PLAY THERAPY TRAININGS
Our comprehensive courses are designed to deepen your expertise in play therapy, covering a wide range of topics to either meet your continuing education training phase needs or to further enhance your skills. We offer in-person trainings, virtual trainings, and on-demand learning. Our offerings provide the flexibility and rigor to help you stay at the forefront of therapeutic innovation.
Presenters: Michelle Walker, LCSW, RPT-S Liza Fitzgerald, MSW
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Virtual Via ZOOM
Time: 9:00AM-12:15PM EST (15 minute break built-in)
Cost: Regular Rate $85, Student Rate $30 (with valid student ID- Emailed to connect@integratedplayconnections.com)
Come join us for an in-depth exploration of the unique strengths and challenges faced by military children and families — and discover how play therapy can foster resilience within this community. This training will broaden your cultural understanding of the military lifestyle, highlight the impact of deployments on the family system, and provide practical ways to support children and families through play therapy.
You’ll learn how to apply Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) principals to nurture resilience in children as they navigate the emotional cycle of deployment. We’ll also discuss the vital role of caregiver consultations and share practical, attachment-based play therapy techniques caregivers can use during deployment and reintegration to strengthen connection and security at home.
Objectives:
Describe how military culture impacts the family system and explain how the emotional cycle of deployment affects children through a play therapy lens.
Demonstrate how to use Child-Centered Play Therapy skills to build resilience in military children throughout the deployment cycle.
Identify at least five attachment-based play therapy techniques that can be incorporated into caregiver consultations to support children during deployment and reintegration.
Title: Listening with the Heart: Intentional Response to Play Themes
Presenter: Michelle Walker, LCSW, RPT-S
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Virtual Via ZOOM
Time: 9:00AM-12:15PM EST (15 minute break built-in)
Cost: Regular Rate $85, Student Rate $30 (with valid student ID- Emailed to connect@integratedplayconnections.com)
Exploring play behaviors and themes offers a powerful window into a child’s inner world, a journey as enriching for seasoned play therapists as it is for those just beginning. While recognizing these behaviors is essential, true therapeutic progress lies in how the play therapist responds in such a way that creates a safe and supportive space. Thoughtful, intentional thematic responses in play not only deepen the therapeutic relationship but also foster self-awareness, acceptance, and meaningful growth in the child. Join us as we examine common play behaviors associated with childhood presenting problems frequently seen in the playroom. Through a humanistic lens, we’ll uncover the intentions behind these behaviors and empower play therapists to develop authentic thematic responses, responses that resonate, heal, and create lasting impact.
Objectives:
1. Identify common play behaviors and themes associated with frequently seen childhood presenting problems in the play therapy setting.
2. Demonstrate the ability to craft authentic thematic responses to play that support emotional processing, self-awareness, and healing in the child.
3. Apply thematic responding techniques in hypothetical case scenarios to enhance therapeutic attunement and strengthen the therapeutic relationship within the playroom.
Presenter: Michelle Walker, LCSW, RPT-S
Where: 9119 Church Street, Manassas, VA 20110
When: 11/5/25, 11/15/25, 11/19/25, 12/3/25, 12/13/25, 12/17/25
Presentation: 10AM-12PM EST *PLEASE NOTE, THE FIRST SESSION ON 11/5/25 WILL BE A 3-HR SESSION WITH A CHANGE IN TIME 9:30AM-12:30AM EST
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.
Overview Summary: 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.
Earn up to 13 APT CE Hours (Contact) across 6 Wednesday and/or Saturday morning workshops.
(counts as Play Therapy Seminal/Historically Significant Theories training)
In-depth learning of Child-Centered Play Therapy theory and skills with a small group of peers in a cohort-style setting.
Advance your learning with 3 group supervisions that will be process-oriented and case presentation-focused
(eligible for 3 hours of APT’s Register Play Therapy certification supervision requirements and 1 hour observation hour)
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Trainings We Can Offer:
Child-Centered Play Therapy: Overview and Advanced Skill Development (6 Week Course)
Using Play Therapy to Assist Military Children and Families Through the Emotional Cycle of Deployment
It’s All About the Intention! Using Play Themes and Intention to Develop Thematic Responses in Play Therapy
Please Don’t Leave Me! The Use of Play Therapy to Support Separation Anxiety
Guiding Play Therapists: Effectively Explaining Play Therapy Concepts to Parents
Navigating through Play Therapy and Telehealth: For Beginners and Refreshers
Contact us at: connect@integratedplayconnections.com to inquire about possible trainings we can offer!
Integrated Play Connections Therapy Center, PLLC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. Integrated Play maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 24-756
CANCELLATION POLICY: Integrated Play does not provide a full refund. If cancelled within 72 hours of training you may be able to put 50% of non-refundable amount towards a future Integrated Play training