Creative Play Therapy Strategies with Teens

Live/Virtual Training

Dates

April 17, 2026 - A.M.

August 14, 2026 - A.M.

November 6, 2026 - A.M,

TIME

 

9:00 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. CST

or

1:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. CST

Location

4500 Mercantile Plaza Dr., Ste 307

Fort Worth, TX 76137

or

ZOOM VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

 

CE

APT - IN PERSON - 3 CE CONTACT HOURS

APT - VIA ZOOM -

3 CE NON-CONTACT HOURS 

NBCC HOURS: 3

Cost

 

$105.00 ( Non-Refundable)

APT APPROVED PROVIDER #22-656

NBCC ACEP NO. 7206

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Training Description

This play therapy training is offered Live In-Person for contact hours and Virtual via Zoom Platform for non-contact hours.


Therapy with adolescents requires flexible, developmentally appropriate play therapy approaches that address presenting concerns while building strong therapeutic rapport. This is an experiential and informative training designed to equip play therapists with practical skills for working effectively with teen clients in the play therapy room. This training will guide play therapists in assessing a teen’s readiness for therapy and determining appropriate levels of parent or caregiver involvement. Emphasizing creative interventions and a strengths-based perspective, participants will learn how to integrate their preferred therapeutic modalities to develop innovative play therapy approaches tailored to adolescents. Play therapists will also reflect on challenges they’ve encountered in building and maintaining therapeutic relationship with teens, identifying factors that may hinder progress. Through experiential learning, participants will gain creative tools to enhance rapport, support self-esteem, navigate social relationship, and support the family with adolescent clients. 

 

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Learning Objectives

 

 

1. Describe key developmental considerations when working with adolescent clients in play therapy.

 

2. Identify common challenges and barriers that impact the therapeutic relationship when working as a play therapist with teens.  

 

3. Assess a teen’s readiness for therapy and determine appropriate levels of parent or caregiver involvement.  

 

4. Demonstrate two creative play therapy interventions to build rapport and increase engagement with adolescent clients.  

 

5. Apply four strength-based strategies to support teens in addressing self-esteem, social connections, and family connection.  

 

6. Integrate creative play therapy interventions with their existing therapeutic approaches when working with teens.  

 

 

Schedule

 

9:00 am - Part 1: Adolescent developmental considerations, assessing readiness for therapy, caregiver involvement, and common engagement challenges

 

10:30 am - Break

 

10:40 am - Part 2: Creative play therapy interventions to build rapport, strength-based strategies for self-esteem and social connections, and integration with existing therapeutic approaches.

 

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VIRTUAL TRAINING INFORMATION 

 

  • If you register for the Virtual Classroom training, make sure you have a good WIFI connection. 
  • Your computer will need a camera for you to be visible throughout the entire training to receive the certificate. 
  • We will be using Zoom for the training, and we will send you a link at least 24 hours before the start of the training.
  • You will need to download the Zoom program to be able to use the link. 
  • Please note that during the training there will be two 15-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon and a 30-minute lunch break.

 

WHY COME IN PERSON?

 

  • Receive in-person contact CE hours 
  • Enjoy staying in Fort Worth, Texas with hotels within walking distance 
  • Tour our 7500 square foot counseling practice and continuing education facility 
  • Build relationships with other participants 
  • Informal conversations during breaks and lunch with our trainer 

 

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Cristina Alvarez

LPC, EMDR Trained, 
Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist

 

Cristina Alvarez joined the Center for Counseling and Family Relationships in 2018. She earned her Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Cristina became Licensed as a Professional Counselor in 2018. Cristina is EMDR Trained and is an Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist. Her background includes counseling in a private university setting where she helped college students cope and adapt with life transitions and as a crisis counselor for children in schools.

 

Learn More About Cristina

NBCC- APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER

 

Play Therapy Training Resources has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7206. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Play Therapy Training Resources is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

APT- APPROVED CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER

 

Play Therapy Training Resources has been approved by APT as an Approved Continuing Education Provider #22-656. Programs that do not qualify for APT credit are clearly identified. Play Therapy Training Resources is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Allocation of Training Hours 

Per the RPT Standards set by the Association of Play Therapy: 

Participants are responsible for determining how each training aligns with their required primary areas. 

"Please review the training materials for each workshop and use your best clinical judgment to allocate hours across the various primary areas. Often, a single training will address multiple primary areas." 

 

 TRAINING CLASS SIZE

 

 

Per APT guidelines, all Live/Virtual trainings are limited to 50 total participants. The number of participants both in-person and virtual combined cannot exceed this amount.

 

 Privacy Policies

 

 

Play Therapy Training Resources' Privacy Policy can be found here.

Cancellation and refund policy

 

 

 

This training is non-refundable, unless cancelled by training provider. Event will be cancelled if fewer than 6 participants.