$30 OFF EARLY BIRD OFFER WILL END IN
Healing Trauma Through Play Therapy:
A Neuroscience & Attachment Approach
Unlock the transformative power of neuroscience-informed play therapy and expressive arts to heal trauma deeply in children and teens. This interactive, full-day training gives you powerful tools to confidently address trauma through evidence-based play therapy approaches.
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Mountain Time
Location: Attend In Person or Online (Virtual)
In-Person Venue: Utah Tech University – Russell C. Taylor Health Science Building1526 E Medical Center Dr, St. George, UT 84790
Feeling Overwhelmed by Trauma Cases in Your Play Therapy Practice?
As a dedicated play therapist, you're regularly navigating complex trauma in young clients. Whether you're new to play therapy and uncertain about where to begin or an experienced professional feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of trauma cases, you're not alone.
Do any of these challenges resonate with you?
- Knowing What To Do In Sessions: How do you recognize all the complex influences of trauma and how these factors have impacted each unique client so you know what to do in sessions? Multiple layers of trauma can seem daunting and nearly insurmountable for play therapists working with children and teens who’ve experienced trauma.
- Understanding What’s Happening in Sessions: How do you know if they’re making progress and if play therapy is working? Recognizing what’s happening in sessions can be overwhelming as you try to figure out what your client’s play behaviors mean.
- Caregiver Engagement: You probably know that caregiver engagement is important but how are you supposed to engage them in the play therapy process and how do you know who to involve in the change process?
- Emotional Exhaustion: How are you managing the weight of the work you do with clients? Do you have a community of support? Absorbing the emotional turmoil of your clients can lead to personal burnout. Trauma can be complex and it can be difficult to hold their stories.
Meet Your Trainer
Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S
With nearly 35 years in child and adolescent mental health, I've supported traumatized children and teens across diverse settings, including outpatient clinics, private practice, shelters, residential treatment, juvenile justice, foster care, and adoption programs. One common thread in every setting is trauma. Like you, my life's mission is clear: helping children, teens, and families heal deeply. To do this effectively, you need specific, trauma-informed skills tailored to the developmental needs of young clients.
That's why I created this specialized training—to equip you with powerful, evidence-based techniques to confidently and safely heal trauma through play therapy.
"Cathi's experience and confidence in the model she developed plus her grounding energy helped in learning a whole new model. She brought it to life!"
COOPER S.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST
Announcing
Healing Trauma Through Play Therapy: A Neuroscience & Attachment Approach
Unlock the transformative power of neuroscience-informed play therapy and expressive arts to heal trauma deeply in children and teens. This interactive, full-day training gives you powerful tools to confidently address trauma through evidence-based play therapy approaches.
I’m inviting you into a day of deep learning with this one-day intensive play therapy training, designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to change young lives for the better using play therapy. Leveraging the powerful combination of neuroscience and attachment theory, I packed my nearly 35 years of condensed child and adolescent mental health wisdom so you can help children and teens access the therapeutic powers of play for healing.
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Mountain Time
Location: Attend In Person or Online (Virtual)
In-Person Venue: Utah Tech University – Russell C. Taylor Health Science Building1526 E Medical Center Dr,
St. George, UT 84790
This isn’t about quick fixes
- It’s about understanding and healing at a profound level
Imagine being equipped to truly understand how trauma affects your clients, and having the tools to design play therapy plans that address the deep roots of their trauma. This training will guide you through the process of case conceptualization—a fancy way of saying you’ll learn to be a detective in your therapeutic work, identifying complex factors that influence your clients and discovering patterns that need addressing.
By the end of the day, you’ll not only recognize themes and behaviors in play therapy but also feel confident in guiding each client through their healing journey. Central to your work will be building strong, culturally sensitive relationships with each client and their caregivers.
"I gained valuable new resources and books to support children affected by trauma, along with practical activities to help children share their trauma stories with parents."
CAROL BETH G.
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST
Ready to become a catalyst for healing in children’s lives?
Join us for a transformative experience that will empower you not just as a play therapist, but as a pivotal part of your clients’ paths to recovery.
Here’s a sneak peek at what the training covers:
Understanding Trauma with Neuroscience & Attachment Theory
Take a deep dive into how trauma impacts children and teens as they navigate their day-to-day experiences - their sense of self and their interpersonal relationships. You can turn these insights into using more effective play therapy interventions to make a deeper impact for your clients.
Play Behaviors & Trauma
Learn how to figure out what’s going on in your play therapy sessions and recognize their progress (or lack of progress). You’ll learn how to decode the themes in children's play and artwork, understanding what your clients are communicating to you as they access the therapeutic powers of play for healing.
Use a targeted approach with strategies that get at the roots of the problem
Hone your clinical detective skills like an expert play therapist to conceptualize how to best help your clients using a culturally informed integrative play therapy framework to meet the unique needs of each client.
Stages of Play Therapy with Traumatized Children & Teens
Learn to confidently navigate through the various stages of play therapy, from establishing safety and building coping skills to reprocessing traumatic experiences and preparing parents for the journey ahead.
BONUS!
Two Months FREE Access to my NEW Online Community - Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE
When you register for this training you’ll get two months of free access to Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE: A global community of play therapists to Connect, Inspire, Reflect, Collaborate, Learn, and Elevate together ($87 value)!
Join other play therapists around the world so you don’t have to feel like you’re doing it alone. We are your CIRCLE of support and together we can make a difference in the lives of children, teens, and families. Space is limited so register early to reserve your spot!
What Your Collegues Have Said About Cathi's Trainings
Testimonials
Leslie B.
Laura
Jessica B.
Training Information
Here's What You Need To Know
Who is appropriate for this training?
Play therapists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, family therapists, child and adolescent psychologists.
This training is FOR you if…
- You want to think beyond the ordinary and accomplish extraordinary results with your clients so you can change the lives of your clients for generations to come
- You want to learn how to confidently use play therapy to address trauma through each phase of the change process and know what to do in each phase of treatment
- You want to learn new play therapy strategies to help your traumatized clients heal
- You’re tired of feeling like you’re failing your clients and you want to gain confidence to use play therapy so you can get better results for them
This training is NOT for you if…
- You’re not a child/adolescent mental health professional
- You are a child/adolescent mental health professional but you don’t want to use play therapy with your clients
- You don’t think play therapy is effective
- You don’t need to learn anything because you’re very experienced and you already know everything there is to know about play therapy
When is it？
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Mountain Time (Make sure to adjust to your time zone)
Where is it？
Location: Attend In Person or Online (Virtual)
In-Person Venue: Utah Tech University – Russell C. Taylor Health Science Building1526 E Medical Center Dr, St. George, UT 84790
Course Description
Children and teens impacted by trauma often struggle with emotion dysregulation, traumatic memories resulting in maladaptive behavior, and forming trust in relationships. These challenges stem from deep-seated feelings of shame and negative core beliefs about themselves and others, illustrating the pervasive impact of trauma. Fortunately, with the right therapeutic approach, healing and thriving are possible.
This professional play therapy training is designed for play therapists and child/adolescent counselors to utilize the insights of neuroscience and attachment theory. By focusing on these frameworks, this training equips you to effectively implement clinical interventions using play therapy and expressive arts. These methods provide developmentally appropriate ways to engage children and teens in their recovery, respecting cultural and diversity considerations crucial for healing.
Throughout this experiential training, you will understand the developmental impacts of trauma, which are essential for tailoring your therapeutic strategies. You'll discover how to identify themes in play and use these insights to guide your application of play therapy and expressive arts interventions. The training covers the four phases of treatment—each vital for addressing different aspects of trauma—and introduces specific activities for each phase. Additionally, it emphasizes the critical role of engaging caregivers as therapeutic partners.
By the end of this training, you’ll possess a deeper understanding and practical skills to implement neuroscience and attachment-informed strategies, enhancing their ability to foster significant and positive changes in the lives of young clients.
Objectives for this training
- Play therapists will explain the role of case conceptualization with cultural intelligence for treatment planning using an integrative play therapy approach grounded in neuroscience and attachment theory.
- Play therapists will describe the role of implicit memory and mentalization for trauma triggers in the play therapy process.
- Play therapists will describe at least three themes and play behaviors common to trauma work in play therapy.
- Play therapists will explain the role of play therapist and purpose of each phase of play therapy.
- Play therapists will identify at least three components needed to create safety in the play therapy process.
- Play therapists will demonstrate at least two play therapy activities for each phase of treatment.
Virtual Training Information
‼️IMPORTANT‼️ In order to receive continuing education hours credit, participants must be present for the entirety of the training and keep cameras on at all times.
If you register for the Virtual training options, you can earn 6 Non-Contact CE hours.
Access to the online/virtual training will be locked by 9:15 am Mountain time zone to ensure participant attendance in its entirety.
Please ensure you adjust virtual participation training times for your time zone.
- Virtual participants will attend virtually using Zoom.
- Virtual participants will be limited and participants must keep their cameras on at all times to ensure active participation in the training.
- Virtual participants must be visible for the entirety of the training time (excluding breaks) and will complete an evaluation form and a post-test quiz.
- You must achieve 85% proficiency on the quiz to receive CE credit.
Training Schedule
90 minutes: Understanding Trauma using Neuroscience & Attachment Theory
- Overview of neuroscience & attachment
- Over of Mentalization & the Role of Implicit Memory in Trauma Triggers
1 hour: Play Behaviors & Trauma
- Play themes
- Experiential Large Group Activity: Identifying themes
- Therapeutic Powers of Play
- Small Group activity: Case Study
1 Hour: Formulating Case Conceptualization & Treatment Planning
- Overview of Case Conceptualization and Cultural Formulation
- Using an Integrative Play Therapy Model
- Building a Strong Therapeutic Relationship for Safety - the Sacred Space of Play Therapy
- Role of Caregivers in the Play Therapy Change Process
2.5 Hours: Overview of Stages
- Stages of Play Therapy with Traumatized Children & Teens
- Experiential Activities for Each Stage
Continuing Education Credit is available for the following organizations:
- 6 Contact CE hours, APT Approved Provider #20-621
- CEs only available for mental health professionals
- If you register for the Virtual training options, you can earn 6 Non-Contact CE hours.
- 6 CE hours through NASW Utah Chapter, currently pending
‼️Important‼️ In Person participants must be present for the entirety of the training to receive continuing education hours.
What category will this training meet for the RPT credential?
For mental health professionals pursuing a Registered Play Therapy (RPT) certification, this training fits into Primary Area 4: Play Therapy Special Topics (includes special populations and burgeoning models). Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals Here’s the rationale for Primary Area Category 4: This training focuses on working with children who’ve experienced trauma. Using an Integrative Play Therapy model that uses neuroscience and attachment theory, participants will learn to conceptualize treatment issues using this theoretical lens through four stages of play therapy. This training teaches play therapy strategies to use with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.
Cancellation Policy
Written communication to Cathi Spooner at info@rhplaytherapytraining.com is required one week before the training date no later than 11:59 pm Pacific time on May 10, 2025. No refunds will be given after that date.
Consent
By registering for this training, you are giving permission for Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training (RHPTT) to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as RHPTT deems appropriate and desirable. This training will also be recorded, so you are giving permission for Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training to record you during the virtual training. Photographs may be used on the RHPTT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs and the live webinar recording indefinitely. You also agree to allow your feedback and comments in the chat and evaluation form may also be used for future promotions as deemed appropriate and desirable by RHPTT. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify RHPTT of your request to be omitted
Ready to elevate your play therapy skills but worried about the cost or the value?
Let's Chat About Those
It's too expensive.
I understand that every dollar counts, which is why I’m offering an Early Bird discount that makes this training not just affordable but an incredible value. Plus, you’ll receive two months of free access to my exclusive online membership, the Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE. You can cancel anytime—no hassle, no fuss. Imagine having a supportive community right at your fingertips as you implement new strategies in your sessions—it’s a total game changer.
Will it really change my practice?
Absolutely—yes, it will! This training isn’t just about learning; it’s about transforming your practice. By integrating neuroscience and attachment-based strategies, you’ll enhance your toolkit, making your play therapy sessions more effective and impactful. Prepare to navigate your clients' healing journeys with newfound confidence and expertise, elevating both your practice and their outcomes.
I already know enough about trauma.
Even the most seasoned professionals need fresh perspectives and continuous learning to stay at the top of their game. This training offers more than just knowledge—it’s an opportunity to connect with peers, share innovative ideas, and stay updated with the latest research. You’ll leave feeling revitalized and empowered, with a renewed passion for your vital work in helping traumatized children and teens heal.
"I took away many examples of activities that I can now do with children and teens."
- Tiffany S.
Certified child life specialist & Elementary teacher
"Learning from and with others, combined with Cathi's expansive knowledge and experience, made the excellent material and engaging activities truly impactful. I highly recommend this experience!"
- Kathy R.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Join us to not just meet but exceed your professional goals, bringing deeper healing and more effective therapy to those who need it most.
Healing Trauma through Play Therapy: A Neuroscience & Attachment Approach
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Mountain Time
Choose Your Registration Option
IN-PERSON TRAINING
$187
$157
EARLY BIRD OFFER
- Must attend in-person at Utah Tech University – Russell C. Taylor Health Science Building1526 E Medical Center Dr, St. George, UT 84790
- Must be present for the entirety of the training
- 2 Months FREE access to Play Therapy Elevation Circle Community
VIRTUAL TRAINING
$187
$157
EARLY BIRD OFFER
- Must attend virtually using Zoom
- Must be present for the entirety of the training
- Must keep cameras on at all times.
- 2 Months FREE access to Play Therapy Elevation Circle Community
