Registration Cost: 

• SINGLE DAY Conference: $185 (Early Bird $175)
• TWO DAY Conference (July 19-20): $305 (Early Bird $295)
• Pre-Conference CE Event (July 18): $110 (Early Bird $100)
• Pre-Conference Networking Event (July 18): $20 (Early Bird $10)

PLUS

* APT Members use coupon code MEMBER2024 and remember to provide your APT member number during checkout to take advantage of your CalAPT $10 member discount! Not yet an APT member? Join here and start enjoying the discounts and other member benefits today.

* Early Bird Discount Tickets only available through June 19, 2024

Member discounts are not automatically applied and a discount code is required. Please check you have added all applicable discounts prior to completing the payment process. Refunds will not be issued for registration discounts not applied.  

Please note that your course will not automatically appear upon payment. To confirm that you are registered for your events, please refer to your invoice. Courses will be available to you one week prior to your registered events. Please email president@calplaytherapy.org for more information or questions.

So Cal Conference 2024 Hotel Suggestions 

Please note our Pre-Conference events are held at a different venue than our Two Day Conference

Pre-Conference CE Event:

Neuroscience Approaches in Play Therapy Supervision

Thursday, July 18, 2024

9:00 am-12:15 pm

St. Mark Presbyterian Church

2200 San Joaquin Hills Road

Newport Beach, CA 92660

This workshop provides an overview of the principles of play therapy supervision, beginning with exploration of the historical development. This foundational knowledge helps participants understand the evolution and significance of play therapy in clinical settings, enhancing their supervisory skills.  

Participants will experientially delve into the effects of play therapy interventions on the nervous system, learning how these approaches can support supervisees who work with trauma and chronic stress. The session will highlight the application of neuroscience-informed play therapy approaches, aimed at supporting case conceptualization and supervisee development.   

Experiential activities are at the core of the workshop, allowing participants to practice and refine these play therapy supervision applications. This hands-on approach ensures that supervisors can confidently apply these strategies within their own supervision practice to better guide and support their clinicians through complex cases.  

The workshop is designed to empower supervisors with a deeper understanding of play therapy supervision principles. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with practical strategies and insights that enhance their ability to create a supportive, insightful, and therapeutic environment for their teams.  

This educational experience is essential for supervisors looking to enhance their skills and effectiveness in utilizing play therapy as a supervisory tool. Participants will leave with a thorough grasp of how to apply play therapy techniques to foster significant professional growth among their supervisees.  ​

* This pre-conference workshop meets the qualifications for 3 hours of continuing education credit.

Pre-Conference Networking Event:

Case Consultation and Co-regulation: A Playful Afternoon with Jackie Flynn 

Thursday, July 18, 2024

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

St. Mark Presbyterian Church

2200 San Joaquin Hills Road

Newport Beach, CA 92660

The California Association for Play Therapy presents an afternoon with Jackie Flynn! Come meet, mix, and mingle with each other, your CalAPT Board and volunteers, and Jackie! Be prepared for a playful and intimate conversation with her as she discusses your client needs and related client cases that she has worked with herself. CalAPT looks forward to your attendance! 

Click the link to submit your questions and topics to Jackie in advance: CalAPT Case Consultation Networking Event Questions for Jackie Flynn

* No CEs will be offered for this networking event. 

Conference Day 1:

The Reciprocity of Play: Implementing Trauma-Informed Approaches in Play Therapy

Friday, July 19, 2024

9:00 am - 5:45 pm

Newport Beach Civic Center - Community Room

100 Civic Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

This workshop provides an immersive learning experience, focusing on the therapeutic power of play for clients dealing with significant trauma. Participants will actively engage with the core principles and applications of play therapy, gaining a comprehensive understanding through experiential learning. The workshop will illustrate how play can evoke feelings of safety and distress simultaneously, offering a unique therapeutic window to address deep-seated trauma.  

Attendees will explore how play therapy facilitates a child's nervous system regulation. The workshop will demonstrate the use of attuned movements, sounds, and nature interactions, underlining their effectiveness in therapy. These elements are crucial for enhancing nervous system regulation and will be integrated into practical strategies participants can apply in their therapeutic practices.  

The session will also incorporate advanced neurobiological concepts, empowering participants to develop interventions that create safe and predictable environments. A significant focus will be placed on the necessity of building a secure therapeutic relationship. Insight into the key brain regions involved in sensory processing during play therapy will be provided, enhancing participants' understanding of the neurological underpinnings of their therapeutic interventions.  

Additionally, the workshop will emphasize the cultivation of a therapeutic mindset over mere procedural knowledge. Participants will practice selected techniques, deepening their comprehension of these methods and their applicability in real-world therapy scenarios.  

This workshop is not just an educational experience but a journey into the transformative realm of play therapy, equipping professionals with the skills and knowledge to effectively support their clients' healing processes through a better understanding of the nervous system.    

* This Day 1workshop meets the qualifications for 7 hours of continuing education credit.

Conference Day 2:

Applying Neuroscience in Play Therapy: Enhancing Children's Sense of Safety and Facilitating Integration

Saturday, July 20, 2024

9:00 am - 5:45 pm

Newport Beach Civic Center - Community Room

100 Civic Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

This experiential workshop delves into the neural intricacies of play therapy, focusing on the neural pathways and brain regions involved in sensory processing. It simplifies complex interactions in an accessible manner, highlighting why play therapy is healing and how its methods align with the therapeutic power of play. Participants will explore both top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (sensory) approaches to create a safe and integrative environment that addresses the nervous system's role in therapy.  

Participants will experience these approaches firsthand, learning to prepare and deliver trauma-sensitive play therapy interventions tailored to individual needs. The workshop highlights non-verbal communication's role in therapy, demonstrating techniques using non-verbal cues and metaphors to facilitate emotional expression.  

Additionally, the session will cover attachment theory principles, showing how they can be applied to address attachment-related challenges. Participants will also engage with play-based, trauma-informed assessment tools that inform treatment plans and gauge therapeutic progress.  

Ethical practices and cultural humility are emphasized, preparing therapists to work effectively and respectfully with diverse clients. The importance of ongoing professional development through supervision and self-reflection is also stressed, enhancing therapeutic skills and understanding.  

This workshop not only imparts specific techniques but also fosters a holistic understanding of play therapy, enhancing participants' ability to support their clients' healing journeys through experiential learning. 

* This Day 2 workshop meets the qualifications for 7 hours of continuing education credit.

Jackie Flynn, EdS, LMHC-S, Registered Play Therapy-Supervisor

Jackie Flynn is a recognized leader in trauma therapy, renowned for her expertise in seamlessly combining play therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. She serves as an advanced trainer for EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) and is approved as a credit provider for the Association for Play Therapy. She is a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol Provider, Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant, author, renowned play therapist, consultant, podcast host, and private practice owner.

Speaker Disclosures: 

Financial:  Jackie serves as an advanced trainer and supervisor for EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), for Registered Play Therapists and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisors through APT, and for Registered Mental Health Interns. Jackie is an approved credit provider for the Association for Play Therapy (APT). Jackie operates a private practice. Jackie hosts the Innovative Child Therapy Symposium. Jackie co-hosts both the Playful EMDR Summit and Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summit. Jackie is the author of "Little Gecko's Broken Tail", "Being Human", "In My Body'", "I am Octopus", "EMDR Resource Development", "We are Family", and "Jack Feels". Jackie receives a speaking honorarium from CalAPT for this workshop. Jackie has no other commercial interests to disclose and no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial:  Jackie is a parent liaison for the school board of Sculptor Charter School. Jackie is a member of EMDRIA and APT. Jackie co-facilitates the Brevard County EMDR no-fee study group.

Pre-Conference CE Event (Thursday, July 18, 2024):

After the session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the key principles of play therapy supervision, including its historical evolution to enhance your understanding of play therapy in a supervisory context. 
2. Explain the therapeutic benefits of play therapy interventions on the nervous system, allowing clinicians to better support supervisees in managing challenging cases rooted in trauma during play therapy sessions. 
3. Apply neuroscience-informed techniques and play therapy interventions to case conceptualization and supervisee growth, fostering a more effective and empathetic approach to play therapy supervision. 

Conference Day 1 (Friday, July 19, 2024):

After the session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe how play therapy can utilize the reciprocity of play, incorporating attuned movement, sound, and nature, to regulate a child's nervous system. 
2. Explain the neuroscientific basis for using play therapy techniques that involve attuned movement, sound, and nature to enhance neural regulation. 
3. Demonstrate practical strategies for integrating attuned movement, sound, and nature into play therapy sessions to support a child's nervous system regulation. 
4. Apply knowledge of neurobiology to create play therapy interventions that nurture a sense of safety, predictability, and nervous system regulation in children and adolescents. 
5. Discuss the importance of establishing a safe and secure therapeutic relationship as a foundational element in play therapy. Emphasize its role in promoting emotional regulation and healing through play. 
6. Identify the key brain regions involved in sensory processing during play therapy, with an emphasis on the role of predictability and familiarity. 

Conference Day 2 (Saturday, July 20, 2024):

After the session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the neural pathways and brain regions involved in sensory processing during play therapy, with an emphasis on the role of predictability and familiarity. 
2. Discuss how play therapy integrates both top-down and bottom-up approaches to promote a child's sense of safety and support integration. 
3. Prepare and implement trauma-sensitive play therapy interventions tailored to meet the unique needs and developmental stage of each child or adolescent. 
4. Demonstrate effective techniques for facilitating the expression of emotions and thoughts through play, utilizing non-verbal cues, metaphors, and symbolism in play therapy. 
5. Explain the principles of attachment theory and their integration into play therapy to address attachment-related challenges in children and adolescents. 
6. Apply play-based trauma-informed informal assessment tools and techniques to gauge a child's progress in play therapy and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. 
7. Describe the ethical considerations and cultural sensitivity required when conducting play therapy with diverse populations. 
8. Explain the role of ongoing supervision and self-reflection in enhancing clinical competence and maintaining ethical practice in the field of play therapy for children and adolescents. 

Pre-Conference CE Event (Thursday, July 18, 2024):  3 CE hours

9:00am-9:15am ​​Introduction and Overview

• Overview of workshop objectives
• Introduction to the principles of play therapy supervision

9:15am-10:00am ​Principles of Play Therapy Supervision

• Exploration of key principles of play therapy supervision
• Historical evolution and relevance in a supervisory context

10:00am-10:45am ​Therapeutic Benefits of Play Therapy Interventions

• Explanation of therapeutic benefits on the nervous system
• Supporting supervises in managing trauma-related cases

10:45am-11:00 ​ ​Break

11:00am-12:00pm ​Applying Neuroscience-Informed Techniques

• Application of neuroscience-informed techniques to case conceptualization 
• Fostering effective supervision and supervised growth

12:00am-12:15pm: ​Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Pre-Conference Networking Event (Thursday, July 18, 2024):  

2:00pm-5:00pm

networking event

Conference Day 1 (Friday, July 19, 2024):  7 CE hours

9:00am-9:30am ​​Introduction and Overview

• Importance of play therapy in regulating a child's nervous system

9:30am-10:30am ​Session 1 - Utilizing Reciprocity of Play

• How play therapy uses play to regulate 
• Incorporating movement, sound, and nature

10:30am-10:45am Morning Break

10:45am-11:45am ​Session 2 - Neuroscientific Basis

• Explanation of neuroscientific concepts
• Enhancing neural regulation with play therapy

11:45am-12:45pm ​Session 3 - Practical Integration

• Hands-on strategies for incorporating play elements
• Practice and discussion

12:45pm-2:00pm ​Lunch Break

2:00pm-3:00pm ​​Session 4 - Applying Neurobiology

• Creating interventions that promote safety and predictability
• Discussion  and group activities

3:00pm-4:00pm ​Session 5 - Therapeutic Relationship

• Importance of building trust and rapport
• Techniques for fostering a secure environment
  

4:00pm-4:15pm ​Afternoon Break

4:15pm-5:15pm ​Session 6 - Sensory Processing

• Understanding brain regions involved
• Role of predictability and familiarity
  

5:15pm-5:45pm ​Wrap-Up and Conclusion

• Summary of key points
• Final questions and resources

Conference Day 2 (Saturday, July 20, 2024):  7 CE hours

9:00am-9:30am ​Introduction and Overview

• Review  of previous day's topics
• Introduction to Day 2 objectives

9:30am-10:30am ​Session 1 - Predictability and Familiarity

• Exploration  of the role of predictability and familiarity in play therapy
• Strategies for creating a secure and predictable therapeutic environment

10:30am-10:45am ​​Morning Break

10:45am-11:45am ​Session 2 - Integrating Approaches

• Discussion on integrating top-down and bottom-up approaches in play therapy
• Promoting safety and supporting integration through varied approaches

11:45am-12:45pm ​Session 3 - Trauma-Sensitive Interventions

• Preparation and implementation of trauma-sensitive interventions
• Tailoring interventions to meet individual needs and developmental stages

12:45pm-2:00pm ​Lunch Break

2:00pm-3:00pm ​Session 4 - Emotional Expression Techniques

• Demonstration of techniques for facilitating emotional expression through play
• Utilizing non-verbal cues, metaphors, and symbolism

3:00pm-4:00pm ​Session 5 - Attachment Theory Integration

• Explanation of attachment theory principles in play therapy
• Addressing attachment-related challenges in children and adolescents

4:00pm-4:15pm ​Afternoon Break

4:15pm-5:15pm ​Session 6 - Assessment and Adjustment

• Application of play-based trauma-informed assessment tools
• Making necessary adjustments to treatment plans based on assessment findings

5:15pm-5:45pm ​Wrap-Up and Conclusion

• Summary of Day 2 highlights
• Final reflections and next steps

Continuing Education: This workshop meets the qualifications for up to 17 hours of continuing education credit (3 hours for Pre-Conference CE event, 7 hours for Conference Day 1, 7 hours for Conference Day 2) for Psychologists, MFTs & LCSWs and LPCC’s. The California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider # 00-094 maintains responsibility for the program. Play therapy credit is only awarded to mental health professionals. The California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7409. CALAPT is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. The California Association for Play Therapy (CALAPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The California Association for Play Therapy maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. NO CREDIT FOR PARTIAL ATTENDANCE. Programs that do not qualify for APA, NBCC or APT credit are clearly identified. 

*CalAPT recommends that participants check with their state licensing board and/or state psychological association to inquire whether credits will be accepted. CalAPT does not have any authority over whether credits earned will be accepted, as the requirements are set by the state licensing boards, and CalAPT is therefore unable to provide information regarding their requirements. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. 

Non-Credit Events: Light refreshments, meals (on your own), Vendor Hall, Pre-Conference Networking event

Who Should Attend: Psychologists, Social Workers, Marriage, Family & Child Therapists, School Counselors, Students and Interns

Instructional Level: Introductory - no pre-requisites

Instructional Methodology: May include lecture, demonstration, audio/visual, experiential practice of techniques, case examples, large and small group discussion

Play Therapy Areas: Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics, Play Therapy Cultural and Social Diversity Topics 

By registering for this event, you certify that you understand and agree to the following policies and disclaimers:

Eligibility Policy: CalAPT events are open to mental health professionals or full-time graduate students in a mental health field. Although not eligible to receive continuing education credit, when available, allied professionals (pediatricians, nurses, etc.) are welcome to attend. Due to the confidentiality and nature of topics presented, children (of any age) are not permitted at CalAPT events, unless otherwise specified. CalAPT has the right to refuse or cancel ineligible registrations at any time and shall not be held accountable for any outside fees associated with this cancellation. If you have any specific questions regarding your eligibility status, please contact president@calplaytherap.org

Cancellation & Refund Policy: Requests for refunds must be made in writing by e-mail to president@calplaytherapy.org. Because registrations generate contractual and non-refundable guarantees between CalAPT and other parties, registration refunds will neither be made after 14 days preceding the event nor to parties who register but do not attend. Requests must be made at least two weeks prior to the training to receive a refund. There is a $25.00 administrative fee for refunds. There are no refunds for cancellations after the deadline, however, registration may be transferred to another individual. There are no price breaks for partial attendance. CalAPT reserves the right to cancel this event in the event of unforeseen circumstances.  If such occurs, CalAPT will attempt to notify registrants at least 10 calendar days prior to the event and refund all registration fees. In all instances, the liability of CalAPT is limited to refunding such fees.

Disclaimers:

• The opinions expressed by presenters at the CALAPT events do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CALAPT Board of Directors or its membership. CALAPT reserves the right to make changes to the conference schedule, speakers and presentation, if this becomes necessary.
• CalAPT training events are sponsored by CalAPT for educational purposes only. The material presented is not intended to represent the only or best approaches to the topics being discussed and participants waive any claim they may have against CalAPT for assurance on information presented. 
• Registration and participation in CalAPT workshops and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videos, electronic reproductions, and audiotapes of such events and activities by CalAPT.

Unacceptable Behavior Policy: Professional conduct by attendees is expected while attending CALAPT workshops and other activities. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: 

• Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
• Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor/vendor, CALAPT volunteer, service provider, or other guest. Examples include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, exhibitor,/vendor CALAPT volunteer, service provider, or other guest.
• Disruption of presentations during sessions, in the exhibitor/vendor hall, or at other events organized by CALAPT at the meeting venue.
• Presentations, postings, and messages should not contain promotional materials, special offers, job offers, product announcements, or solicitation for services. CALAPT reserves the right to remove such messages and potentially ban sources of those solicitations.

CALAPT has zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment by participants or our CALAPT volunteers at our meetings. If you experience harassment or hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, CALAPT asks that you inform us at president@calplaytherapy.org so that we may take the appropriate action.

CALAPT reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from CALAPT workshops and other activities without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, and CALAPT reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future CALAPT event.

Accessibility Information: CALAPT is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please contact president@calplaytherapy.org to request disability accommodations per ADA/504. Advance notice is necessary to arrange some accessibility needs. Please provide notification two weeks prior to the workshop date.

Health and Safety Information: CALAPT follows all guidance and recommendations set forth by the CDC and other state, local and federal health and safety governance.

Personal Responsibility and Liability Waiver:

CALAPT’s goal is to ensure a safe meeting environment. Therefore, CALAPT will follow the guidance (such as masking) established by the facility hosting the event, the county department of public health in which the event is located, the State of California, and/or federal government agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As such, you also agree to abide by any prevention or safety measures that CALAPT or facility hosting the event, the county health department in which the event is located, the State of California, and/or federal government agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have in place during CALAPT workshops or other activities. You also agree not to attend CALAPT workshop or other activities if you become ill, are aware that you have been directly exposed to the COVID-19 virus within 7 days prior CALAPT workshops or other activities, or exhibit any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus prior to or during CALAPT workshops or other activities.
 

Should public health guidelines prevent in-person gatherings, we will provide registration refunds upon request. Please use care when booking travel arrangements; CALAPT is not responsible for airfare or other travel reimbursements should public health guidelines require cancellation of in-person workshops or other activities.

By attending CALAPT workshops or other activities, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and its variants exists in any public place where people are present.  COVID-19 and its variants are extremely contagious diseases that can lead to severe illness and death.  According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, senior citizens and others with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.  By attending CALAPT workshops or other activities, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and its variants and agree not to hold the California Branch of the Association for Play Therapy or its officers, directors, members, agents, volunteers, or contractors liable for any illness or injury. 
 

Questions and Concerns: Contact us at president@calplaytherapy.org with any event or registration related questions or concerns.