IAPT Spring Conference

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™, School Based Registered Play Therapist™, or Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ credentials.

2027 Spring Conference

REGISTRATION OPENING EARLY 2027

IAPT is excited to hold our 7th 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 Cedar Falls for 2027.

Guests may either call the hotel directly at 319-266-6611, press “0” for the front desk and ask for the “Iowa Association for Play Therapy Block” or use the Hilton Link below for online reservations:https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/iowa-association-for-play-therapy

Guests must make reservations by the cut-off date of March 23, 2027 to receive the discounted block rate, so be sure to act early!

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

Working with Children in High Conflict Systems

presented by Kate Haberman, LISW, MFT, RPT-S™, CTP

Overview: As play therapists we are often the sole gatekeepers, advocates and allies of the child in the middle of high conflict systems. We will explore ways to support, advocate and maintain ethical and professional boundaries in these dynamic relationships.

Objectives:

1. Identify and analyze how family, school, child welfare, and legal systems influence a child’s role in play therapy, emotional expression, and therapeutic progress through the lens of Systems Theory and Structural Family Therapy.

2. Differentiate the role of the play therapist from other professionals involved in high-conflict cases and apply play therapy–specific ethical strategies for maintaining therapeutic neutrality, protecting the play therapy relationship, and practicing within scope of competence.

3. Implement child-centered play therapy advocacy strategies that support multidisciplinary collaboration
while preserving the therapeutic powers of play and ensuring the child’s emotional, developmental, and
relational needs remain central to treatment.

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

Buffet lunch provided on-site/included with registration

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

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

Want to present a breakout session at our conference? Complete the Proposal Form by November 13, 2026!