Description
WORK TOWARDS BECOMING A REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST
Date/Time: October 10-11, 2026, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Ste B203, Lafayette, CA
12 Contact CEs. There is a 1 hour lunch and two 15 minute breaks which will not be counted toward the 12 CEs awarded.
Fees: $390 (early bird)/$420 as of September 1, 2026 per participant
Description
This friendly and welcoming small group training is for therapists, counselors, social workers and others who work with children ages 3 to 12 and who are interested in learning Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), a core skill for helping children who are experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties. CCPT is a humanistic therapy based on the premise that play is the language of children, that growth and healing develop from fully and completely accepting the child exactly as they are and that safety and structure are essential ingredients. Skills training uses video, demonstrations, roleplay and supervised practice exercises.
Day 1: Focus will be on theory and practice. The essential CCPT skills, structuring, empathic listening, imaginary play and limit setting, will be taught through the use of lectures, videos, roleplays and individualized, supportive feedback.
Day 2: CCPT session roleplay practice, understanding themes, recognizing stages of therapy and tracking progress. Difficult types of play will be reviewed. Involving parents will be covered. Lecture, videos and roleplays will be used. Participants are encouraged to bring case material.
Training will be in-person and limited to 6 participants. The ratio of participants to workshop leader is small to ensure opportunity to address individual questions, concerns and discussion. This course is designed for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs, pre-licensed associates and graduate mental health students.
This workshop and presenter have no conflict of interest in presenting the training nor is there any commercial support.
For questions about course content contact jeannette@growththroughplaytherapy.com
Objectives
- Identify the historical antecedents of Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
- Summarize Virginia Axline’s eight foundational principles underlying Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
- List and demonstrate CCPT skills and attitudes
- Explain how therapist views about children, and the therapeutic relationship, impact therapy.
- Describe 3 types of presenting situations for which CCPT would be helpful and 1 in which CCPT is contraindicated.
- Describe 3 or more situations that may arise in play therapy and how to address them in play sessions.
- Identify the four stages of Child Centered Play Therapy
- Describe the difference between play content and play themes and how this is used in reviewing and evaluating play sessions and progress.
- List 2 ways to meaningfully involve parents in the play therapy process
Trainer:
Jeannette Harroun is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and Registered Sand Therapist. Her private practice is in Lafayette, CA where she provides psychotherapy, training workshops, individual consultation and supervision. Her approach to therapy is described as positive, warm and playful. She works with children, teens and parents in addressing a variety of concerns including self-regulation, self-esteem, attachment, tantrums and impulsivity, parenting and other family issues, anxiety, depression, school and motivational issues, trauma, and divorce. She offers supervision and consultation for therapists seeking the Registered Play Therapist designation. She is the current owner of Growth Through Play Therapy Training Associates and has been an adjunct faculty member with the University of Phoenix and a workshop provider with John F. Kennedy University.
CEs and Participation
Course certificates will be provided at the end of the workshop in exchange for a completed Evaluation.
Participants will receive 12 contact CE hours. Growth Through Play Therapy Training Associates is an Approved APT Provider: 09-241. Participants must be present for the entirety of the workshop to receive CE credits and full completion of the course.
Course meets the qualifications for 12 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences; and Growth Through Play Therapy Training Associates is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (Approved Provider # 1032322) to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEP. Growth Through Play Therapy Training Associates maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. To purchase BBS CEs you may add them to your cart here.
Partial Credit cannot be offered
Grievances: To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email jeannette@growthroughplaytherapy.com or call 925-890-7478
Cancellation Policy: Full refund if canceled 45 days in advance minus a $75 administrative fee. After that date there will be no refund unless space is filled from the waiting list. If the training is cancelled by Growth through Play Therapy, a full refund of registration fees will be given unless the participant confirms by e-mail that they are registering for another class. In all instances, the liability of Growth Through Play Therapy Training Associates is limited to refunding such fees.
