Therapist Extraordinaire Pass

💞 Mechanisms of Adaptation and Trauma Related Phobias in Children with Complex Trauma"

with Ana Gomez on each day during February 6-10, 2023

Ana is a pioneer in our field. She specialized in helping traumatized children heal through EMDR therapy. We are proud to present her as the first KEYNOTE speaker ever in the history of this symposium!

💚 "I want to be trained in Play Therapy. How do I get started?"

with Ann Beckley-Forest, LCSW, RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

Ann so eloquently discusses so many aspects about Play Therapy training, earning the RPT (Registered Play Therapist) credential from the Association for Play Therapy and more. She's an APT approved provider and a RPT-S (supervisor) so she's a great source of info.

💚 When Child Therapists Struggle with the Thought of "What if I am not good enough?"

with Diana Salazar, LCSW-S, RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

Diana gives voice to the common felt sense of inadequacy that many beginning child therapist experience. It's a heavy feeling that many refer to as "imposter syndrome" She shares some beautiful words of wisdom. And, show us around her PLAY THERAPY space. She's a clinical director, RPT-S, and more.

💚 Supporting Healthy Body Image in Therapy

with Jill Castle, MS, RDN on Monday, February 6, 2023

Jill is considered an international expert on child nutrition. She opens up her heart and brain full of wisdom as we discuss body image struggles with children. She's writing a book on it. Her guidance on how to support our clients with painful body image issues is just wonderful.

💚 Unbreaking the Felt Sense of Brokeness through Kintsugi Art in Therapy

with Carmen Jimenez-Pride, LCSW, RPTS, ICST on Monday, February 6, 2023

Carmen is such an incredible resource when it comes to integrating Play Therapy and Internal Family Systems. She is Certified in EMDR Therapy too. In this session, she shares with us an art directive. It's inspired by the Japanese tradition of repairing broken pottery. Such powerful healing potential.

💚 3 Systems That Can Simplify for Your Therapy Practice

with Nicole Looney LMHC, LPC, NCC EMDR Certified and MHFA Instructor on Monday, February 6, 2023

In this session, Nicole teaches us ways to simplify our work through efficient systems. I met Nicole at an EMDR training and she literally changed my life. She loves the stuff that many of us feel overwhelmed by. She's helped me organize my schedule, my dreams, and so much more. I'm excited for you to learn from her and be inspired by her passion.

💚 How to Nurture a Child's Empathy in Play Therapy

with David A. Crenshaw, PhD., ABPP, RPT-S and Lisa Shadburn, Psy.D., RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

Dr Crenshaw and Dr Shadburn are perhaps 2 of the kindness people on the planet! I recently attended a workshop that they taught at the annual APT conference on EMPATHY. Holy moly! The stories they shared were incredible. Together, they make quite a team with lots of playful brilliance, love, and extensive experience helping children through PLAY THERAPY. I'm pretty certain you'll feel their warmth. I sure did.

💚 The Creative Use of Games with Children and Teens

with Liana Lowenstein, LCSW, CPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

Years ago, as an elementary and middle school counselor, I held on to Liana's books like a lifeline. She is such a teacher to us all. In this session, she teaches about how to use games with children and teens in therapy. I literally love the way she teaches.

💚 Curating Safe Spaces: Creating Playrooms that invite Safety and Connection for Children and their Families

with Paris Goodyear-Brown, LCSW, RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

Paris is perhaps one of the most knowledgable people that I've met when it comes to helping traumatized children and teens. She's the creator of TraumaPlay. For this recording, she met with me at the end of her clinical day. In this session, she gives us a tour of her Nurture House in Tennessee. INCREDIBLE! She shares her nervous system informed intentionality of the design. They even have a gum ball machine by the front door that serves a therapeutic purpose. Oh my goodness, I'm excited for you to see this one.

💚 Greatness Cards in Child Therapy: Exploration of Children's Strengths

with Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

Tammi's Greatness sticks/cards/etc... have been a part of my therapy world for years now. Using them has been such a game changer in my practice. In this session, Tammi demonstrates how to use them with me!! After this recording, I felt so good lol. She contributed a PDF of the greatness cards for the Therapist Extraordinaire Pass bonus material!

💚 3 Therapeutic Journal Prompts for Kids

with Jen Taylor, LCSW-C, RPT-S EMDR Approved Consultant Certified Journal to the Self Instructor on Monday, February 6, 2023

Chances are, you already know Jen Taylor. She's done so much. In last year's symposium, she taught us about giving ourselves "permission". That concept stuck with me all year long, popping up just when I needed it. She's super into integrating journalling into her practice. In this session, she demonstrates some of it with me as her demonstratee. It was pretty cool stuff.

💚 Tips for Child Therapists to Stay Compliant & Current with Documentation witACh Ann Meehan, LPCC, RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

In 2021 I took one of Ann Meehan's 5 minute notetaking course online. I was wowed at how she streamlined the documentation process and strengthened my appreciation for the process. In this session, she teaches us how to stay current with our documentation and more. I've learned so much from her, I'm pretty sure you will too.

Strengthening the Therapeutic Relationship by Being Your Authentic Self in Child Therapy with Rachel Altvater, Psy.D., RPT-S on Monday, February 6, 2023

When I think about AUTHENTICITY, I think about Dr. Alvater. Her deep wisdom, playfulness, and capacity to be herself is incredible. Showing up as true self is super important in therapy. In this session, she teaches all about it.

Entrepreneurial and Congruent Clinicians Daring to Dream Big on Monday, February 6, 2023

In November of 2022, I attended Lisa Dion's Business of Therapy training. At the training, I met (some I already knew, but not well) a wonderful group of clinicians that I am now honored to call my "friends". Just wait until you hear about their dreams in this session. Their passion is INCREDIBLE

💜 Tips for Child/Teen Therapists Working with Parents

with Katie K. May, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™ on Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Katie teaches us about how she supports parents of her children and teen clients. She is certified in DBT and she really knows her stuff. The way she confidently works with parents is brilliant. She's writing a parent book that I can't wait to ready. She contributed some great parent supports of for the Therapist Extraordinaire Pass!

💜 Ways Child Therapists Can Help Parents

with Becki Welsh, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC, EMDR-Certified, CPLC on Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Dr. Welsh is a guru when it comes to parent support. She's developed a parenting model that has been developing over the course of 30 years. As child therapists, we can all benefit from the plethora of her experience and knowledge. She shares some specific ways we can support the parents we're working with.

💜 Infant Mental Health through Play Therapy

with Incarcerated Mothers and their Babies in Africa with Merab Akynyi on Monday, February 6, 2023

Merab is a therapist and a teacher. She gives us a glimpse of the incredible work she's doing in Africa helping mothers and their young children, using Dr. Janet Courtney's FirstPlay Therapy.

💜 7 Techniques for Child/Teen Therapists Working with Parents

with Terry Kottman, PhD., RPT-S, LMHC, NBCC on Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Dr. Kottman is an important person in our Play Therapy Community. She is the creator of Adlerian Play Therapy. In this session, she shares with us ways to support parents of our child and adolescent clients. She's so super skilled and extremely fun.

💜 Meaningful Connection with Parents when Providing School Based Play Therapy

with Helen Ritchie, MEd, CCC, BCRPT-S, Certified Synergetic Play Therapy® Supervisor on Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Helen knows her stuff when it comes to providing Play Therapy in the school setting. While she has embodies excellence in the entire School Based Play Therapy process, this session focuses on creating a meaningful connection with parents through school-based therapy. She offers us some really valuable tips.

💜 In-Sync Philosophy

with Joye Newman

Joye Newman and Carol Kranowitz are the authors of the In-Sync books that many of us treasure as a valued resource in our child therapy practice. Join me in conversation as we learn about the In-Sync philosophy and how it helps with sensory struggles, and more.

🤎 Sandtray Therapy Described and Demonstrated

with Claudia Ocampo, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC on Wednesday, February 8, 2023

In this session, Claudia describes sandtray therapy and demonstrates it with me as her client. Just wait until you witness her depth of knowledge when it comes to Sandtray Therapy, as well as her beautiful way of being throughout the process.

🤎 How to Strengthen a Child's Sense of Self in Therapy with Karen Fried, Psy.D., MFT on Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Dr. Fried is a mentor of mine. Her work has literally changed the trajectory of my therapist career as I learned about the Oaklander Model. In this session, Karen describes and demonstrates applications of the Oaklander model. INCREDIBLE

🤎 The Setup: Understanding the Depths of Communication in Child Therapy

with Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S on Wednesday, February 8, 2023

The introduction course for Lisa's SPT, Synergetic Play Therapy, has had such an incredible impact on my personal and professional life. One of my big take aways was the concept of "THE SETUP". Just wait until you see this one. It explains much of our human relational experience in one fell swoop in my opinion. What I've learned from Lisa will forever be one of my greatest resources. I'm excited for you to see this one.

🤎 Play Therapy with Adults with Elizabeth Pennington, LPC, RPT, EMDR Certified, TBRI Educator, EMDRIA approved Consultant

I met Elizabeth through the PLAYful EMDR summit. She's so passionate and skilled in EMDR and Play Therapy. In this session, she shares with us about how she uses it Adults.

🤎 Optimizing School Based Play Therapy

with Danyale Weems, LCSW, RPTS EMDR Certified, EMDR Consultant in Training on Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Danyle teaches us about school based play therapy in this session. She is one of the most knowledgable and passionate EMDR therapists that I know, so she shares with us important considerations about working with traumatized clients in the school setting.

🤎 Internal Family Systems and Expressive Therapy for Children & Teens

with Karen Wallace B.A., M.Ed., BCATR, CATA, CFP on Wednesday, February, 8, 2023

Karen continues to WOW me. She knows so much about so much. In this session, she teaches us about IFS, Internal Family Systems and Expressive Arts with children and teens. Her energy and creativity is through the roof. I'm pretty certain you will share my awe as we learn from her in this video.

🤎 Synergetic Play Therapy® in Schools

with Judith Norman, MA, MS, LPC, RPT-S on Wednesday, February 8, 2023

When I heard that Judy was in the Schools with Synergetic Play Therapy, I literally felt a bolt of excitement move through my body. I met Judy during our symposium last year and have used what I've learned from her since then. In this video, she discusses what applications of SPT in the school setting entail.

🤎 EMDR and Play Therapy Integrated with Children in Africa

with Florence Mueni on Friday, February 8, 2023

I first met Florence through Dr. Fried's "Just for Now" calls at the beginning of COVID. She inspired me as I learned about her work. Since then, she's taken Ann and Annie's EMDR basic training! In this video she desribes the amazing works she's doing in Kenya, Africa.

🤎 How to Introduce a Child to Play Therapy

with Lynn Louise Wonders LPC, RPT-S, CPCS on Wednesday, February 8, 2023

In this session, Lynn discusses how to introduce a child to Play Therapy. This is a common question from parents that can be navigated easier by knowing what to say and how to say it.

🤎 Back Stories for Young Babies, Toddlers, and Young Children with Janet A. Courtney, Ph.D., LCSW, RPT-S on February 8, 2023

Dr. Courtney is a mentor to me. If you already know her, and chances are you probably already do, you know of her excellence in Play Therapy with infants and toddlers, love for nature-based Play Therapy, and beautiful way of showing up in relationship. In this session, she teaches us about "back stories". This one is amazing!

🤎 Honoring Diversity in Child Therapy

with Dr. S. Kent Butler

I met Dr. Butler years ago during my grad school experience. His class taught me so much about diversity, microagressions and more. He's helped me over the years with trainings, presentations and such. I love everything about him, his work and what he stands for. In this session, he shares about diversity in child therapy.

💛 Working the Parent System in Chosen Families

with Theresa Fraser CYC-P, CPT-S, MA, RP, RCT on Thursday, February 9th, 2023

In this session, Theresa Fraser teaches us how to support "chosen families". If you haven't met Theresa yet, you are in for a treat! She does so much. Truly a therapist extraordinaire. During our conversation, I learned so much. Her work with families is heart-felt, authentic and supported by countless clinical hours and lived experience. I could literally feel her love as she described her work in this video.

💛 Helping Families with Transracial Adoption Related Struggles with Marcella Moslow, LCSW, RPT on Thursday, February 9th, 2023

I recently met Marcella through Ann Beckley-Forest. Holy moly, I wish I had this knowledge that she shares in the beginning of my work. She gives us such a clear picture of what transracial adoption entails and models how she works with children and families. She even gives us examples of how to phrase things. SO GOOD

💛 Supporting Parents with Adoption and Fostercare

with Jeanette Yoffe, Jeanette Yoffe M.A., M.F.T. on Thursday, February 9th, 2023

Jeanette continues to teach us so much about adoption and foster care. The combination of her lived experience and clinical expertise is the BEST. She's created so many wonderful resources to help us help our clients. I love everything Jeanette about this session.

💛Understanding How Attachment Impacts Relationships

with Bridger Falkenstien, MS, NCC, PLPC on Thursday, February 9th, 2023

Bridger is a fellow Polyvagal Theory enthusiast and EMDR therapist with a great deal of expertise when when it comes to attachment. His depth of knowledge about the nervous system is immeasurable. In this session, he shares with us on how attachment impacts relationships. I love learning from Bridger, and I'm pretty sure you will as well.

💛 3 Ways to Use Art in Family Therapy to Heal and Strengthen Relationships Dana Wyss, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC

on Thursday, February 9th, 2023

I met Dr. Wyss in the 2022 at Dr. Fried's Oaklander Model training in Las Angeles, California. I think of her as a heartbeat. If you've met her before, you know probably understand what it means when I say she's the "heartbeat". Much like a heartbeat, she's a powerful and gentle presence that pumps vitality into a space. I love her energy and her depth of knowledge. In this session, she describes and demonstrates art directives.

❤️ An Agenda in Therapy

with Marshall Lyles, LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S on Friday, February 10, 2023

Marshall is an epic icon in our Play Therapy Community. When I reflect on my timeline as a play therapists, there's a BEFORE and AFTER Marshall distinction. In this session, he teaches about the importance of not having an "agenda" in session. I first heard him talk about this a bit at our recent PLAYful EMDR Summit in Cocoa Beach. I love everything about the way he teaches. This is an amazing session.

❤️ The Magic of EMDR with Kids

with Christine Mark-Griffin, LCSW on Friday, February 10, 2023

Christine is such a gift to our Play Therapy Community. She's a child therapist, EMDR consultant, and an incredibly creative human. Oh, and she's so much fun. In this session, she shares with us about EMDR with children through the integration of play and art. Oh my goodness, just wait until you feel her energy as she discusses the "magic" of EMDR with kids. So wonderful.

❤️ 7 Tips for Therapists supporting Neurodivergent Children and Teens

with Robert Jason Grant Ed.D, LPC, NCC, RPT-S on Friday, February 10, 2023

I've learned SO MUCH from Dr. Robert Jason Grant. I am pretty sure I've watched all of his YouTube videos - some of them more than once! I love the way he explains things. Sometimes, as child therapists, we don't know know what we don't know. In this session, he gives ups tips for supporting our neurodivergent children and teen clients. SO GOOD.

❤️ Recognizing Dissociation in Teens

with Annie J. Monaco, LCSWR, RPT and Nicole Wolasz, LCSWR on Friday, February 10, 2023

Recently, I took a course with Annie and Nicole on EMDR with teens that blew my mind. They simplified the complexities of dissociation in adolescents in a way unlike anything I've heard before. Their stories of healing literally brought tears to my mind. If you don't know these two wonderful humans yet, you are in for a treat.

❤️ Polyvagal Play Therapy Supervision Described with Dora Henderson LMHC, RPTS, CST, Certified Trauma Play Therapist

Dora is a felllow Polyvagal Theory enthusiast. She applies it in every aspect of her personal and professional life, much like me. We work closely together. You're gonna love this one. She's so PLAYful and full of clinicial application knowledge.

❤️ Making Sense of Behavior: Decoding Even the Most Baffling Childhood Behavior

with Robyn Gobbel LMSW on Friday, February 10, 2023

Robyn is such a resource in our Play Therapy Community. She hosts a membership program for parents that is so supportive to families as she works from a nervous system informed foundation. One time, a parent of one of my client's forwarded an email of hers to me to share something they learned. She's so good. In this session, Robyn teaches us about the neuroscience of behavior and how we can help. She wrote a book on this topic that is wonderful!

❤️ Dismantling Shame Constructs through Playful Self-Compassionate Practices in Child Therapy

with Jackie Flynn, EdS, LMHC-S, RPT on Friday, February 10, 2023

In this session, I teach you about dissolving the innerworkings of shame through self-compassion in Play Therapy. This topic is near and dear to my heart. Shame is suffering. I feel honored to share this one with you. I'm excited to get your feedback on it.

❤️ Sending Cues of Safety to the Nervous System: Use of the Safe and Sound Protocol in Child Therapy with Laurie Belanger, LCSWR, Clinical Social Worker & Trauma Therapist

Leah Dawang, Somatic Coach & Partnership Cultivation Manager, Unyte

As a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider myself, I know firsthand the magnitude that sound can influence the autonomic nervous system. Leah and Laurie share about how and why it works. Just the coolest thing ever! It's a clinical application of the Polyvagal Theory.