Registration Cost: 

• SINGLE DAY Conference (March 28th or March 29th): $225 (includes lunch from Mendocino Farms with registration completed prior to 3/25/2025)
• TWO DAY Conference (March 28th & 29th): $430 (includes lunch for both days from Mendocino Farms with registration completed prior to 3/25/2025))

​

* APT Members use coupon code CALAPTMEM20 and remember to provide your APT member number during checkout to take advantage of your CalAPT $20 member discount! Not yet an APT member? Join here and start enjoying the discounts and other member benefits today.

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.

Conference Day 1:

Creative Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy Interventions for Children with Anxiety

Friday: March 28th, 2025

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

KVIE Conference Room

2330 W. El Camino Ave., Sacramento, CA 95833

You’ve been to workshops on treating anxious children…but you’re still struggling with ways to effectively treat them. This practical, hands-on training will equip you with creative Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy interventions that work! Children who might otherwise be resistant in therapy are more likely to participate in playful activities designed to cover the CBT components.   

Watch the techniques come alive through videos and activity demonstrations and immerse yourself in fun experiential exercises.    

Although the focus of this workshop will be on treating children with anxiety, many of the interventions can be adapted for use with other treatment populations.  

* This Day 1 workshop meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit.  

Conference Day 2:

Creative Family Play Therapy Interventions

Friday: March 28th, 2025

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

KVIE Conference Room

2330 W. El Camino Ave., Sacramento, CA 95833

Many play therapists are reluctant to engage in family therapy. However, play therapists who embrace family therapy broaden their clinical toolkit, enabling them to address a wider range of issues and nurture stronger family relationships.  

Creative play therapy activities provide children with a developmentally appropriate means to communicate, and engage all family members in a shared, enjoyable task.   

Through this experiential workshop, participants will learn innovative family play therapy techniques. Creative tips for overcoming challenges in family play therapy will also be covered.   

Experiential exercises will help attendees hone their skills, leaving them more confident in conducting family play therapy.   

* This Day 2 workshop meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit.  

Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S

Liana Lowenstein is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT Therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto since 1988. Her 14 books are used by mental health professionals all over the world. She is a dynamic speaker who has provided trainings throughout North America and abroad, including China, South Africa, Israel, England, New Zealand, Australia, and Slovenia. She is winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada.  

Speaker Disclosures: 

Financial: Liana has published many books which she references in her presentation and will offer books for sale at the conference.

Non-financial: Liana has been published in peer-reviewed journals which are referenced in her presentation.  

Conference Day 1 (Friday, March 28th, 2025):

             After the session, participants will be able to:  

• Identify key guidelines for CBPT for childhood anxiety.  
• Identify the benefits of integrating playful interventions in CBT with children.  
• Apply at least two play therapy interventions to assess anxiety in children.  
• Describe methods for fostering treatment readiness in anxious children.  
• Implement at least ten new play therapy interventions to treat anxiety in children.  
• Describe innovative strategies to engage reluctant children so they will follow through with an exposure plan.   

Conference Day 2 (Saturday, March 29th, 2025);

After the session, participants will be able to:  

• Define systems theory.  
• List three benefits to using play therapy techniques in family sessions.   
• Describe three common challenges in family play therapy and identify strategies to overcome these challenges.  
• Describe the concept of joining in family therapy and utilize at least two play therapy techniques to join with families.   
• Describe the areas to assess when working with families and utilize at least two play therapy techniques to assess families.   
• Utilize games, art, puppets, and stories in family play therapy sessions.  

Conference Day 1 (Friday, March 28, 2025); 6 CE hours

9:00 am - 9:30 am: Registration & Networking  

9:30 am - 10:30 am: Overview of anxiety in children   

10:30 am - 11:00 am: Cognitive Behavior Play Therapy   

11:00 am - 11:15 am: Break  

11:15 am - 11:45 am:  Engaging anxious children  

11:45 am - 12:15 pm: Assessing anxious children  

12:15 pm - 12:45 pm: Parent Sessions  

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: Lunch  

1:45 pm - 2:00 pm:  Psychoeducation  

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm:  Somatic Management   

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm: Affective Expression  

2:30 pm - 2:45 pm: Cognitive Restructuring    

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Exposure  

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm: Break  

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Treating phobias, Separation Anxiety, Perfectionism, Selective Mutism   

4:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Relapse Prevention   

4:45 pm - 5:00 pm: Q & A  

Conference Day 2 (Saturday, March 29, 2025); 6 CE hours 

9:00 am - 9:30 am: Registration & Networking  

9:30 am - 10:30 am: Systems theory, Benefits of play therapy with families, Engaging the family in play

10:30 am - 11:00 am: Overcoming common challenges in family play therapy   

11 am - 11:15 am: Break  

11:15 am - 12:15 pm: Joining with families, family play therapy assessment    

12:15pm - 12:45 pm: Parenting Techniques   

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: Lunch  

1:45 pm -2:00 pm: Creative use of puppets in family play therapy  

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm: Creative use of psychodrama in family play therapy  

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm: Creative use of phototherapy in family play therapy  

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm: Creative use of art in family play therapy  

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm: Break  

3:30 pm - 4:45 pm: Creative use of games in family play therapy  

4:45 pm - 5:00 pm: Q & A

Continuing Education: This workshop meets the qualifications for up to 12 hours of continuing education credit (6 hours for Conference Day 1, 6 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, lunch, and vendor halls.  

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

Instructional Level: Introductory 

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

Play Therapy Areas:  

• Day 1: Seminal Theories 1 CE; Skills and Methods 3 CE; Special topics 2 CE 
• Day 2: Seminal Theories 1 CE; Skills and Methods 5 CE 

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 take 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.   

Grievances: We are dedicated to delivering a high-quality workshop that meets the needs and expectations of our participants. If, at any time, you are dissatisfied with the workshop or its procedures, feel that you have been treated unfairly, or would like to request a copy of our full grievance policy, we encourage you to share your concerns. Please reach out to us at president@calplaytherapy.org, and we will work to address them promptly. 

Questions: Please contact us at president@calplaytherapy.org with your event or registration related questions.