: Intermediate
Primary Area: Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
Content Focus: Theory / Process,
Theoretical Basis: Adlerian

Continuing Education:
2 Hrs

Presenter: Jeff Ashby, PhD, RPT-S & Terry Kottman, PhD, LMHC, RPT-S

In this fun, interactive workshop, you will get to explore the concepts, skills, and strategies of Adlerian play therapy, a seminal approach to working therapeutically with children, parents, and teachers that integrates the ideas of Individual Psychology with play therapy.

Learning Objectives:
1. List the goals of misbehavior (Attention, Power, Revenge, Proving Inadequacy), and explain how the goals of misbehavior are used in Adlerian play therapy.
2. Explain what lifestyle is and why thinking about it is important in Adlerian play therapy.
3. Describe 2 strategies for exploring the child's lifestyle in Adlerian play therapy.

Level: Intermediate
Primary Area: Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
Content Focus: Theory / Process,
Theoretical Basis: Adlerian

Continuing Education:
2 Hrs