Michigan Association for Play Therapy upcoming events

Clinicians Assemble! Using Pop Culture In Play Therapy to Connect With Neurodivergent Clients (04/17/2026)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Clinicians Assemble! Using Pop Culture In Play Therapy to Connect With Neurodivergent Clients

Presented by Linnea Sieh, LPC, ACS, GTC

In Play Therapy, the rapport between the client and clinician is one of the important parts of the therapy session, especially with neurodivergent clients. Using pop culture themes this workshop aims to give clinicians new techniques to build those connections.

Have you ever felt stuck with a client in session? Didn’t know what to talk about or how to build rapport? This presentation will cover evidence-based, non-traditional approaches to therapy using the client’s strengths and pop culture interests to build therapeutic rapport, improve client confidence, teach skills, and assist clinicians in increasing clinical understanding of neurodivergent clients.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

explain how play therapy can be helpful for neurodivergent clients.
identify three play therapy techniques that include pop culture narratives.
describe ethical documentation for play therapy sessions that include pop culture.

This training is approved by APT Approved Provider 99-050 for 3 Non-Contact CE hours.

This program is approved by the NASW-Michigan Chapter (approval Number 20260417-CA-MIAPT) for 3.0 continuing education hours.

Trainings are not recorded.

Foundational Level | Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics

ABOUT OUR PRESENTER: Linnea Sieh is a Michigan LPC and NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor who offers neurodiversity affirming, child centered play therapy methods in a private practice setting. She has also had experience in community mental health, community care based programs, and childcare settings. She first utilized pop culture narratives with resistant teens and has been nerding it out in therapy ever since. She holds an Autplay certification, as well as receiving additional training in Superhero Therapy and the Game to Grow program to incorporate therapeutic tabletop role play adventures into client therapy sessions. She is proud to be the Director of Children’s Services at Lillybrook Counseling Services in Troy, as well as managing her own therapeutic tabletop game program called Questing for Change which encourages therapeutic growth through play.

VIRTUAL: This will be a virtual workshop. Participants will be awarded APT NON-CONTACT CE after successful completion of a post test. Participants are requested to be present and visible throughout the presentation to facilitate engagement.

MIAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 99-050. MIAPT maintains responsibility for the program.

PHOTO RELEASE: By registering for this training, you are giving permission for MIAPT to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as MIAPT deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the MIAPT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs indefinitely. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify MIAPT of your request to be omitted.

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you notify MIAPT you are canceling, and we are able to fill your spot, you will receive a refund for the registration fee minus $20 administrative fee. Cancellation requests must be made in writing. No refunds after April 1, 2026.

MAILING LIST: By registering for this training with MIAPT, you consent to have your contact information added to our mailing list. You may unsubscribe at any time.

ADA/Section 504: If you have special needs, please contact mymiapt@gmail.com.

East Regional Workshop 2026 (05/01/2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:00 GMT

East Regional Workshop 2026

Best Practices for Parent Consultations in Play Therapy: Developing Confidence in Parent Meetings

Presenter: Ahou Vaziri Line, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S™, CSC, CCPT-S, NCC

Play therapists often state that involving parents is one of the most challenging aspects of their work (Ray, 2011). Through this workshop, attendees will review best practices for parent consultations in play therapy and complete activities to develop their confidence.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

discuss relevant research related to parent consultations.
discuss why it is difficult to work with parents in play therapy.
outline best practices for play therapy parent consultations according to research.
utilize proposed documentation model for preparing for play therapy parent consultations.
evaluate implicit biases and personal characteristics that may make working with parents difficult in play therapy and will develop empathy for parents and caregivers.
collaborate with parents in setting and clarifying effective play therapy goals with their theoretical orientation and cultural sensitivity in mind.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Dr. Ahou Vaziri Line is the founder of Parent Partnership Consulting and co-founder of Thread Counseling Group in Dallas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Certified School Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, Nationally Certified Counselor, and a Certified Child-Centered Play Therapy Supervisor. Over the course of her career, Ahou has had the privilege of working as an author, speaker, and former graduate professor. She has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters that focus on supporting parents in play therapy, Middle Eastern children and families, and helping preservice educators incorporate counseling skills into their teaching. Additionally, Ahou was selected to author a blog through Psychology Today where she candidly discusses the intersection of play therapy and parenting. Most recently, Ahou has authored a forthcoming Routledge textbook discussing best practices for play therapists when engaging with parents. Ahou is an international speaker and has been invited to speak at local, state, national, and international conferences and events on topics such as teacher and parent support, as well as multicultural considerations in play therapy.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Play Therapy Primary Areas of Instruction: Play Therapy Skills and Methods

Seating is limited so register early!

6 APT Contact CE.

This program is approved by the NASW- Michigan Chapter (Approval # 20260501-CA-MIAPT) for 6.0 continuing education contact hours.

Payment must be made online at the time of registration to guarantee your seat.

Workshop Schedule

Registration: 8:30-9:00 a.m.

Workshop Session: 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Break: 10:30-10:45 a.m.

Workshop Session: 10:45-12:15 p.m.

Lunch (on your own): 12:15-1:15 p.m.

Workshop Session: 1:15-2:45 p.m.

Break: 2:45-3:00 p.m.

Workshop Session: 3:00-4:30 p.m.

End of the Workshop: 4:30 p.m.

FOOD: Food and snacks are NOT provided at this workshop. You may bring your own food or go to a local restaurant during break.

CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than April 15, 2026. Cancellations are subject to $25 processing fee. Substitutions may be made in writing for no additional cost. No refunds are given due to inclement weather.

HANDOUTS: In an effort to reduce paper waste and be more “green,” our policy is to email all handouts. Please include a valid email address with your registration to receive the handouts.

PHOTO RELEASE: By registering for this workshop, you are giving permission for MIAPT to use any photographs that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as MIAPT deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the MIAPT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs indefinitely. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify someone at registration of your request to be omitted.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: This workshop for mental health professionals is sponsored by the Michigan Association for Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 99-050. CE credit is offered for play therapy. The program offers 6.00 contact hours, with full attendance required.

This training/event has been approved by the NASW-Michigan Chapter for 6.0 hours synchronous General social work CEs: Approval Number 20260501-CA-MIAPT.

ADA: If you have special needs, please contact Sabrina Slagter at mymiapt@gmail.com.

Healing from Traumatic Experiences from a Child Centered Play Therapy Approach (06/05/2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Healing from Traumatic Experiences from a Child Centered Play Therapy Approach

Presented by Maggie M. Parker, PhD, LPC, RPT-S™

Children experience trauma at alarming rates, and these experiences impact their physical, mental, social, and academic health. It is vital that clinicians understand the impacts of these experiences as well as evidenced based and neurobiologically informed interventions to assist children within clinics, schools, agencies, and families. Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) has a long-standing history of research that offers evidence of effectiveness (Lin & Bratton, 2015; Ray et al., 2015); and demonstrates positive outcomes for children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviors, academic achievement, and relationships. Furthermore, recent research by Ray et al. (2022) demonstrates CCPT is an effective intervention to improve social-emotional competency, self-regulation, and decrease behavioral problems among children with early adversity.

Within this presentation, participants will explore the various ways in which childhood experiences can be traumatic; the neurological, physical, academic, and mental health impacts of trauma; and how CCPT can assist children in healing from these experiences. The presenter will engage in case studies, experiential activities, small group activities, and lectures to assist participants in better understanding the intentionality and neurobiological implications of using CCPT with children who experienced trauma. Participants will also learn ways to engage with caregivers and school systems to support the whole child, and innovative and creative ways to create stability within the playroom through playroom set up and mobile units.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

Identify types of broad categories of traumatic experiences and define three types of trauma children experience.
Discuss the empirical support for child centered play therapy as a trauma-informed intervention.
Identify three key components of neurobiology and trauma and how they connect to CCPT.
Describe how three CCPT skills support healing of trauma.

This training is approved by APT Approved Provider 99-050 for 3 Non-Contact CE hours.

This program is approved by the NASW-Michigan Chapter (approval Number 20260605-CA-MIAPT) for 3.0 continuing education hours.

Trainings are not recorded.

Intermediate Level | Seminal Theory

ABOUT OUR PRESENTER: Maggie Parker is an Associate Professor of Counseling and Human Development at the George Washington University. Her research agenda focuses on the mental health needs of children and adolescents and developmental approaches to counseling. She is interesting in exploring the provision of play therapy services within school settings, and teaching play therapy skills to teachers and parents. Dr. Parker provided counseling services within diverse settings, including community mental health centers, juvenile detention centers, pre-schools, high schools, and elementary schools. She held several leadership positions within state and national associations. She hopes her research can help practitioners and scholars understand mental health needs of youth and enable greater access to counseling services for underrepresented students. Dr. Parker received her undergraduate degree from University of Richmond, her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Southern Methodist University, and her PhD in Counselor Education, specializing in school counseling and diversity, from University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, and a Certified CCPT and CPRT Therapist, Supervisor, Trainer.

MIAPT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to Play Therapy. APT Approved Provider 99-050. MIAPT maintains responsibility for the program.

MAILING LIST: By registering for this training with MIAPT, you consent to have your contact information added to our mailing list. You may unsubscribe at any time.

ADA/Section 504: If you have special needs, please contact mymiapt@gmail.com.