Program Details
Date(s)
This six-day training will take place in two three-day segments
Segment 1 - September 2026
9/24, 9/25, 9/26
Segment 2 - November 2026
11/12, 11/13, 11/14
Location
108 Greentree Rd.
Unit C
Turnersville, NJ 08012
Presenter
Demi Banchs, MA, LPC, RPT™
Please note that registration closes seven days prior to the start date of the program or once maximum capacity is reached, whichever comes first.
Program Description
This training explores the core concepts of integrating play therapy with a neurobiologically respectful, “bottom-up” approach to healing. Participants will learn how to assess neurodevelopmental needs and create targeted, neurosequential treatment plans that align with the brain’s natural patterns of development and regulation. Grounded in attachment-informed and trauma-responsive care and guided by core neurobiological principles, this training supports healing and positive development across all brain regions and functions. Through hands-on learning, therapists will gain practical tools to identify and address the root of behaviors and promote lasting, meaningful change.
This course is designed for social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals who work with children and families.
Learning Objectives
-
Differentiate between bottom-up and top-down approaches in play therapy and identify clinical indicators for selecting each approach.
-
Describe bottom-up development and its relevance to play therapy.
-
Explain the sequence in which the brain processes input.
-
Identify the general functions of major brain regions.
-
Explain the sequence of engagement and its role in attuned therapeutic responses in play therapy.
-
Discuss behavior as a form of communication and identify how this framework guides play therapy assessment and treatment planning.
-
List and describe the steps to providing an attuned response within a play therapy session.
-
Name and describe the eight sensory systems and how various play therapy interventions utilize these senses.
-
Identify factors that influence a child’s experience of adversity and integrate these into trauma-informed play therapy conceptualization.
-
Describe the differences between patterns of stress that lead to resilience or increased vulnerability.
-
Define the “therapeutic web” and explain how it enhances connection, collaboration, and treatment effectiveness in the play therapy treatment planning process.
-
Describe the steps to treatment planning.
-
Discuss cultural considerations in treatment planning.
-
Explain the rationale for conducting thorough assessment in play therapy.
-
Identify three types of assessment used in play therapy and determine when each is appropriate.
-
Demonstrate two play-based strategies for assessing sensory preferences in play therapy.
-
Conceptualize assessment data through a neurodevelopmental lens to guide play therapy treatment planning.
-
Demonstrate the ability to identify and utilize the strengths of the child and their family in the play therapy treatment planning process to support resilience and engagement.
-
Demonstrate the ability to sequence treatment goals and objectives in a neurodevelopmentally respectful order during play therapy treatment planning.
-
Identify interventions aligned with the developmental capabilities of each major brain region and develop play therapy activities that match each region’s language.
-
Identify appropriate directive and non-directive play therapy interventions from an integrative perspective.
-
Align play therapy intervention implementation with Bruce Perry’s 6 R’s to promote healing and engagement.
-
Describe how state-dependent functioning influences a child’s capacity to engage in play therapy and adjust interventions accordingly.
-
Discuss at least three methods for evaluating progress in play therapy.
-
Explain the rationale behind clinical decision-making in the play therapy treatment planning process in a way that supports caregiver understanding, collaboration, and trust.
CE Credit
Play Therapy
36 APT Contact CE Credits
This event is sponsored by Children’s Trauma Healing Center. Children’s Trauma Healing Center is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Approved Provider No. 24-7490)
Play therapy credit available to mental health professionals & graduate students in a mental health program.
Primary Areas of Instruction
-
Play Therapy Skills and Methods
-
Play Therapy Special Topics
Social Work
Children’s Trauma Healing Center, provider # 2430, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.
ACE provider approval period: 07/22/2025–07/26/2026.
Social workers completing this course receive 36 clinical continuing education credits.
Counseling
Children’s Trauma Healing Center, provider # 2430, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.
ACE provider approval period: 07/22/2025–07/26/2026.
Many state counseling boards accept ACE-approved providers for continuing education credit; however, participants are encouraged to check with their individual state licensing boards to confirm eligibility for credit.
Please Note: To receive credit, participants must attend the full program and complete all required components, including the course evaluation and posttest. CE certificate will be automatically issued upon completion of all course requirements.
Please contact us with any questions regarding continuing education credit eligibility.
agenda
This schedule is based on Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Discount Opportunities
We’re committed to making high-quality training accessible to those supporting children and families. A limited number of discounted registrations are available for this program. All discounts require approval prior to registration and must be obtained by contacting us directly.
Group Discount
For teams from the same organization:
10% off for groups of 3–4 participants
15% off for groups of 5 or more participants
To qualify, participants must register together.
Student Discount
Students currently enrolled in a master’s-level graduate program in a mental health profession (e.g., professional counseling, school counseling, social work) are eligible for a 15% discount.
Proof of current enrollment is required.
Service-Based Discount
Therapists are eligible for a 20% discount if they meet any of the following:
-
Accept Medicaid clients
-
Work in a nonprofit setting clinically serving children and families
-
Serve as a school counselor or social worker in a Title I school
Verification of employment or licensure status is required.
To inquire about a group, student, or service-based discount, please contact us, info@cthcnj.com, prior to registering. If approved, you’ll receive a custom discount code to apply at checkout.
Discounted spots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note: Discounts cannot be combined. If eligible for multiple discounts, the highest applicable discount will be applied. Previously provided coupons for attending workshops cannot be combined with other discounts.
PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE
A 3-month payment plan is available for those who prefer to pay in installments.
A 5% processing fee, calculated based on the original registration fee before any discounts are applied, will be added to the total.
The first payment is due at the time of registration, with the remaining two payments scheduled monthly.
All payment plans must be requested and approved in advance, and no later than 5 months prior to the program start date.
Reach out to info@cthcnj.com for payment plan approval.
Missed Payment Policy
If a scheduled payment is missed and not successfully processed within seven days of the due date, you will be unenrolled from the event. In such cases, any amount you have paid to date will be refunded minus any credit card and platform processing fees incurred.
For all grievances, questions, accommodation requests, or additional information, please contact us at info@demibanchs.com.