When Worlds Split: A Play Therapist Role in Divorce Transitions
Description
Children who are often caught in the throes of their caregivers divorce experience emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges that require sensitive, developmentally appropriate interventions. Clinicians experience a parallel process becoming entangled with their child clients who are in the middle of a high conflict divorce which pose unique challenges clinically and ethically. Many times Clinicians are placed in the crossfire between parents, courts and children making it difficult to manage alliances, navigate the legal processes, and maintain neutrality.
This full-day interactive workshop is designed to deepen play therapists, counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals working with children impacted by contentious custody battles which often involve maltreatment allegations, and coercive control dynamics.
Deepen your understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities while equipping yourself with practical play therapy interventions which are effective and developmentally appropriate. An integrative approach that will work through a combination of experiential learning, case studies, and evidence-based interventions. Participants will gain hands-on strategies for creating therapeutic safety, navigating alliance issues, setting appropriate boundaries with parents, and documenting play therapy work for legal settings. Participants will leave with language for explaining their role to parents, strategies for responding to subpoenas or attorney requests, and a deeper understanding of the intersection between play therapy, attachment disruption, and family systems under stress. documenting in a legally sound manner, and setting boundaries with high-conflict parents.
This workshop will help clinicians reduce risk, increase competence in court-involved cases, and offer grounded, ethical therapeutic services to children experiencing the emotional toll of parental conflict.
Learning Objectives
Identify their scope of practice and boundaries to courts, attorneys and parents.
Discuss the impact of parental separation and divorce on children
Describe the continuum of parental separation in play therapy from mild estrangement to alienation.
Discuss ways to maintain neutrality, manage triangulation and avoid being in the middle of conflict
Demonstrate at least 3 play therapy interventions to help children process conflict, anxiety and divided loyalty.
Identify 3 ethical pitfalls play therapists face in high conflict cases.
Presenter
Danyale Weems, LCSW, RPT-S™
Danyale Weems is the founder of Waves Counseling in Carrollton, Georgia, where she has dedicated over 17 years to helping children, teens, families, and adults navigate life’s transitions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida (2001) and her Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University (2008). A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Danyale serves as a Supervisor for Social Workers and Play Therapists in training and is an EMDR Approved Consultant, guiding clinicians in trauma-informed and experiential approaches to healing.
Danyale is no stranger to the Alabama Association for Play Therapy, having presented multiple breakout sessions over the years. Her passion for helping families through change—especially in the context of divorce and relational transitions—shines through her engaging and practical teaching style. She brings a wealth of experience, insight, and heart to every training she leads.
Schedule
Registration
8:00-8:30
Morning Session Part I
8:30-10:00
Morning Break
10:00-10:15
Morning Session Part II
10:15-12:00
Lunch On Your Own
12:00-1:00
Afternoon Session Part I
1:00-2:30
Afternoon Break
2:30-2:45
Afternoon Session II
2:45-4:00
All times are CST
Continuing Education Credit
Six Contact Hours will be awarded for a full day of attendance.
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 NBCC-approved courses 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.
Social Workers: AAPT is approved by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners (ASBSWE) to offer continuing education to social workers. ASBSWE Provider No. 0284.
A discount of $10.00 per registrant for groups of 3 or more registering together. Email the Treasurer (treasurer@alabamaplaytherapy.org) to complete a Group Registration. Credit Cards are accepted if registering online. No purchase orders accepted.
Scholarships
Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, January 22nd, and all day Friday, January 23rd, to assist with the conference. Volunteer duties may involve working registration, assisting with setup before 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 Hannah Finley at studentrep@alabamaplaytherapy.org and submit proof of enrollment in a counseling or related program (SW, MFT, etc).
Registrants canceling up to 48 hours before a workshop will receive a tuition refund less a $20 administrative fee (per day). All requests must be made in writing or by email. No refunds will be issued for any reason after January 21, 2026. In the unlikely event the workshop cannot be held, registrants will receive complimentary admission to a rescheduled workshop or a full value voucher, good for one year, for a future workshop.
Membership Information
To join the Association for Play Therapy, click here.
Sign up to receive emails from AAPT so you can stay up-to-date with all the news and announcements from AAPT!
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 20, 2025 (6 contact hours)
8:00-8:30
Registration
8:30-11:45
Dalena Dillman Taylor- Adlerian Play Therapy and Interpersonal Neurobiology
11:45-1:00
Lunch on your own (AAPT Member Meeting – 12:45-1:00 – All are welcome!)
1:00-4:15
Dalena Dillman Taylor – Attachment-Based Play Therapy for Trauma, Behavioral & Sensory Challenges cont’d
8:00-5:00
Exhibits Tables Open
Saturday, June 21, 2025 (6 contact hours)
8:00-8:30
Registration
8:30-11:45
Dalena Dillman Taylor- Playing with Parents: Conducting Parent Consultations with the Brain in Mind
11:45-1:00
Lunch on your own
1:00-4:15
Pre-selected Breakout Sessions
8:00-4:45
Exhibits Tables Open
Registration Information
Early Bird (Until May 30th)
Regular & Onsite
Member 2 Day- $250
Member 2 Day- $350
Member 1 Day- $150
Member 1 Day- $250
Non Member 2 Day- $325
Non Member 2 Day- $425
Non Member 1 Day- $225
Non Member 1 Day- $325
Student 2 Day- $200
Student 2 Day- $300
Student 1 Day- $100
Student 1 Day- $200
Groups of three or more must register together to receive the $10 off per person. Payment for all group members must be made in the same payment transaction. To receive the group rate 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 17. 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:
Scholarships to attend the AAPT workshop will be offered to full-time students who volunteer to be available Thursday evening, June 19th, all-day Friday, June 20th, and all day Saturday, June 21st 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 Hannah 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 20- 6 CE
Adlerian Play Therapy and Interpersonal Neurobiology
The first six years of life are the most influential period of neuronal growth and the most vulnerable to maltreatment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). This finding makes early childhood a critical and influential time in development and learning. Recent advancements in neuroscience provide evidence that the environment, early life experiences, and relationships contribute to overall physical and psychological health (Siegel, 2012). The IPNB model, founded in several neuroscience theories (e.g., memory encoding), the polyvagal theory [Porges, 2011], neuroplasticity [Kandel, 1998], the midbrain’s affective emotional motivational systems [Panksepp & Biven, 2012]), underscores the value of new experiences and interaction in the social environment to reshape and restructure both brain and behavior (Siegel, 2012). Further, principles emerging from IPNB provide theoretical support for many prevention and intervention strategies with children (Siegel, 2012). Likewise, Adlerian play therapy (AdPT) shares many conceptual similarities with IPNB and neuroscience research including emphasis on childhood experience, social interest and relationships, purposefulness of behavior, holism, and the internalized narrative (Wheeler & Dillman Taylor, 2016). Given that AdPT is one of the most widely used child counseling approaches (Kottman & Meany-Walen 2016), the integration of these two philosophies is critical for the future of helping children in an empirically-supported manner. The presenter will (a) develop connections from neurobiology to AdPT, (b) outline specific interventions from AdPT to compliment the neuroscience research that supports positive growth of children, and (c) guide participants in connecting these philosophies through interactive activities, case examples, and discussion.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to describe the four phases of Adlerian Play Therapy.
Participants will be able to describe the foundational skills of Adlerian Play Therapy.
Participants will be able to identify and draw connections between theoretical principles of Adlerian play therapy and principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology.
Participants will be able to describe specific play therapy techniques that are IPNB-focused within each phase of Adlerian play therapy.
Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the Adlerian play therapy treatment process (e.g., treatment goals and plans, documentation, intake/termination, and tracking of treatment progress)
Participants will be able to demonstrate play therapy treatment skills congruent with AdPT (e.g., conceptualization, interventions)
Focus Area: Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories Play Therapy Special Topics
Saturday (AM), June 21 – 3 CE
Playing with Parents: Conducting Parent Consultations with the Brain in Mind
Advancements in neuroscience provide theoretical and conceptual support for principles and practices of play therapy for young children. These neurobiological underpinnings are helpful in therapists’ work with parents as well. Parent consultation is an integration component to Adlerian play therapy. In this interactive training, the presenter will walk you through the parent consultation process across the four phases of Adlerian play therapy, connecting each phase to neurobiology research. In particular, the presenter will unpack Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) across the four phases of parent consultations. Utilizing the integrated Adlerian play therapy and IPNB framework, the presenter will discuss case examples and show brief video examples to illustrate (a) session progress, (b) resistant parents, and (c) skills unique to connecting with parents of play therapy clients. Come ready to play, gain skills, and insight on how to walk alongside parents through the play therapy journey.
Learning Objectives:
Name the four phases of Adlerian play therapy
Describe at least two parent-specific skills for parent consultations in the play therapy process
Illustrate different personality priorities of parents of play therapy clients
Describe unique techniques to respond to the different personality priorities in parent consultations with parents of play therapy clients.
Focus Area: Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories Play Therapy Special Topics
Saturday (PM), June 21 – 3 CEs
Attendees will select one (3hr) break-out session on various topics.
Breakout Sessions (1:00-4:15PM)
Breakout #1 Using Personality Priorities in Play Therapy Supervision
Dive into an experiential workshop that explores the development of the Crucial Cs – Connect, Capable, Courage, and Count – throughout play therapy supervision. Through interactive activities, reflective practices, and creative play-based techniques, participants will explore how to foster these core concepts supervisees and clients alike. This dynamic session invites supervisors and therapists to strengthen relationships, enhance clinical insight, and inspire confidence using hands-on strategies grounded in both theory and fun. Come ready to play, connect deeply, and leave with practical tools to support growth and resilience in yourself, your supervisees, and clients.
Learning Objectives:
Name the four personality priorities
Utilize a quick tool to assess personality priorities
Learn 2 strategies to adapt the supervision process to meet the supervisee’s need
Focus Area: Play Therapy Supervision
Breakout #2 Bridging the Gap: Integrating Sensory Integration Theory and Retained Reflexes into Play Therapy for Neurodivergent Clients
Steffani Hammitt, LMFT
Overview:
Play therapy is a powerful intervention for children, yet many play therapists overlook the critical role that sensory processing and retained primitive reflexes play in emotional regulation, behavior, and therapeutic engagement. While play therapy focuses on emotional expression, relationship-building, and cognitive processing, many neurodivergent children experience underlying sensory challenges and reflex integration difficulties that significantly impact their ability to engage in therapy. This presentation will explore how play therapists can incorporate Sensory Integration Theory and an understanding of Retained Reflexes into their practice to better support neurodivergent clients. Attendees will learn to recognize signs of sensory processing difficulties and retained reflexes, understand their impact on emotional regulation and behavior, and discover ways to integrate sensory-informed interventions into play therapy sessions. By expanding our approach, we can bridge the gap between play therapy and sensory-based interventions, creating a more effective, holistic model of care.
Learning Objectives:
Identify key sensory processing challenges and retained reflexes that impact therapeutic engagement in neurodivergent children.
Understand the relationship between sensory integration, emotional regulation, and play therapy.
Learn practical strategies to incorporate sensory-informed interventions into play therapy sessions.
Focus Area: Play Therapy Skills and Methods Play Therapy Special Topics
Breakout #3 Unpacking Culture, Color, and Connection: Creative Approaches with Black Youth
Shannon Treadwell, LPC and Vernitra LaShay Dobbins, EdS, LPC
Overview:
“Unpacking Culture, Color, and Connection: Creative Approaches with Black Youth” explores the intersection of identity, lived experience, and healing. This interactive session offers culturally responsive, creative strategies to engage Black teens and young adults in therapy while honoring their voices, stories, and strengths in navigating mental health and social-emotional growth.
Learning Objectives:
Increase Cultural Awareness: Participants will deepen their understanding of the cultural and social factors impacting Black teens and young adults, including racial identity development, systemic barriers, and lived experiences.
Enhance Clinical Practice: Participants will learn and apply at least three culturally responsive play therapy techniques that affirm identity, foster emotional expression, and build trust with Black youth.
Promote Reflective Practice: Participants will engage in self-reflection to identify personal biases and explore ways to create more inclusive, affirming, and empowering therapeutic spaces for diverse clients.
Focus Area: Play Therapy Cultural and Social Diversity Topics
Breakout #4 Healing Through Connection: Play Therapy and the Power of Caregiver Integration in Healing Trauma
Danyale Weems, LCSW, RPT-S™
Overview:
This experiential workshop explores the transformative power of Play Therapy and emphasizes the essential role caregivers play in a child’s healing journey from trauma. Rooted in attachment theory, neurobiology, and the Transtheoretical model, this training equips clinicians with practical tools to help children process trauma while strengthening the caregiver-child relationship as a secure base for emotional recovery. Utilizing creative modalities such as art, music, drama, movement in play therapy Participants will learn how to safely guide children through trauma narratives using developmentally appropriate creative modalities in play therapy and how to skillfully involve caregivers in sessions to co-regulate, attune, and repair relational ruptures.
Learning Objectives:
Identify key principles of trauma-informed play therapy
Describe at least three play therapy techniques for integrating caregivers into trauma treatment
Demonstrate at least 2 co-regulation strategies within play therapy sessions which support caregiver-child healing and attachment
Focus Area: Play Therapy Skills and Methods Play Therapy Special Topics
Breakout #5 Harmonizing Healing: Integrating Movement & Play Therapy with EMDR for Comprehensive Therapeutic Transformation
Stephanie Heitkemper, PhD, LPC, RPT-S™, FT and Meredith Hammond, MA, LPC, RPT-S™, ACS
Overview:
In this interactive presentation, we will explore the fundamental role of sensory experiences and their significant impact on the effectiveness of play therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Attendees will gain valuable practical insights on how to incorporate movement and sensory elements into play-based EMDR techniques, thereby deepening their understanding of these therapeutic processes and enhancing treatment outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
Develop a foundational understanding of the role of sensory experiences in therapeutic interventions and their impact on play-therapy-based EMDR outcomes.
Participants will acquire skills to assess client’s state of arousal, and guide client to appropriate sensory input during the history and preparation phases.
Participants will develop a customized sensory toolbox using play therapy foundations to enhance cognitive balance through vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile input.
Focus Area: Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories Play Therapy Special Topics
Breakout #6 Sandtray Work Across the Lifespan
James Jackson, Ph.D, LPC-S, RPT-S™
Overview:
This program will examine characteristics of Sandtray work with clients across Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development. The emphasis will be on developmental themes that may emerge in builders’ work in the tray.
Learning Objectives:
The participant will review Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development and how these may manifest in the Sandtray work of clients.
The participant will experience building a Sandtray representing their own unique stage of development.
The participant will practice witnessing the building of a developmentally-themed Sandtray and holding space for the exploration of the builder’s Sandtray work.
Focus Area: Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
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 Birmingham-South/Inverness ($149 a night 6/19-6/22). Click on the “Book Your Room Now” below to be access the discounted rate!
We hope you will consider being a vendor during this wonderful event. The vendor fee is $50, which includes one table and chair. Each additional table is $10. We request that each vendor also donate one raffle gift per day (two total).
Alabama Association for Play Therapy 