KSAPT 2026 Conference with Dr. Eliana Gil

Program Description:

This workshop is designed to provide participants with a structured and manualized assessment process that uses play therapy principles and techniques as the theoretical framework. This assessment tool has been developed over the last twenty years of working with children who have histories of trauma. Characteristically, these children do not volunteer information, may not be emotionally or cognitively capable of formulating accurate perceptions and communicating those perceptions, and may feel hesitant to repeat their stories after multiple interviews or evaluations. The aim of this assessment process is to give children the time they need to become familiar with clinicians and therapy environments as well as find their own ways of processing difficult emotions at their own pace. Deeply reliant on the expressive arts, this assessment approach invites children to use play, art, and sand therapy techniques in order to externalize whatever is on their mind. Clinicians are encouraged to document thematic material in children's play, listen to, and invite metaphors, and craft comments and questions.

Learning Objectives:

1) Provide at least two reasons that support the utilization of extended play-based assessments for children and adolescents exposed to trauma.

2) Discuss a rationale for utilizing child-centered play therapy.

3) List two play therapy ways in which children may feel comfortable showing their feelings.

4) Name at least two play-based assessment strategies that might facilitate children’s expression of thoughts and feelings about family interactions.

5) Discuss the importance of clinical observations and thematic material derived from the creation of sand world scenarios and directive and nondirective drawings/art projects.

6) Name at least two domains of impairment observed in children exposed to trauma.

Program Description:

The last ten years has seen an acute rise on the amount and substance of information that is available on the impact of child maltreatment on development. Most notable, is the neuroscientific data that sheds light and explains more deeply, how early trauma affects the physical, brain, emotional, and health factors in children. And there are areas of consensus, for example, what clinicians should target during treatment. What remains creatively flexible, is how to select treatment models and approaches from a growing array of mental health services designed to respond to children effectively. This workshop will provide state of the art information on the impact of childhood trauma, what areas need attention over time, and several approaches to facilitate good assessment and practice trauma-informed therapy.

Young children have been found to have a unique ability to utilize their own reparative capacities in order to “work through” their traumas. This self-directed healing strategy in many children allows them to initiate gradual exposure by utilizing literal or symbolic play to show (rather than tell) what has occurred and the idiosyncratic ways that they may have made meaning of trauma. This workshop will talk about how children access these abilities and how they demonstrate that they are working through their traumatic memories. In addition, we will talk about how therapists can respond, how they can advance the play, and what to do when the play gets stuck and becomes not only unproductive, but retraumatizing.

Learning Objectives:

1) List two domains of functioning affected by childhood trauma that can be addressed by play therapists.

2) List two target areas for treatment that can be accomplished through play therapy (consensus areas).

3) Define the concept of “continuous treatment” to address cognitive re-evaluations, and explain how play therapists can approach children.

4) List two assessment techniques that include play therapy.

5) Discuss the three phases of treatment that play therapists can utilize.

6) Define post-traumatic play.

7) List two features of this unique play.

8) List two potential benefits that children can gain through this type of play.

9) Describe two ways we know post-trauma play is succeeding.

10) Describe two ways we know past-trauma play is stuck, and two ways play therapists can respond.

1. If a participant withdraws from the conference 30 Calendar days or more before the 1st Day of the event, the participant will receive a full refund, minus the Event Brite processing fee. All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than March 14th, 2026. You can request a refund by reaching out to the Conference Chair, Marque Moss, at [email protected].

2. Unless otherwise stated, no other refunds or reimbursements allowed. No exceptions granted. ***No refunds or partial refunds after March 14, 2026.***

Attendees at any KSAPT events where CE’s are available are required to sign in and sign out each morning, before and after lunch, as well as at the end of each day. To receive CE credit, attendees must have signed in and out for all portions present, attended the full timeframe of the session(s) and attendees must also complete an evaluation of the day(s) attended. When attending an in person training, please prioritize completing the evaluation on-site and confirm that you have received your digital certificate. This way any issues may be addressed by a board member.

Failure to sign in or out each day will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course and no exceptions will be made and partial credit is not available. An email will be sent to participants upon completion of the training with directions for evaluation completion and certificate generation.

For any CE’s being requested 30 days after the training, attendees are required to complete an online form. All CE requests will be processed once a month on the last day of each month. If a member has an urgent request where they are needing their CE in 48 hours or less, an administrative fee of $10 may be required.

This training in in-person only. No recording will be available. This training is for 6 contact hours from APT each day (opportunity to earn 12 total). Approved Provider 02-188. Partial credit will not be rewarded and will not be rewarded for non-mental health professionals. Participants must be in attendance the entire presentation to receive credit.

We are committed to making this training an affirming, accessible, and inclusive space for individuals of all neurotypes, disabilities, and diverse lived experiences. Our goal is to create an environment where every participant feels valued, respected, and supported in their learning journey.

We recognize that accessibility is not one-size-fits-all, and despite our best efforts, we may not anticipate every need. If there is something we can do to support your full participation, please reach out to us. While we may not be able to accommodate every request, we will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all attendees can engage comfortably, feel safe, and learn in a space that is as inclusive and least restrictive as possible.

We value feedback and encourage open communication to continually improve the accessibility and inclusivity of our training. Your voice matters, and we are here to listen and learn alongside you.

KSAPT strives to prepare accommodations for those with disabilities and nursing parents. Please email [email protected] at least 4 weeks in advance so we can work with you on any needs you may have.

KSAPT welcomes vendors and display setups from recognized affiliates. We encourage those interested to reach out to Andie Mitchell ([email protected]) to discuss the details.

If you have any other inquiries, please email [email protected].

King/Queen Rooms

$104/per night/Resturant on site

3642 N. Oliver, Wichita, Kansas, 67220

Phone: 316-744-1100

Online Booking Link

Info: Lunch provided on-site for Thursday attendees only.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Kansas Association for Play Therapy