Play Therapy in Therapeutic Groups
| Course code: | 27-SS-008 |
|---|---|
| Dates: | July 17-18, 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.
Play Therapy in Therapeutic Groups is designed to explain and apply Adlerian theory in a play therapy setting, which the Association for Play Therapy recognizes as historically significant to the field of play therapy. The workshop helps you articulate how group play therapy enhances self-image, personal identity, and resilience in clients. You will learn to use a belonging-centered approach to engage children and adolescents in group play therapy and will discuss how play therapy group techniques can strengthen relationships, resolve conflict, teach social and communication skills, and shift group dynamics. You will explore your personal facilitation style(s) as a play therapy group therapist. You will also learn how to collect formal and informal data to demonstrate group outcomes and impact to caregivers and other stakeholders.
Play Therapy in Therapeutic Groups is designed to explain and apply Adlerian theory in a play therapy setting, which the Association for Play Therapy recognizes as historically significant to the field of play therapy. The workshop helps you articulate how group play therapy enhances self-image, personal identity, and resilience in clients. You will learn to use a belonging-centered approach to engage children and adolescents in group play therapy and will discuss how play therapy group techniques can strengthen relationships, resolve conflict, teach social and communication skills, and shift group dynamics. You will explore your personal facilitation style(s) as a play therapy group therapist. You will also learn how to collect formal and informal data to demonstrate group outcomes and impact to caregivers and other stakeholders.
This workshop is designed to help you:
- Apply principles of experiential learning to individual and group play therapy processes.
- Design individualized and shared therapeutic objectives for play therapy group treatment planning.
- Review and select appropriate structures and policies for play therapy groups based on ages, genders, mandated status, and other contextual considerations.
- Select and use specific play therapy activities and games for working with groups across populations and settings.
- Highlight intra-group demographic differences and other power dynamics for group processing within a play therapy framework, with a focus on safety for marginalized populations.
- Define your personal facilitation style(s) as a play therapy group leader; explain to caregivers the benefits and potential liabilities of group play therapy for their child.
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.
