• Playing Perfectly: A Play Therapist’s Guide for Working with OCD

    We know that supporting a child struggling with obsessive compulsions can be incredibly challenging. Often, the desire to move the child out of their rigidity and rituals can overshadow the deeper issues and stressors driving the behaviors.   We also know that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a complex disorder as the reasons behind the behaviors vary widely from managing anxiety to past traumas to focused energy inside of a child driving them towards their genius and that which is most meaningful.   Due to the complexity, we can often mis-label, mis-understand, and mis-guide these children in how to work with and understand their rituals and need for perfectionism. We also can inadvertently intensify the inner struggle that is often experienced by these children as they attempt to stop, control, and even deny the urges in their bodies.    And that is why we created this course, so you know what to do when OCD shows up in your play therapy sessions! Drawing from Synergetic Play Therapy and Interpersonal Neurobiology, this course explores non-directive and directive play based interventions to help support play therapists on a path to understand the perfection in these children's perfection, while teaching the child how to do the same. Play therapists will take a deeper look at the regulatory function of the child’s behaviors that manage the internal conflicts and anxieties these children often carry.  Through discussion topics and experiential exercises, play therapists will learn how to separate the underlying drivers from the wisdom of the rituals themselves. With this knowledge, play therapists will learn how to use themselves and many forms of play to help these children access an understanding of the greatest perfection that exists, the child just as they are. “I loved Lisa's knowledge and approach - very open minded but also structured. Her personal stories of working with clients were very impactful and made it easy to attach the theories to real scenarios.” - Student testimonial See the full course description below.
  • This inspiring one-hour course dives into the transformative role of play therapy in supporting neurodivergent children. Gain insights into how play can help address processing differences, executive functioning challenges, and sensory sensitivities equipping you to meet these unique profiles with confidence and compassion. Guided by over 20 years of professional and personal experience, Cary Hamilton will reveal practical, neurodiversity-affirming, play-based interventions designed to foster connection, emotional regulation, and resilience. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to enhance your clinical practice, deepening your ability to create meaningful and effective therapeutic relationships with neurodivergent children. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your skills, enrich your practice, and make a lasting impact on the lives of neurodivergent children and their families!
  • Discover how playful, nature-themed breathwork can transform your play therapy practice in this engaging one-hour course with Jackie Flynn. Learn to gently guide clients of all ages out of “stuck” survival states, enhancing nervous system flexibility and fostering resilience through co-regulation. This course introduces practical, nature-inspired techniques that blend breathwork and movement to create a felt sense of safety, deepen therapeutic connections, and support clients in accessing emotional regulation. Through shared, playful experiences rooted in nature, you’ll discover how to bring fresh, adaptive interventions into your sessions with your clients.
  • In today’s digital era, children’s play has expanded into new realms, where they engage, connect, and communicate in transformative ways. To support young clients effectively, play therapists must understand and embrace the evolving world of digital play. This insightful course with Dr. Rachel Altvater explores how the digital landscape shapes children’s engagement, self-expression, and identity. Starting with a reflection on your own perspectives about digital native culture, you’ll dive into how digital environments influence children and adolescents, equipping you to meet them where they are. Through practical strategies, you’ll learn to connect with clients in their digital spaces, foster meaningful therapeutic relationships, and seamlessly integrate digital tools into your play therapy practice. The session also examines the vital role of digital identity, uncovering how this space serves as more than entertainment—it’s where young clients form relationships, build resilience and navigate their world. By the end of this course, you’ll walk away with fresh insights and actionable techniques to strengthen the therapeutic alliance, deepen connections, and achieve meaningful outcomes with the digital natives you serve.
  • Parents are a powerful force in a child’s life. Inviting them into the play therapy process is essential for creating lasting change. But let’s face it—this isn’t always easy! Many clinicians, both new and seasoned, struggle with how to effectively involve parents in therapy sessions. This dynamic course with Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S, will equip you with the skills and confidence to build strong alliances with parents while integrating them into play therapy. Using the Attachment-Centered Play Therapy model, you’ll explore the hows, whys, whens, and what-to-dos of parent-child play therapy.  You’ll also uncover practical interventions to foster attachment and connection while reflecting on the roadblocks that might arise in your own practice. It’s all designed to help you deepen your understanding of parent-child dynamics, empowering you to create meaningful change for families. Get ready to play, reflect, and transform your approach to parent involvement in therapy!
  • Are you looking to elevate your play therapy supervision practice, gain confidence, and ensure you're fully equipped to support your supervisees?  Join us for this transformative experience where you’ll gain practical tools and in-depth knowledge to feel more prepared and confident in your role as a supervisor. It’s about giving you the structure you need to navigate the often complex world of supervision. This course will delve into critical topics that will transform your supervision practice, including:
    • Principles & Theoretical Frameworks: Ground your supervision in solid theoretical foundations to ensure ethical, effective guidance.
    • Clarifying Roles & Relationships: Understand the distinctions between supervision and consultation—what have you agreed upon, and how can you maintain clarity in these roles?
    • Gatekeeping & Power Dynamics: Explore the importance of gatekeeping in supervision and how to handle power dynamics with awareness and grace.
    • Navigating Ethical Dilemmas: Learn to recognize and manage ethical dilemmas, set clear boundaries, and know your limitations—where do you turn when you need guidance?
    • Tailoring Supervision to Specific Standards: Each practice setting, whether private practice or agency work, has different standards and guidelines. We’ll discuss the important questions to ask and considerations to keep in mind regardless of location or regulatory environment.
    • Addressing Language Barriers: Discuss ethical considerations when your supervisee speaks a different language or when English isn't their first language.
    • Empowering vs. Instructing: Learn how to support growth and empowerment in your supervisees by encouraging curiosity and reflective practice, rather than simply telling them what to do.
    This training is invaluable for ALL play therapy supervisors, including those located outside of the United States, and will ensure you are well-prepared to foster growth and excellence in your supervisees, regardless of location or regulatory environment. *PLUS, if you are considering applying for the 2025 Becoming a Certified Synergetic Play Therapy Supervisor program, this course is one of the program prerequisites! For course details including cost, learning objectives, and CE Credit Hours, keep scrolling!
  • Sale!

    On your mark, get set, GO! These 4 discounted 1-hour online courses are only available for 50% off starting today and through February 8th!

    Thanks for joining us for a one-of-a-kind celebration, the SPT Foundation’s Annual Online Play It Forward. Happening this week only (February 2nd-8th) and in honor of International Play Therapy Week, we’re offering these 4 brand-new online courses presented by 4 incredible play therapists—each available for 50% off, for this week only! You can choose to purchase one, two, or all four courses—whatever works best for you! Here’s why this matters: Access to Education: Every registration funds scholarships, helping play therapists worldwide receive essential training. Celebrating Connection: During International Play Therapy Week, we’re spotlighting the unique ways play therapists can support one another and make a difference in the lives of children and families. Therapists Helping Therapists: By participating, you’re directly contributing to an inspired future for clinicians everywhere. This online symposium is more than training—it’s a movement! It’s about showing up for your clients, your colleagues, and the future of play therapy.  See below for course descriptions. To view course details and objectives, click to the right of the title.
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