Engaging Adolescents in Play Therapy & Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy
Engaging Adolescents in Play Therapy – Day 1
Workshop Description:
Do you find yourself in conversations like these with adolescent clients in your playroom?
“How was your day?” “Fine.”
“Anything make you happy this week?” “Not really.”
“Anything challenge you?” “Nope.”
“Anything specific you’d like to talk about?” “Na bruh, I’m good.”
In this experiential workshop, play therapists will explore the complexities of adolescent development and learn how to effectively apply cognitive behavioral play therapy techniques with resistant teen clients. Through creative, interactive, and play-based approaches tailored to resonate with adolescents, participants will discover strategies that honor the unique challenges and strengths of this developmental stage. The workshop will equip play therapists with tools to transform difficult therapeutic interactions into meaningful opportunities for connection, growth, and healing—supporting adolescents on their path toward mental wellness and self-discovery.
Workshop Objectives:
- Examine adolescent identity development and how it is influenced by play therapy and the therapy group process.
- Identify risk and protective factors relative to adolescence through a play therapy lens.
- Develop strategies for helping parents and caregivers better understand how to relate to their adolescent in productive and playful ways.
- Examine basic adolescent brain development and how this can affect play therapy treatment planning.
- Examine the impact of culture in play therapy with adolescents and consider tools for understanding and assessing a client’s cultural identity development and how it relates to their treatment planning.
- Create a list of the play therapist’s duties and responsibilities as a play therapy group facilitator during various stages of group development.
- Examine the ethics in play therapy with adolescents in individual, family, and group contexts.
Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy – Day 2
Workshop Description:
Adolescence can be one of the most challenging developmental stages to navigate in therapy —where identity exploration, emotional intensity, and social pressures collide. Traditional talk therapy often falls short, leaving adolescents disengaged or resistant. Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) offers a dynamic, evidence-based approach that bridges the gap by combining the structure of CBT with the creativity and safety of play. Through hands-on activities, case examples, and practical demonstrations, attendees will leave equipped with fresh tools and strategies to re-energize their work with adolescents—making therapy both meaningful and engaging.
- Describe the historical development of Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy (CBPT) and its core components as they relate to adolescents in the playroom.
- Analyze the unique developmental and clinical needs of adolescents that influence their engagement in play therapy.
- Identify and explain evidence-based CBPT interventions designed to address adolescent needs such as autonomy, identity exploration, and emotional regulation.
- Demonstrate specific play-based cognitive and behavioral techniques that enhance therapeutic engagement and skill-building with adolescents.
- Apply CBPT methods to common adolescent concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, and peer-related stressors.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of CBPT strategies in meeting treatment goals with adolescents.
- Design developmentally appropriate CBPT activities that integrate cognitive, behavioral, and play-based approaches for use in clinical practice.
Instructor: Jamie Gabriel, LSCSW, RPT-S™
Workshop Schedule for In-Person Training:
Day One:
10:00-12:30 Sign-In, Play Check-In & Training Begins
12:30-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-2:30 Training Continues
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-4:30 Training Continues
4:30-4:45 Afternoon Break
4:45-6:00 Training Continues with Conclusion of Day 1
Day Two:
8:30-10:00 Sign-In, Play Check-In & Continue Training
10:00-10:10 Morning Break
10:10-12:00 Training Continues
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-2:20 Training Continues
2:20-2:30 Early Afternoon Break
2:30-3:50 Training Continues
3:50-4:00 Afternoon Break
4:00-5:30 Training Continues & Workshop Conclusion
Workshop Schedule for Live Webinar:
Day One:
8:30-10:00 Sign-In, Play Check-In & Training Begins
10:00-10:15 Morning Break
10:15-12:00 Training Continues
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-2:30 Training Continues
2:30-2:45 Afternoon Break
2:45-5:00 Training Continues with Conclusion of Day 1
Day Two:
8:30-10:00 Sign-In, Play Check-In & Training Begins
10:00-10:15 Morning Break
10:15-12:00 Training Continues
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-2:30 Training Continues
2:30-2:45 Afternoon Break
2:45-5:00 Training Continues & Workshop Conclusion
Live Webinar Policy:
For a successful Live Webinar that ensures full CE credit, you will need:
- A device (computer or tablet preferred) with a working camera and microphone.
- A strong and reliable internet connection.
- A designated safe space of your choosing free from disruption.
- A reliable childcare plan (if applicable).
- A commitment to keep your webcam on the entire workshop.
- The workshop supplies nearby that have either been requested in the workshop email or provided in the supply shipment (if applicable).
Workshop Cancellation:
- Cancellation requests should be submitted by email to Heartlandpti@gmail.com no later than 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled workshop date in order to receive a full refund of the paid workshop fee. Cancellation and/or rescheduled requests that are submitted after 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled workshop date will result in a refund of the paid workshop fee – with the exception of a $25 administrative fee for a half-day workshop, a $50 administrative fee for a full-day workshop a $75 administrative fee for 2-day workshop.
- Heartland Play reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient enrollment. Heartland Play will email workshop students at least 5 calendar days in advance of the scheduled workshop date to notify students of the cancellation. Notice will be provided with the option to reschedule for a future course date or to receive a full refund of paid workshop fees.
- Heartland Play reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to inclement weather, instructor illness or instructor family emergency. If a workshop is canceled, students will be notified via e-mail prior to the workshop start time. Heartland Play will notify the students of a reschedule date for the workshop within 10 calendar days of the cancelled workshop. Notice will be provided with the option to reschedule for the future course date or to receive a full refund of the paid workshop fee.
