1st Annual Alabama Association for Play Therapy Two-Day Conference

June 23-24, 2023 in Birmingham, AL

The Alabama Association for Play Therapy is celebrating its 30th year as a state branch of the Association for Play Therapy by having our 1st 2-day Conference in Birmingham.

Lifeline Children’s Services 200 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242

Attendees will be able to select either one-day (Friday only or Saturday only) or two-day (Friday and Saturday) registration.

Conference Schedule

All times are CST

Friday, June 23, 2023 (6 contact hours)

8:00-9:00	Registration
9:00-12:15	Juliet Fortino – Creative Interventions for Working with Troubled Teens and Tweens
12:15-1:30	Lunch on your own
1:30-4:45	Juliet Fortino – Creative Interventions for Working with Troubled Teens and Tweens cont’d
4:45-5:00	Exhibits Tables Open

Saturday, June 24, 2023(6 contact hours)

8:00-9:00	Registration
9:00-12:15	Juliet Fortino – Play Therapy for the Sexually Abused Child
12:15-1:30	Lunch on your own
1:30-4:45	Pre-selected Breakout Sessions
4:45-5:00	Exhibits Tables Open

Registration Information

If you desire to register a group please email ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org

Cancellations:

Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before the conference will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee. All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds issued for any reason after June 21. In the unlikely event, the conference cannot be held, registrants will receive a full-value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.

Accommodations, Special Needs, or Registration Questions:

Please contact CE & Registration at ceandregistration@alabamaplaytherapy.org

Scholarships

Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, June 22nd, all-day Friday, June 23rd, and all day Saturday, June 24th to assist with the conference. Volunteer duties may involve working registration, assisting with setup prior to the event, cleaning up after the event, selling books for the presenter, and preparing materials for the workshop. Students interested in volunteering for the event should contact Sarah Knapp at studentrep@alabamaplaytherapy.org and submit proof of enrollment in a counseling or related program (SW, MFT, CMHC, etc).

Session Information

PLEASE NOTE-For those planning to attend Saturday Only or both Friday and Saturday, you will need to pre-select which Saturday Breakout Session you will be attending.

Friday, June 23- 6 CE

Top 12 Creative Interventions for Working with Troubled Teens and Tweens

Juliet Fortino MC, LPC, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor™

Overview:

Working with teens and tweens can frequently be a challenge. Using play therapy with teens and tweens can be even more of a challenge for many clinicians. However, using play therapy allows for teens and tweens to experience the therapy process differently, as well as address the underlying factors leading to the behaviors or maladjustments. This training will explore strategies for teens and tweens, as well as how to get them to “buy in” to play therapy.

Learning Objectives:

•After the workshop, participants will be able to discuss four common challenges facing
teens and tweens.
• After the workshop, participants will be able to design effective play therapy treatment
planning for teens and tweens.
• After the workshop, participants will be able to explain the impact of adolescent
development on play therapy.
•After the workshop, participants will be able to identify strategies to engage teens in play
therapy.
•After the workshop, participants will be able to select one appropriate creative play
therapy intervention for each challenge facing teens and teens.
•After the workshop, participants will be able to demonstrate at least four creative play
therapy interventions for teens and tweens.

Saturday (AM), June 24 – 3 CE

Play Therapy for the Sexually Abused Child

Juliet Fortino MC, LPC, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor™

Overview:

Working with children who have been sexually abused can be a challenge for many
play therapy professionals. This is particularly true when the child has sexualized behaviors they
are exhibiting or when they are at an age where sexual behaviors are normalized. This workshop
will review common symptoms and behaviors seen in children who have been sexually abused
across all ages. Play therapy techniques specific to this population will be explored.

Learning Objectives:
•After the workshop, participants will identify age-appropriate sexual development in
comparison to a child with sexual behavior problems.
•After the workshop, participants will identify specific behaviors commonly seen in a play
therapy session.
•After the workshop, participants will be able to demonstrate at least 5 play therapy
techniques for use with a child with sexual behavior problems.

Saturday (PM), June 24 – 3 CE

Breakout Sessions

Breakout #1 (Play Therapy Supervision) No Fuss, No Muss: Fun Play Therapy Supervision Strategies

Juliet Fortino MC, LPC, Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor™

Overview:

Ever find yourself stuck in a rut and not know how to engage your play therapy supervisees?
This workshop will explore fun, play therapy activities that you can utilize during supervision without
needing a lot of “stuff.”

Learning Objectives: •Identify the three roles of the supervisor in play therapy supervision process.
•Explain the importance of utilizing play therapy techniques in the supervision.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Breakout #2 (Cultural and Social Diversity in Play Therapy) Utilizing the CFI in play therapy: Helpful tools for embracing cultural & social diversity

Ashley L. Garrett, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, NCC, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™

Overview:

This training is designed for the counselor and play therapist in an agency, private practice, or school setting who is interested in learning more about using the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) as a play therapy intervention. We will cover the primary rationale and research behind the CFI specific to directive play therapy. Participants will utilize Brave Play and other directives to learn how to engage clients in self-reflection of their own culture and how it impacts their mental wellness. Counselors will increase insight on how their own culture can impact the therapeutic relationship.

Learning Objectives:

•Participants will discuss the concept of cultural humility and how it impacts the counseling relationship in play therapy.

•Participants will discuss the basics of the Cultural-Formulation Interview and how to utilize it as a play therapy intervention in therapy.

•Participants will apply play therapy directives through directives using Brave Play and other expressive art approaches to engage clients, creating a practice that is culturally and socially diverse.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Breakout #3 (Play Therapy History & Theories) Fun with Foundations: History and Theories of Play Therapy

Danyale V. Weems, LCSW, CCTP, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™

Overview:

Let’s be real, play has been around as long as humans have existed. Play therapy has been
around since Freud. Part of becoming a Play therapist is knowing and learning our history and
foundation. Knowing why you are doing what you are doing and being able to communicate this
to caregivers and others in the community maintains the credibility of what we do as Play
Therapists. In this workshop participants will learn how play therapy began, developed, and
grew to be what it is today. Participants will learn the historical and seminal theories under the
umbrella of play therapy. Participants will have a brief overview of the therapeutic powers of
play and how they came to be.

Learning Objectives:

•Participants will know the Four Main areas of Therapeutic Powers of Play
•Participants will be able to describe the development of Play Therapy
•Participants will be able to identify the Seminal and Historical Theories connected to Play
Therapy
•Participants will be able to describe the competencies of Play Therapy
•Participants will be able to describe the difference between Integrative and Prescriptive Play
Therapy
•Participants will complete at least one self-assessment to gain insight into their own theoretical orientation

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Breakout #4 (Play Therapy Skills & Methods) Let’s Play: The Play Therapist Beginner’s Guide

Mary Huffstead, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CPCS, RPT™ & Jennifer A. Fulling-Smith, Ph.D., LPC

Overview:

Counselors are generally intrigued by play therapy as a promising therapeutic model to use with children, but often, they are stuck initially trying to integrate the treatment modality. This workshop will focus on learning foundational play skills and methods when first getting started with play therapy. Attendees will learn and practice specific skills related to face-to-face and teleplay services. Attendees will practice play interventions and how to translate the play strategies and interventions to parents or guardians.

Learning Objectives:

•Learn 4 to 5 tasks required when integrating play therapy into clinical work

•Practice implementing at least 3 play interventions.

•Learn 3 conditions needed for teleplay services.

•Demonstrate at least 3 verbal and/or 3 non-verbal therapeutic responding skills.

•Practice reviewing and using a Play Skills Checklist.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Breakout #5 (School-Based Play Therapy) Explore the World of School-Based Play Therapy

Belinda Tutor Ed.S, P-LPC, SB-RPT™

Overview:

This interactive session will explore the value of play therapy in addressing social skills and behavioral concerns. Participants will also explore the exhilaration and complications of implementing play therapy in the school setting. Finally, participants will leave this session with tools and skills to implement immediately in your school counseling program.

Learning Objectives:

•Participants will be able to articulate the effectiveness of play therapy in the school setting.

•Participants will be able to identify the time and space where play therapy can happen in the school setting.

•Participants will demonstrate at least two play therapy techniques to implement in their daily work with children.

CE Information

Contact Hours will be awarded for each full day of attendance. No partial credit will be awarded.

Counselors: Alabama Association for Play Therapy (AAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6211. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified. Alabama Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Marriage and Family Therapists: The Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy (ABEMFT) automatically approves courses that are NBCC approved for CE credit.

Play Therapists: AAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 98-045.

Hotel Information

Homewood Suites by Hilton

215 Inverness Center Dr, Birmingham, AL 35242

$139 rate for Thursday 6/22, Friday 6/23 and Saturday 6/24
Book your discounted room

Vendor Information

We are hoping that you will consider being a vendor during this wonderful event. The vendor fee is $50 which includes 1 table and chair. Each additional table is $10. We do request that each vendor also donate 1 raffle gift per day (2 total).

Some important information to keep in mind:

The conference venue will be Lifeline Children’s Services-200 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242
Set-up for exhibitors is Friday, June 23 from 7:30-8:30 AM
Take down for exhibitors is Saturday, June 24 from 5-5:30 PM
AAPT Exhibit Area hours are Friday June 23rd & Saturday June 24th 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Your image-ready logo (JPEG or PNG) and business description will be shared with attendees in advance.

Email treasurer@alabamaplaytherapy.org if you have any questions or need any additional information.