Advancing the Therapeutic Powers of Play

Upcoming Events

    • 16 Jun 2023
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Virtual
    Register

    Superheroes and Pop Culture in Play Therapy

    Pop culture has become integrated into daily life for so many of us and our clients, especially during times of isolation and loneliness as we saw during the pandemic. Our clients, children and adults alike, often have shows and characters that they are drawn to. Play therapy, with intentional focus on the Therapeutic Powers of Play, allows play therapists to use these pop culture references to help them communicate difficult experiences and complex emotions. Play therapists do not need to be knowledgeable about the differing pop culture shows as this workshop will increase your overall understanding of the appeal of superheroes, providing a framework on how to incorporate them into play therapy. During the workshop, play therapists will engage in the learning process and be provided with therapeutic interventions, based on the Therapeutic Powers of Play, empowering the use of pop culture references including superheroes in play therapy. Gather your Avenger team and join us for a super fun discussion and play therapy based training that will have you engage in hands-on activities that you can then use in your own clinical practice.   

    Learning Objectives: After successful completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

    1. Identify three ways to use superheroes and pop culture in play therapy.
    2. Discuss narratives and themes of pop culture stories and characters and how they apply to play therapy.
    3. Apply the Therapeutic Powers of Play to superhero and pop culture based play therapy interventions.

      3 APT Live Webinar CE | Foundational | Play Therapy Special Topics

      This workshop meets APT's definition of "Live Webinar."

      About our presenter:  A self-described geek, Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S™ is a CEO and Owner who is committed to increasing access to mental health services and breaking down the stigma surrounding therapy services. As a therapist turned CEO, Maria has developed a unique perspective when it comes to mental health and the barriers surrounding mental health treatment. Influenced by her time at New Mexico State University and University of New Hampshire, Maria has turned her dedication to giving back and supporting future generations of therapists. In addition to supporting mental health providers, Maria takes an active role in addressing the continued stigma of mental health services through the use of pop culture – everything from movies and television shows to superheroes and Disney characters. Maria has spoken about mental health at several local and nationally sponsored events, has served as an officer on professional boards and has provided training to clinicians all over the country while maintaining her and her family’s roots as NM Aggies! Outside of the office, Maria can be found spending time with her family and loved ones, exploring the world through travel, and creating cosplays for herself, her husband and their two little ones. Maria is always happy to talk about Star Wars, Marvel and mental health and can be contacted through her practice website www.anewhopetc.org

      NEAPT Members $50; Guests $60 | Limited to 50 participants

      VIRTUAL: This will be a virtual meeting. Participants will be awarded LIVE WEBINAR CE upon successful completion of a post test. Participants must be visible throughout the presentation. This workshop meets APT's definition of "Live Webinar."

      NEAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 02-123. NEAPT maintains responsibility for the program. Registrants understand and agree that any photograph (screen shot), video or audio recording of themselves may be used to further promote NEAPT.

      Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than June 1, 2023. Cancellations are subject to a $15 processing fee. Substitutions (someone else attending) or transfer of registration to another training date may be requested. No refunds or partial refunds after June 1, 2023.

      By registering for this training, you are giving NEAPT permission to add your email to our email list and you are giving permission for NEAPT to use any photographs or screenshots that are taken during the event containing your likeness for promotional purposes.

      • 1 Jul 2023
      • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
      • Newton Play Therapy, 44 Mechanic Street, Suite 206, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464
      Register

      See The Apple? Examining Symbolic Play and Play Therapy™

      The use of symbolic play by children correlates with increased complexity in communication skills and self-regulation. Children who come to play therapy may have delayed or missing play skills. When play therapists support the child’s development of symbolic play, the child builds skills needed for problem solving and flexible thinking that allow the child to regulate in real emotional situations. Increasing the use of symbolism in play allows the child to experience emotions in their natural abstract form, and ultimately to heal through play therapy.

      Learning Objectives: After successful completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

      1. Explain how symbolic play contributes to development of problem solving skills and self-regulation.
      2. Name play levels and assess the play level of children using play based assessment.
      3. Execute play strategies that assist the child in achieving high levels of symbolism in play

        2 APT Contact CE | Intermediate| Play Therapy Special Topics

        About our presenter: Denise Galford-Koeppel, PMC, MS, MS Ed, LMHC, RPT™ has been a champion for young children for over 25 years. Denise holds degrees from Wellesley and Wheelock Colleges, Bay Path University, and a Post Master’s Certificate in Early Education Research Policy and Practice from UMass Boston. A special educator, certified early intervention practitioner, licensed counselor and registered play therapist, Denise teaches children, parents, and educators through the approaches of the Hanen Program, the Pyramid Model, and Developmental Individual-Differences Relationship -Based Model with a specialization in working with young children (those under age 8 years). 

        NEAPT Members $50; Guests $85 | Limited to 12 participants

        NEAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 02-123. NEAPT maintains responsibility for the program. Registrants understand and agree that any photograph, video or audio recording of themselves may be used to further promote NEAPT.

        Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than June 15, 2023. Cancellations are subject to a $20 processing fee. Substitutions (someone else attending) or transfer of registration to another training date may be requested. No refunds or partial refunds after June 15, 2023.

        By registering for this training, you are giving NEAPT permission to add your email to our email list and you are giving permission for NEAPT to use any photographs or screenshots that are taken during the event containing your likeness for promotional purposes.

        • 21 Jul 2023
        • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
        • First Congregational Church, 4 Highland Street, Meredith, NH 03253
        Register

        Core Attachment Therapy©-Prescriptive Play Therapy Approach for Working with Developmental Trauma and Attachment

        Core Attachment Therapy© is a bottom-up prescriptive play therapy approach to help children overcome the adverse effects of early attachment disruption. It consists of two key components. Component 1 is The Nurtured Heart Approach® which is a best practice approach for working with children with intense and challenging behaviors. Children with attachment trauma have intense and challenging behaviors. Component 2 is the mommy/daddy attachment games. This affords the child a vehicle to develop healthy and secure attachments with a now emotionally responsive parent. This is all play based to make the games feel safe to then address the core attachment wounds.

        The neurobiology of attachment trauma and the Therapeutic Powers of Play tie into Core Attachment Therapy© will be highlighted in this presentation.

        Learning Objectives: After successful completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

          1. identify how developmental trauma effects the neurobiology of attachment development
          2. predict behaviors of attachment disruption in the play therapy setting and how to use The Nurtured Heart Approach® (Component 1) and the attachment games (Component 2) to address these behaviors
          3. connect each of the 4 Therapeutic Powers of Play with the therapeutic outcomes of Core Attachment Therapy’s prescriptive play therapy approach

            3 APT Contact CE | Advanced | Play Therapy Skills & Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics

            About our presenter: Dorothy Derapelian, MEd, LCMHC, has a private practice in mental health counseling in Meredith NH which she has been doing since 1986 and specializes in play therapy. In addition to that, she is a certified advanced trainer for the Nurtured Heart Approach® and she holds trainings for this. She is an instructor for Granite State College in their Child Welfare Education Program. Dorothy graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and a post graduate of the University of New Hampshire. She also is the creator and author of Core Attachment Therapy©, a process to help secure the attachment bonds between the adopted child and his/her new parents. In addition to being a therapist, instructor and author, she is also an international speaker on the subject of developmental trauma, attachment development, Core Attachment Therapy© and The Nurtured Heart Approach®. She has recently been awarded the 2023 Nationwide Registries Women of Distinction Honors Edition. In her free time, she enjoys lots of outdoor activities. But most importantly, she is the proud adoptive mother of a now wonderful 33 year old woman whom she adopted when she was 6 years old from Russia. 

            NEAPT Members $75; Guests $125 | Limited to 30 participants

            NEAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 02-123. NEAPT maintains responsibility for the program. Registrants understand and agree that any photograph, video or audio recording of themselves may be used to further promote NEAPT.

            Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than June 21, 2023. Cancellations are subject to a $15 processing fee. Substitutions (someone else attending) or transfer of registration to another training date may be requested. No refunds or partial refunds after June 21, 2023.

            By registering for this training, you are giving NEAPT permission to add your email to our email list and you are giving permission for NEAPT to use any photographs or screenshots that are taken during the event containing your likeness for promotional purposes.

            • 27 Jul 2023
            • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
            • Sacred Heart University, West Campus, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825
            Register

            Self-Compassion: A Call for Play Therapists Self-Care

            Self-care is an ethical responsibility, yet little exists on how to integrate this into the life of a play therapists effectively. Additionally, self-care practices have received little attention in the field of research. Due to being inundated with high expectations on abilities, time, and resources, self-care is often difficult/impossible for play therapists to fit in. Recent research offers important information on self-compassion as an essential part of self-care practices.

            Learning Objectives: After successful completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

            1. Define concepts related to stress, distress, burnout, impairment, self-care, and self-compassion while making distinctions for each term as they related to play therapy
            2. Evaluate information and relevant research related to play therapists’ self-care and self- compassion as a component of self-care.
            3. Discuss ways to integrate this into play therapy practice, training, and supervision practices for play therapist care and client welfare. 
            4. Practice and analyze self-care strategies for self-compassion to be used by play therapists.

              3 APT Contact CE | Beginning - Intermediate| Play Therapy Special Topics

              About our presenter: Rebekah Byrd, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC, RPT-S™ is an Associate Professor of Counseling and Director of the Institute for Play Therapy and Expressive Arts Education and Research at Sacred Heart University.  Dr. Byrd has been a counselor educator for over 10 years and has almost 20 years of experience working in the mental health field in varying capacities and settings.  She currently provides individual counseling in a k-12 virtual academy and in private practice work.  Her research specialization falls primarily in issues pertaining to children/adolescent counseling, play therapy, LGBTGEQQIA+ advocacy, school counseling, social justice/multicultural concerns, self-injury, and women’s wellness. She recently co-authored a textbook on counseling children and adolescents.  She serves on many national and statewide committees and was recently awarded the Counselor Educator Advocacy Award from the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC). 

              NEAPT Members $75; Guests $125 

              NEAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 02-123. NEAPT maintains responsibility for the program. Registrants understand and agree that any photograph, video or audio recording of themselves may be used to further promote NEAPT.

              Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than July 9, 2023. Cancellations are subject to a $20 processing fee. Substitutions (someone else attending) or transfer of registration to another training date may be requested. No refunds or partial refunds after July 9, 2023.

              By registering for this training, you are giving NEAPT permission to add your email to our email list and you are giving permission for NEAPT to use any photographs or screenshots that are taken during the event containing your likeness for promotional purposes.

            Past events

            5 May 2023 NEAPT 2023 Annual Conference
            7 Apr 2023 The Culturally Informed Play Therapist: Creating an Inviting Environment
            10 Mar 2023 A play therapy based approach to treating fears and phobias in young children with or without ASD, Williams Syndrome, or other developmental disabilities
            24 Feb 2023 Integrating Internal Family Systems into the Play Therapy Practice
            7 Feb 2023 Utilizing the Integrative Developmental Model of Supervision to Supervise Play Therapy
            27 Jan 2023 Becoming an External Regulator for Trauma Integration in Play Therapy
            9 Dec 2022 Basic Principles of Drama Therapy for Play Therapists
            18 Nov 2022 History and Theory of Play Therapy
            7 Oct 2022 Polyvagal in the Playroom
            10 Jun 2022 History and Theory of Gestalt Play Therapy
            13 May 2022 NEAPT 2022 Annual Conference
            13 May 2022 NEAPT 2022 Annual Conference EXHIBITOR & SPONSOR REGISTRATION
            29 Apr 2022 Filial Play Therapy
            18 Mar 2022 Core Attachment Therapy©: Secure Attachment for the Adopted Child - A Prescriptive Play Therapy Approach
            3 Mar 2022 Introduction to Child-Centered Play Therapy
            17 Feb 2022 Sensory Processing in Play Therapy
            28 Jan 2022 Exploring Relationships through Play Therapy Techniques
            17 Dec 2021 Utilizing Child Centered Play Therapy to Advocate and Support Transgender and Gender Expansive Children and Adolescents
            5 Nov 2021 Nuts and Bolts of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy
            1 Oct 2021 Adlerian Play Therapy through a Neurobiology Lens
            17 Sep 2021 High Conflict Divorce: Understanding the Whole Picture
            27 Aug 2021 Co-Regulation in Play Therapy: Harnessing the Power of Relational Neuroscience to Improve Your Practice
            29 Jun 2021 Why You Playin’- Using Play to Empower and Build Self-Esteem with Girls
            15 Jun 2021 School-Based Play Therapy: Responding to Children’s Disruptive Behaviors
            13 May 2021 Play Therapy and Children with Disabilities: Going Out on a Limb
            27 Apr 2021 Utilizing Reality Play Therapy to Explore a Child's Quality World
            26 Mar 2021 Supervision of Play Therapy with Traumatized Children
            24 Feb 2021 Looking Deeper into the Presenting Problem: Practicing Cultural Humility in the Play Therapy Setting
            22 Jan 2021 Bibliotherapy: A Play Therapy Approach
            12 Nov 2020 Addressing Grief and Loss in the Play Room
            31 Oct 2020 NEAPT Virtual Conference: Session 5 - Let’s Play (Therapy) Outside!
            30 Oct 2020 NEAPT Virtual Conference: Session 4 - Core Attachment Therapy©: Secure Attachment for the Adopted Child – A Prescriptive Play Therapy Process
            30 Oct 2020 NEAPT Virtual Conference: Session 3 - Playful Supervision Skills for All Levels…Basics and Beyond!
            29 Oct 2020 NEAPT Virtual Conference: Session 2 - Identifying and Utilizing the Therapeutic Powers of Play in Play Therapy
            29 Oct 2020 NEAPT Virtual Conference: Session 1 - Circles and Sticks: Foundational Basics of Play Therapy
            29 Oct 2020 NEAPT Virtual Conference - Continuing Education
            30 Sep 2020 Play Therapy Skills for Building Resiliency with Military Families
            28 Aug 2020 Integrating Play Therapy with EMDR
            7 Aug 2020 Digital Play Therapy
            16 Jul 2020 Playful Ways to Help Children with Anxiety and Anger
            17 Jun 2020 A Play Therapy Approach to Attachment-Disrupted Children
            23 Nov 2019 Movie Day: It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

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