Child-Centered Play Therapy (6 Week Workshop Series)

Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) was derived from the principals of person-centered therapy and developed for children ages 3-10. In CCPT, play therapists understand that the natural language of children is play and believe in the importance of the therapeutic relationship as the healing agent of change. Play therapists create a warm, empathetic, and understanding space while utilizing a set of skills that honors the development of the child and facilitates self-directed healing through child-led play therapy. Throughout six separate workshops that build upon each other, participants will be provided with an overview of the theory, skills, and the six basic conditions of CCPT. Additionally, participants will develop a deeper understanding of the primary skills of CCPT through a process of learn, see, and do. The use of case studies, videos, and live practice will strengthen the participants' understanding of how to implement CCPT skills into their work with clients. Participants will develop their skills on explaining the effectiveness of CCPT to caregivers, track progress of clients, and prepare for both planned and unplanned termination sessions. Throughout the workshop series, emphasis will be placed on self-reflection in order for participants to find their congruent and authentic way of being present in the play therapy room.

Cost: The cost for the full training is $800/participant, this will also include 3 monthly 1hr booster CCPT supervision groups held in Jan, Feb, Mar 2026 (dates TBD) on a virtual platform (this group is closed only to participants of this cohort) and 1 observation play session with feedback.

Student rate (with valid ID): $450

Discount (5%) when paid in full, payment plan broken into 2 payments available upon request.

*Please note, purchasing through Eventbrite is for pre-registration only. Shortly after registration you will receive an email from [email protected] with more information and an invoice once you select your payment preference.

Week 1: 3 CE

Child-Centered Play Therapy: Theory and Introduction

November 5, 2025 9:30am-12:30am EST

This workshop is the first of a 6-week series in which the skills will build upon the next. During this 3-hour workshop, participants will be provided with an overview of the theory of child-centered play therapy (CCPT), an understanding of the six basic conditions and tenets of CCPT, and an introduction to the skills of CCPT. Participants will engage in a discussion of the structure, set up of the CCPT model, and special considerations, to include a brief overview of introductions to systematic partners, shared playroom etiquette, and troubleshooting of common issues that arise in the playroom. Participants will see a demonstration of a CCPT session and will be expected to practice with live feedback.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to explain the theory, six basic conditions, and central tenets of CCPT.

2. Participants will be able demonstrate the structure and set up of the CCPT model in order to start implementing treatment.

3. Participants will be able to recite the primary skills of CCPT and practice how they will be utilized in the playroom

Week 2: 2 CE

Child-Centered Play Therapy: Tracking and Reflecting Content

November 15, 2025 10am-12pm EST

This 2-hour workshop is a continuation of a 6-week child-centered play therapy (CCPT) series in which each skill builds upon the previous. During this workshop, participants will go into a deeper dive of how to track a child’s play and reflect both verbal and symbolic content during a CCPT session. Participants will be provided with a focused demonstration of how these skills are used in a CCPT session and will be given time to practice with live feedback.

*Prerequisite: Workshop 1

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify the skill of tracking in a play therapy session and demonstrate how it is used in CCPT.

2. Participants will be able to describe the skill of reflecting the content of the child’s symbolic and verbal expression and demonstrate how it is used in CCPT.

3. Participants will be able to demonstrate both tracking and reflecting content skills in a CCPT session while receiving live feedback.

Week 3: 2 CE

Child-Centered Play Therapy: Reflecting Feelings and Returning Responsibility

November 19, 2025 10am-12pm EST

This 2-hour workshop is a continuation of a 6-week child-centered play therapy (CCPT) series in which each skill builds upon the previous. During this workshop, participants will go into a deeper dive of how to reflect feelings and utilize returning responsibility during a CCPT session. Participants will be provided with a focused demonstration of how these skills are used in a CCPT session and will be given time to practice with live feedback.

*Prerequisite: Workshops 1 and 2

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify the skill of reflecting feelings throughout a play session and demonstrate how it is used in CCPT.

2. Participants will be able to describe the skill of returning responsibility in a play therapy session and demonstrate how it is used in CCPT.

3. Participants will be able to demonstrate both reflection of feelings and returning responsibility in a CCPT session while receiving live feedback.

Week 4: 2 CE

Child-Centered Play Therapy: Limit Setting Using the ACT Model

December 3, 2025 10am-12pm EST

This 2-hour workshop is a continuation of a 6-week child-centered play therapy (CCPT) series in which each skill builds upon the previous. During this workshop, participants will go into a deeper dive of how to implement limit setting and advanced limit setting through the use of the ACT model during a CCPT session. Additionally, participants will receive examples of how to support systematic partners in limit setting during both caregiver and school consultations. Participants will be provided with a focused demonstration of how these skills are used in a CCPT session and will be given time to practice with live feedback.

*Prerequisite: Workshops 1, 2 and 3

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to explain the therapeutic rationale for limit setting in CCPT.

2. Participants will be able to identify the skill of therapeutic limit setting through the use of the ACT model in a play therapy session and demonstrate how it is used in CCPT.

3. Participants will be able to demonstrate the use of therapeutic limit setting (and advanced limit setting) in a CCPT session while receiving live feedback.

Week 5: 2 CE

Child-Centered Play Therapy: Understanding Themes and Deeper Meaning

December 13, 2025 10am-12pm EST

This 2-hour workshop is a continuation of a 6-week child-centered play therapy (CCPT) series in which each skill builds upon the previous. During this workshop, participants will go into a deeper dive of understanding play therapy themes and how to look at the intention of the child to make deeper reflections in a CCPT session. Additionally, participants will receive examples of how themes and deeper meaning can also be used

in a discussion with caregivers. Participants will be provided with a focused demonstration of how these skills are used in a CCPT session and will be given time to practice with live feedback.

*Prerequisite: Workshops 1, 2, 3 and 4

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to describe the difference between play behaviors and play therapy themes in the play therapy room.

2. Participants will be able to identify the skill of reflecting deeper meaning based on play therapy themes and demonstrate how it is used in CCPT.

3. Participants will be able to demonstrate the use of play therapy themes and reflecting deeper content in a CCPT session while receiving live feedback.

Week 6: 2 CE

Child-Centered Play Therapy: That’s a Wrap!

December 17, 2025 10am-12pm EST

This 2 hour workshop is a continuation of a 6 week child-centered play therapy (CCPT) series in which each skill builds upon the previous. During this workshop, participants will put together all of the play therapy skills they have learned throughout the previous sessions and demonstrate their ability to implement into a CCPT session with live feedback. Additionally, the presenter will guide participants through an understanding of how to track the child’s progress through play therapy, provide continued support to caregivers while communicating the ongoing benefits of play therapy, and prepare for play therapy termination sessions.

*Prerequisite: Workshops 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to list the different ways they can track progress of play therapy in order to describe the child’s growth and healing to systematic partners.

2. Participants will be able to demonstrate how to conduct effective and supportive caregiver consultations from a child centered play therapy perspective.

3. Participants will be able to prepare for both planned and unplanned termination of CCPT treatment.

This training meets the standards for APT CONTACT WORKSHOP and participants will be credited up to (13) contact CEUs following attendance and feedback survey.

Cancellation Policy: All training purchases are final. Integrated Play Connections does not provide a 100% refund. However, if canceled at least 72 hours before the event, you may receive 50% of the non-refundable amount in the form of a discount to put towards a future Integrated Play training.

Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center, PLLC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider 24-746 Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center, PLLC. maintains responsibility for the program.

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Dr. Samantha Long, PhD, LPC, RPT, NCC

Samantha is a faculty professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-owner of Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia, a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Since 2018, she has specialized in working with children impacted by trauma, adversity, and stress, with particular experience supporting families navigating separation or divorce.

Samantha cares deeply about supporting children’s mental health through approaches that are humanistic, attachment-focused, trauma-informed, and culturally attuned. She is dedicated to equipping counselors and play therapists with developmentally sensitive, evidence-based practices that foster healing, resilience, and healthy relationships for children and their families.

Michelle Walker, LCSW, RPT-S holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania (2011) and a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health from the University of Southern California (2014). She is a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor awarded by the Association for Play Therapy. Her clinical work is rooted in humanistic theory, with a focus on early childhood and elementary-aged children (ages 0–12). She specializes in Child-Centered Play Therapy and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy, providing developmentally appropriate interventions that honor each child’s innate capacity for growth and healing. She believes that, within a safe and supportive therapeutic environment and through a genuine therapeutic relationship, children are naturally inclined toward positive self-direction. Her approach supports increased self-concept, emotional awareness, regulation, and expressive emotional vocabulary. As Co-Owner of Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center, Michelle provides supervision and training for those working towards their Registered Play Therapy credential.

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