Games & Activities for Play Therapy
| Course code: | 26-SS-190 |
|---|---|
| Dates: | June 26-27, 2026 Alternate Course Dates |
| Meets: | F and Sa from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, 2 sessions |
| Hours: | 16.00 |
| Location: | ChildSavers |
| Instructor: | Instructor Information |
| Fee: | $349.00 |
Description
Prerequisite: Principles of Play Therapy or a previous workshop or class that covers the principles of play therapy.
Using play therapy principles, you will explore the use of a directive approach in play therapy. You will develop skills to select and use therapeutic play therapy activities as well as traditional and therapeutic games. You will use games and activities to help children reflect their inner world, enhance healthy development, and strengthen coping skills. In addition, you will learn to engage children in various creative, sensory and stimulating activities that decrease stress, increase emotional regulation, and improve self-esteem. You will learn to choose activities and games that address a specific therapeutic need.
Using play therapy principles, you will explore the use of a directive approach in play therapy. You will develop skills to select and use therapeutic play therapy activities as well as traditional and therapeutic games. You will use games and activities to help children reflect their inner world, enhance healthy development, and strengthen coping skills. In addition, you will learn to engage children in various creative, sensory and stimulating activities that decrease stress, increase emotional regulation, and improve self-esteem. You will learn to choose activities and games that address a specific therapeutic need.
This workshop is designed to help you:
- Describe and apply Cognitive Behavioral Theory in a play therapy setting, which the Association for Play Therapy recognizes as historically significant to the field of play therapy;
- Articulate the rationale for using a directive approach in play therapy while incorporating play therapy principles;
- Apply Landreth's limit setting Acknowledge, Communicate, Target (ACT) technique and demonstrate the ability to apply limit setting in the playroom;
- Analyze when to choose a particular directive play-based play therapy activity in accord with a client's developmental stage, clinical issue, and specific therapy goals;
- Discuss developmental stages and limitations that may apply in choosing a play therapy activity;
- Demonstrate which play therapy games and activities might be most useful to target a specific issue; and
- Prepare to stock and organize the playroom with recommended games and materials for play therapy activities.
Notes
VCU Continuing and Professional Education is an Association for Play Therapy (APT) Approved Provider #15-397.This in-person training is approved for 16 APT contact training hours.
(1 hour = 60 minutes of instruction; breaks/meals excluded). Effective April 1, 2025, APT’s instruction requirements specify a minimum of 75 contact (in-person) hours toward the 150-hour total, and allow up to 75 non-contact hours, which include all other formats such as live webinars. For definitions and details, see APT’s guidelines at https://www.a4pt.org/
Synchronous In-Person Sessions
Our in person sessions are typically held at ChildSavers in Richmond, VA and offer an opportunity to interact with the instructor and other participants. There will be a one-hour break per day. Please bring your own lunch for the sessions. If an alternate location is selected, it will be listed in the registration link.
Attendance & CE Hours
Participants must attend the full workshop to receive APT continuing education hours from VCU, the certificate of completion, and the digital badge.
Required Assessments
VCU conducts a two-part assessment in each workshop. To earn educational hours toward an Association for Play Therapy (APT) credential, participants must pass two assessments. The activity assessment (scored rubric) is completed during the workshop through small- and large-group activities and discussion. The second assessment is a multiple-choice test that is sent after the training and completed online. Only participants who pass the activity rubric will receive the link and be eligible to take the online test. Both assessments must be completed within 30 days of the workshop date.
Creative Materials
ChildSavers staff will provide all creative materials for experiential work during this workshop.
Health & Attendance
To help maintain a healthy learning environment, participants who are ill (e.g., fever, new/worsening respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms) should not attend in-person training. If you become ill before the workshop, please notify ssschuetz@vcu.edu as soon as possible to discuss transfer options. Requests made after the workshop has started will not be accommodated.
Program Format Changes
If the training needs to move to a teleconference format, participants will be notified at least 48 hours before the start date to adjust travel plans..
Questions?
Should you have any questions about the workshop, please contact Shelly Schuetz at ssschuetz@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322.
Cancellation and Refund Policies:
You may cancel your registration up until two weeks before the workshop start date, and receive a full refund minus a $35 credit card processing fee. After that date, no refunds will be given. Cancellations must be received via email at ocpe@vcu.edu
In the unlikely event that this workshop is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.
Transfer Policy:
Workshop registrations may be transferred to a different workshop or person if requested in writing via email at ocpe@vcu.edu by the cancellation deadline. The participant must meet all prerequisites or qualifications required by the program.
Student/Participant Conduct:
Participants are subject to all university policies applicable to students, unless a specific university or VCU Continuing and Professional Education policy explicitly states otherwise. University policies governing students are available at https://vcu.public.doctract.com including:
Student Code of Conduct
Honor System and Standards of Academic Conduct
Preventing and Responding to Discrimination
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy-Interim
Sex-Based Misconduct Policy-Interim
For Academic Accommodations, please visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/courses/policies.html#accommodations
There are still openings remaining at this time.
