VAPT Annual Conference

Early Registration ends Sunday, February 1st at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Day 1: Friday, March 13, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Day 2: Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

This conference works best as a two day experience because the content builds so naturally from filling in gaps and strengthening core skills to diving into more advanced questions and exploration on the second day.

Title: Think You’re Cool Enough to Work with Pre-Adolescents and Teens in Play Therapy?

Think you’re cool enough to work with pre-adolescents and teens in play therapy? If you’re still using the word cool, then probably not — but don’t worry, you can be!

Join us for a two-day, hands-on workshop exploring the ever-changing world of pre-adolescents and teens in play therapy. We’ll travel from the first session to termination, highlighting creative and expressive interventions that speak to today’s youth.

We’ll also turn the focus inward, helping clinicians develop awareness of the therapist self. We’ll examine how our own language, humor, and authenticity shape the therapeutic process. Expect laughter, insight, and experiential activities that will refresh your approach to working with pre-teens and teens

Whether you’re trying to decode eye rolls, navigate resistance, or re-ignite your own sense of play, this workshop will help you meet adolescents where they are and still feel (and maybe even be) cool doing it.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the developmental, social, and cultural factors influencing pre-adolescent and teen engagement in play therapy.
2. Identify at least three play therapy interventions integrating expressive and technology-informed methods for use with pre-adolescents and teens.
3. Demonstrate increased self-awareness of the therapist’s generational lens and its impact on play therapy effectiveness and rapport building.
4. Apply strategies for initiating, maintaining, and terminating play therapy with pre-/adolescents.
5. Analyze common play therapist missteps when attempting to use humor, slang, or pop-culture references with youth, and identify strategies for maintaining authenticity.
6. Adapt core play therapy skills (such as tracking, limit setting, and thematic responding) into adolescent-appropriate forms.
7. Learn how to “age up” the playroom by curating developmentally attuned, teen-relevant materials that promote autonomy, expression, and therapeutic engagement.
8. Demonstrate at least two methods for incorporating client-generated media (art, music, memes, digital content) into a play therapy treatment.
9. Evaluate ethical considerations unique to play therapy with adolescents, including confidentiality, digital boundaries, and caregiver communication.
10. Identify signs of therapist countertransference related to personal adolescent experiences and implement reflective practices to reduce its impact on treatment.
11. Integrate culturally responsive play therapy approaches that honor adolescents’ diverse identities, social contexts, and generational values.
12. Identify the distinctions between descriptive, symbolic, and personalized levels of client processing and apply strategies to support movement between these levels in play therapy.

Each participant should bring: A photo of themselves as a pre-adolescent and another as an adolescent (either printed or on a device).

Each participant will need: Paper and something to write with for notes and reflection activities.

Continental Breakfast and Lunch included.

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

Intermediate Level | 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, 2026. 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, 2026.

The views expressed by our speakers to not necessarily reflect those of the Virginia Association for Play Therapy.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: This program is co-sponsored by the Virginia Association for Play Therapy and The Institute for Continuing Education. The program on March 13-14, 2026, 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.

Brandy Schumann, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S™ is a Clinical Professor at Southern Methodist University with over two decades of experience helping children and families find healing and hope. Her career has taken her from crisis counseling and agency work to guiding at-risk students in schools and leading a thriving private practice in Texas and Colorado.

Before joining SMU, Dr. Schumann served as the Assistant Director for the Center for Play Therapy and as a supervisor for the Intensive Play Therapy Institute at the University of North Texas. Her expertise has also made her a sought-after international speaker and advisor, collaborating with organizations across Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, and South Korea to advance the practice of play therapy worldwide.

Dr. Schumann continues to elevate the profession through her contributions to scholarship and training. She offers both in-person and distance RPT supervision to clinicians around the globe and is a proud Past President of the Texas Association for Play Therapy.

Her most meaningful play therapy training, however, comes from her favorite role—being mom to three ah-mazing kids who remind her every day of the power of play, connection, and laughter.

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

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Host or Publisher Virginia Association for Play Therapy