Little Clients, Big Conversations: Working with Parents in CCPT

Explore practical strategies for parent collaboration, consultations, and challenging conversations in child-centered play therapy. In-perso A 3-hour, in-person training exploring practical strategies for engaging parents, conducting consultations, and navigating parent–therapist relationships while maintaining a child-centered approach to play therapy. Sponsor Name: Connect Counseling Center Date: Friday, November 20, 2026 Time: 9am - 12am Location: Connect Counseling Center 2520 N. Mt. Juliet Rd Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 Cost: $90; Student Rate: $45 Contact Play Therapy Credit Hours: 3 *Play therapy credit may not be awarded to non-mental health professionals APT Approved Provider 21-642 NBCC Hours: 3 Connect Counseling Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7560. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Connect Counseling Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programst Counseling Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs Program Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Castner, Phd., LPC-MHSP-S, ACS, NCC, RPT-S, CAAPT Content Description: Working with parents in child-centered play therapy (CCPT) requires balancing collaboration, communication, and the integrity of the child’s therapeutic process. This three-hour, in-person training will explore practical strategies for preparing parents for the CCPT process, conducting effective parent consultations, navigating challenging conversations, managing expectations, and supporting children’s progress beyond the playroom. Participants will examine common parent–therapist challenges and develop approaches for building collaborative relationships while keeping the child’s needs and therapeutic experience at the center of treatment. Designed for play therapists at varying levels of experience, this training emphasizes practical application and clinical reflection. Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1. Explain the role of parent involvement in child-centered play therapy (CCPT) and distinguish parent consultation from parent-directed interventions. 2. Identify strategies for preparing parents for the CCPT process, including communicating the therapist’s role, explaining the child-centered approach, and establishing realistic expectations. 3. Describe a structured approach to conducting parent consultations that supports collaboration, communicates relevant clinical information, and maintains appropriate confidentiality boundaries. 4. Apply developmentally appropriate and child-centered strategies for responding to common parent concerns, including questions about progress, requests for specific information, and frustration with the therapeutic process. 5. Develop approaches for helping parents support their child’s emotional and behavioral needs outside the playroom without directing or interpreting the child’s play. 6. Evaluate common challenges in parent–therapist relationships and identify strategies for maintaining therapeutic boundaries, strengthening collaboration, and preserving the integrity of CCPT. Refund and Cancellation Policy: Connect Counseling Center will make every effort to work with you and resolve issues related to refunds or cancellations. Due to the nature of this training, materials will be purchased prior to the training for the purposes of experiential activities. Therefore, we are not able to offer a refund within 48 hours of the date of the training unless the refund is requested due to unforeseen illness. We also incur a processing fee for the training and may ask that you retain the processing fee at the time of refund.