Child-Centered Play Therapy – Two-Part Series

Dive into the principles and techniques of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) through this two-day immersive training. We’ll focus on the non-directive approach, therapist posture, limit setting, and tracking skills, with ample time for discussion and practice.

Date: Thursday and Friday, September 18-19, 2025, 9:00am-4:00pm (Participants must attend two days training to receive APT CE hours) 

Format: In-person 

Facility name and address: Alexander JFS, 4131 S Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX 77025 

APT CE Hours: 12 Contact Hours  

Part 1: 6 contact hours: 1 Hour of History, 5 hours of Historically Significant 

Part 2: 6 contact hours: 4 Hours Historically Significant, 2 Hours of Skills and Methods  

Event Schedule: 8:45am- Check-in, 9:00am- Training Begins, 12:00pm-1:00pm- Lunch, 4:00pm- Check-out 

Program Presenter:  

• Emily Van Laan, LCSW-S, RPT-S™
• Katie Harlan, LCSW-S, RPT™

Description: This two-day interactive training will teach participants the foundational child centered play therapy skills! Participants will take a deep dive into utilizing non-directive play therapy strategies to promote growth and change in children. Through lecture and practice participants will have the opportunity to learn the essential skills of Child-Centered Play Therapy.  

Objectives Day 1:  

• Describe the history and foundational principles of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
• Differentiate between directive and non-directive play therapy approaches.
• Identify commonly used toys and their therapeutic functions in CCPT.
• Recognize the core conditions necessary to facilitate therapeutic change in play therapy.
• Develop essential skills to establish a safe and supportive non-directive environment for children.
• Demonstrate key CCPT skills through guided practice and receive constructive feedback.

Objectives Day 2:  

• Identify appropriate moments for limit-setting within play therapy sessions.
• Explore strategies for assessing the effectiveness of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) with clients.
• Understand effective methods for integrating parents into the CCPT process.
• Recognize common play themes that emerge during therapy.
• Apply best practices for documenting CCPT sessions.
• Examine common ethical dilemmas encountered in the practice of CCPT.