VAPT Annual Conference

Day 1: Friday, March 7, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Title: Connecting Parents to the Heart of CCPT: Building Trust, Engagement, and Excellence in Child-Centered Play Therapy

Unlock the potential of parent involvement in child-centered play therapy (CCPT) with strategies designed to foster trust, understanding, and meaningful collaboration. This session delves into practical ways to engage parents at each phase of the CCPT process, from initial consultations to follow-up checkpoints. Learn to create a resource library that keeps parents informed and invested, articulate the essence of CCPT to various stakeholders, and build a confidence-competence loop to enhance service delivery. Leave with the tools to build a parent-centered approach that reinforces the therapeutic alliance and strengthens the CCPT process.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify effective strategies for involving parents in the CCPT process to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
2. Develop a resource library to support parent engagement, including blogs and handouts tailored to CCPT.
3. Outline a structured approach for conducting initial and 5-week consultations with parents, emphasizing open communication.
4. Explain the phases and timeline of CCPT to parents and stakeholders to set clear expectations.
5. Cultivate an "excellence mindset" in service delivery that builds parents’ trust and confidence in the CCPT process.
6. Articulate the principles and benefits of CCPT to foster a strong, trusting relationship with parents and community stakeholders.

Continental Breakfast and Lunch included.

This program offers 6.00 contact hours with full attendance required. For complete information on CE credit, see our website at: www.vaptplay.org

Intermediate Level | Play Therapy Special Topics

D ay 2: Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Title: Mastering the Essentials: Core Skills and Session Self-Review for excellence in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)

Deepen your expertise in child-centered play therapy (CCPT) by exploring its foundational skills and principles. This interactive session covers essential CCPT techniques—reflective responding, limit setting, choice giving, and encouragement. Engage in self-review practices to refine your approach and ensure fidelity to the CCPT model. Perfect for practitioners looking to reinforce their CCPT foundations, this workshop emphasizes both skill mastery and reflective practice as cornerstones of efficacy.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Identify and apply foundational CCPT skills, including reflective responding, limit setting, choice giving, and encouragement, to enhance therapeutic effectiveness.
2. Understand the core principles that form the foundation of the CCPT model and how to integrate them into everyday practice.
3. Build confidence in CCPT delivery through continuous reflective practice, aiming to achieve growth.
4. Examine the role of choice-giving in CCPT sessions, learning techniques to empower clients while maintaining therapeutic boundaries.
5. Develop an understanding of effective limit-setting approaches that promote safety within the playroom environment.
6. Demonstrate the use of encouragement in sessions to support a child’s confidence-building.
7. Recognize the rationale for the use of reflective responses in sessions to communicate presence and engagement.
8. Analyze personal CCPT sessions through structured self-review techniques, identifying areas for growth and reinforcing adherence to the classical model.

Continental Breakfast and Lunch included.

This program offers 6.00 contact hours with full attendance required. For complete information on CE credit, see our website at: www.vaptplay.org

Intermediate Level | Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, Play Therapy Special Topics

Hotels nearby: Courtyard Richmond West

Courtyard by Marriott Richmond West

Hampton Inn & Suites Richmond/Glenside

Residence Inn by Marriott Richmond West End

Schedule

Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Presentation : 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (includes break)

Lunch: 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Presentation: 1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (includes break)

HANDOUTS: In an effort to reduce paper waste and be more “green,” our policy is to email all handouts. Please include a valid email address with your registration to receive the handouts.

PHOTO RELEASE: By registering for this conference, you are giving permission for VAPT to use any photographs that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as VAPT deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the VAPT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs indefinitely. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify VAPT of your request to be omitted.

CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than March 1, 2025. Cancellations are subject to $50 processing fee. Substitutions, allowing someone else to take your spot, may be made in writing for no additional cost. Contact [email protected] for substitutions to your registration. No refunds are given due to inclement weather. No refunds after March 1, 2025.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: This program is co-sponsored by the Virginia Association for Play Therapy and The Institute for Continuing Education. The program on March 7-8, 2025, offers a total of 12.00 CE hours (6.00 hrs. per day). Full attendance is required for the days you attend. The CE processing fee is $30.00 (includes both days), payable with the return of completed CE documents. CE application forms and other materials will be available online. If you have questions regarding the program, continuing education, learning objectives, faculty, or grievance issues, contact The Institute at: 800-557-1950 / email: [email protected]

NOTE: To receive continuing education credit, applicants must complete all CE materials, sign in/out at designated locations, and submit an evaluation form for the sessions attended.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if CE credit offered by The Institute for Continuing Education meets the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.

Psychology: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility or this program and its content.

Counseling / MFT: For counselors seeking CE credit, The Institute for Continuing Education will submit a co-sponsorship application to NBCC for this program. This website will be updated regarding accreditation by NBCC.

Social Work: Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted, This website will be updated regarding accreditation.

Play Therapy: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by The Association for Play Therapy to sponsor continuing education specific to play therapy. The Institute maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 98-040.

Non-Credit Events: Registration, lunch, reception events, committee/business meetings, networking sessions.

Skills Level: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced.

Instructional Methodology: May include lecture, demonstration, audio/visual, experiential practice of techniques, case examples, large and small group discussion.

Brenna Hicks, PhD, LMHC-S, RPT™ - Dr. Brenna Hicks, host of the Play Therapy Podcast and author of Device Detox: A Parent's Guide To Reducing Usage, Preventing Tantrums, and Raising Happier Kids, has specialized exclusively in Child-Centered Play Therapy for almost two decades. Her passion is to preserve and promote the classical model through training, coaching, and education all around the world.

Host or Publisher Virginia Association for Play Therapy