IAPT is excited to present our annual one-day spring conference to provide more learning opportunities to our play therapy community.

APT Approved Provider #07-195

Approved Provider status is granted by the Association for Play Therapy; this allows registrants to earn credit at IAPT programs towards their Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor credentials.

2025 Spring Conference

Friday, April 11th, 2025

8:30am to 4:45pm

Best Western Holiday Lodge

2023 7th Ave N Clear Lake, IA 50428

Reserve a hotel room here or by calling the hotel directly.

REGISTER HERE

IAPT is excited to hold our fourth annual Spring Conference. Feedback from conference attendees has shown a desire for a broader range of training options, which we have incorporated into this day. In order to better accommodate our members’ needs, the spring conference will be held in different locations around the state each year. We are happy to be meeting in Clear Lake for 2025.

MORNING KEYNOTE SESSION (8:30am-11:30am)

Expressive Arts in Play Therapy: A Keynote Panel on the Use of Art, Drama and Music in Clinical Work with Children- Moderated by Andrew Beer, Ph.D., LMFT, RPT-S

  • Participants will learn the basic history of expressive arts in play therapy, as well as key demographics that it can assist.
  • Attendees will be able to explain basic expressive arts concepts and philosophies, as well as their usefulness in helping children.
  • Participants will be able to identify basic ways that expressive arts can be integrated into other play therapy theories.
  • Attendees will learn expressive arts skills and interventions for use in the play therapy setting.
  • Participants will be able identify key cultural considerations in the application of expressive arts in play therapy.

LUNCH BREAK (11:30am-12:30pm)

Buffet lunch provided on-site/included with registration

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS #1 (12:30pm -2:30pm)

Behind the Locked Door: What Really Goes on at a Child Advocacy Center for Play Therapists- Sunnycho Teeling, LMHC, NCC

  • Participants will be able to discuss the role of Child Advocacy Centers in the treatment of child maltreatment
  • Participants will be able to discuss modifications to the play therapy process to work with families who have been through a CAC.
  • Participants will be able to discuss challenges in treating children experiencing maltreatment in rural areas.
  • Participants will be able to discuss how to support children undergoing investigations for child maltreatment.
  • Participants will be able to discuss how Child Advocacy Centers can serve as resources for the treatment of children experiencing child maltreatment.

Cultural Considerations in Play Therapy- Joella Gerber LISW, RPT-S and Emma Harding LMFT

  • Participants will explore the history of how cultural considerations have been utilized within psychotherapy practices and play therapy.
  • Participants will discuss the role that self-awareness has in providing culturally competent play therapy.
  • Participants will learn and explore the impacts of cultural bias, perceptions, and understanding of culture in the practice of play therapy.

Rhythms of Resilience: Fostering Emotional Wellness Through Music in Play Therapy PART ONE- Miranda Peyton, LISW, MT-BC, and Erica Wassenaar, LMHC

  • Participants will be able to describe how music can be used as a therapeutic tool to enhance emotional expression, communication, and healing in children within play therapy settings.
  • Attendees will identify formal music therapy vs. music strategies/techniques within the context of play therapy and describe when and how each approach can be applied to achieve specific therapeutic goals.
  • Participants will demonstrate music therapy techniques, such as rhythm, melody, and improvisation, into their play therapy practice to enhance engagement, emotional regulation, and communication with young clients.
  • Participants will design hands-on music strategies, including song-making, instrument play, and guided listening, to address therapeutic goals like self-expression and emotional processing in play therapy.
  • Participants will assess best practices for incorporating music therapy techniques into existing play therapy frameworks, ensuring that music-based strategies align with and support overall therapeutic objectives.

Using Early Recollections in Adlerian Play Therapy- Terry Kottman and Nikki Pauli

  • Explain the rationale for play therapists gathering early recollections during play therapy sessions.
  • Explain how a play therapist can use early recollections to explore play therapy clients’ strengths.
  • Explain how a play therapist can use early recollections to gain understanding of how a client finds belonging within relationships.  
  • Describe 2 different methods of soliciting early recollections in play therapy.

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS #2 (2:45pm- 4:45pm)

Trauma Work and Children: What I Was Never Told- Sunnycho Teeling, LMHC, NCC

  • Participants will be able to discuss modifications to the play therapy process to treat complex trauma.
  • Participants will be able to discuss challenges in treating child experiencing maltreatment in rural areas.
  • Participants will be able to discuss how to support children undergoing investigations for child maltreatment.
  • Participants will be able to discuss how Child Advocacy Centers can serve as resources for the treatment of children experiencing child maltreatment.

Working with the Grown-Ups from a Relational Parenting Perspective- Kate Haberman, LISW, MFT, RPT-S, CTP and Angela Eisenman, MA, LMHC-temp

  • Participants will be able to identify the A+ method of relational parenting techniques when working with adults to support child clients involved in play therapy (filial/child centered play therapy).
  • Participants will understand how Relational Parenting incorporates self-attunement and self-compassion into strategies from Filial and Child Centered Play Therapy.

Rhythms of Resilience: Fostering Emotional Wellness Through Music in Play Therapy PART TWO- Miranda Peyton, LISW, MT-BC, and Erica Wassenaar, LMHC

  • Participants will be able to describe how music can be used as a therapeutic tool to enhance emotional expression, communication, and healing in children within play therapy settings.
  • Attendees will identify formal music therapy vs. music strategies/techniques within the context of play therapy and describe when and how each approach can be applied to achieve specific therapeutic goals.
  • Participants will demonstrate music therapy techniques, such as rhythm, melody, and improvisation, into their play therapy practice to enhance engagement, emotional regulation, and communication with young clients.
  • Participants will design hands-on music strategies, including song-making, instrument play, and guided listening, to address therapeutic goals like self-expression and emotional processing in play therapy.
  • Participants will assess best practices for incorporating music therapy techniques into existing play therapy frameworks, ensuring that music-based strategies align with and support overall therapeutic objectives.

Crucial Cs in Adlerian Play Therapy: All kids could use a little boost!- Nikki Pauli

  • List the four Crucial Cs utilized to assist in assessing Lifestyle in Adlerian play therapy.
  • Discuss the basic aspects of each of the four Crucial Cs in Adlerian play therapy.
  • Describe two play therapy techniques to assess a child’s mastery of each of the Crucial Cs.
  • Identify two play therapy techniques to enhance each of the Crucial Cs.