Registered Play Therapy

Continuing Education

APT Approved: Old Dominion University is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Approved Provider #08-234).

Upcoming Registered Play Therapy Information Session
Monday, September 23, 2024: 3:00PM
Monday, October 14, 2024: 3:00PM
Monday, November 04, 2024: 3:00PM
Monday, December 02, 2024: 3:00PM

For information regarding the content of workshops or becoming a Registered Play Therapist, contact Dr. Sharon Silverberg via email ssilverb@odu.edu or phone (757) 831-6890.

This program provides professionals and students in the community with the opportunity to learn more about play therapy or to receive the training necessary to become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). The Play Therapy program is offered as a series of eight (8) weekend workshops worth 19 continuing education hours each (16 contact CE's and 3 non-contact CE’s). Each workshop also includes one (1) CE hour of cultural & social diversity topics specific to play therapy. Individuals can attend one or all of the workshops. 

To become a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), individuals must accrue a total of 150 continuing education hours in play therapy per the Association of Play Therapy (APT). Weekend workshops include the content required by APT for any mental health professional interested in attaining the RPT credential. The play therapy education provided aligns with the requirements set forth by APT if all eight (8) workshops are attended.

Target Audience:

  • Mental Health Counselors
  • Marriage and Family Therapists
  • School Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Psychiatric Nurses
  • Other Mental Health Professionals

Continuing Education Units Awarded

  • 19 CE hours for each 2-day workshop
  • 16 contact CE's & 3 non-contact CE's

Want to learn more? Contact us!

Upcoming Workshops

Group Play Therapy: Play Therapy Skills and Methods in Group Work (September 14-15, 2024)

September 14-15, 2024

Theoretical and philosophical concepts of Group Play Therapy with children, adolescents, and adults will be discussed. Group logistics, process, conflict resolution, and group facilitation skills will be described. Basic skills and methods to incorporate in group play therapy will be described, demonstrated, and practiced. In addition, multicultural and ethical considerations in group play therapy will be addressed.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of group play therapy.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for group play therapy with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  2. Discuss play therapy group logistics and therapy goals for child-centered groups and adolescent/teen/adult groups.
  3. Analyze critical factors to consider when creating a play therapy group.
  4. Describe the process of child-centered group play therapy.
  5. Explain the selection process of clients appropriate for child-centered play therapy groups.
  6. Identify three theoretical approaches and how to integrate them into group play therapy.
  7. Identify three play therapy interventions presented can be used with adolescents and adult groups.
  8. Discuss the ACT Model in child centered play therapy groups.
  9. Identify three ethical considerations as they apply to group play therapy.
  10. Identify potential multicultural considerations in group play therapy.
  11. Discuss group play therapy process and practice with special populations.

Register for Group Play Therapy: Play Therapy Skills and Methods in Group Work Workshop

Systematic Interventions: Family Play Therapy and Filial Therapy (October 26-27, 2024)

October 26-27, 2024

Fundamental theoretical and philosophical concepts related to systems theory and utilizing play therapy techniques in family counseling will be presented.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of utilizing family play therapy and Filial therapy.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for utilizing family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when choosing to use family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  4. Review counseling theories commonly associated with family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  5. Discuss how to choose play therapy interventions for family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  6. Discuss specific examples of play therapy interventions for family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform play therapy techniques in family play therapy and Filial therapy through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify at least three ways the family play therapy and Filial therapy interventions presented and practiced can be used.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using family play therapy and Filial therapy.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using family play therapy and Filial therapy.

Register for Systematic Interventions: Family Play Therapy and Filial Therapy Workshop

Play Therapy and Creative Interventions with Adolescents, Teens, and Adults (December 7-8, 2024)

December 7-8, 2024

This workshop will explore the process of play therapy and creative interventions when working with adolescents and adults.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of utilizing play therapy with adolescents, teens, and adults.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for utilizing play therapy interventions and techniques with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using expressive interventions in play therapy with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when choosing expressive interventions in play therapy with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  4. Review counseling theories commonly used in play therapy.
  5. Discuss how to choose play therapy interventions for adolescents, teens, and adults with intention and grounded in counseling theory (CBT, Gestalt, Psychodynamic, Adlerian, etc.).
  6. Discuss specific examples of play therapy creative interventions to use when working with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform play therapy techniques with adolescents, teens, and adults using creative interventions presented through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify at least three ways the expressive play therapy interventions presented and practiced can be used with teens, adolescents, and adults in the community.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving play therapy interventions with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using play therapy interventions with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using play therapy interventions with adolescents, teens, and adults.

Register for Play Therapy and Creative Interventions with Adolescents, Teens, and Adults Workshop

Utilizing Sandtray in Play Therapy (March 29-30, 2025)

March 29-30, 2025 

Through experiential sand tray exercises and didactic methods, information about the rationale, history, and general application of sand tray in play therapy will be illustrated.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of utilizing sandtray in play therapy.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for utilizing sandtray in play therapy.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using sandtray in play therapy.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when choosing sandtray as an intervention in play therapy.
  4. Review counseling theories commonly used in sandtray.
  5. Discuss how to choose sandtray directives with intention and grounded in counseling theory.
  6. Discuss specific examples of sandtray in play therapy.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform sand tray interventions presented through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify at least three ways sandtray interventions presented and practiced can be used.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving sandtray.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using sandtray.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using sandtray.

Register for Utilizing Sandtray in Play Therapy Workshop

Addressing Trauma, Grief, and Loss Through Play Therapy (May 17-18, 2025)

May 17-18, 2025

This workshop will investigate specific issues faced by children, adolescents, and families affected by difficult environmental and systematic situations. The implications of trauma, grief, and loss as a result of abuse, crisis, death and divorce will be reviewed as they pertain to the process.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of utilizing play therapy to address trauma.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for utilizing play therapy interventions and techniques to address trauma.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using play therapy to address trauma.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when choosing play therapy to address trauma.
  4. Review counseling theories commonly used in addressing trauma through play therapy.
  5. Discuss how to choose play therapy interventions to address trauma with intention and grounded in counseling theory (CBT, Gestalt, Psychodynamic, Adlerian, etc.).
  6. Discuss specific examples of play therapy that can be used to address trauma.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform play therapy techniques when addressing trauma as presented through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify at least three ways the play therapy interventions that address trauma presented and practiced can be used.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving play therapy to address trauma.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using play therapy interventions to address trauma.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using play therapy interventions to address trauma.

Register for Addressing Trauma, Grief, and Loss Through Play Therapy Workshop

Principles of Play Therapy

This workshop will provide information about the rationale, philosophy, history and theoretical underpinnings specific to the application of play therapy with various populations and in different settings.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of play therapy.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale of utilizing play therapy with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using play therapy with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when utilizing play therapy with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  4. Review counseling theories in play therapy.
  5. Discuss how to choose play therapy interventions for young children, adolescents, teens, and adults with intention and grounded in counseling theory.
  6. Discuss specific examples of play therapy interventions to use when working with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform play therapy techniques with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults using creative interventions presented through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify three play therapy interventions presented can be used with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving play therapy interventions with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using play therapy interventions with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using play therapy interventions with young children, adolescents, teens, and adults.

Register for Principles of Play Therapy Workshop

Expressive Arts in Play Therapy

The therapeutic power of selected games, structured activities and expressive arts will be explored as they pertain to play therapy. Techniques specific to art, drama, children's literature, puppets and music will be illuminated as ideal mediums through which children and adolescents express and heal themselves through the process of play therapy.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of utilizing expressive arts in play therapy.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for utilizing expressive arts play therapy interventions and techniques.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using expressive arts interventions in play therapy.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when choosing expressive art interventions in play therapy.
  4. Review counseling theories commonly used in expressive arts in play therapy.
  5. Discuss how to choose expressive art interventions with intention and grounded in counseling theory (CBT, Gestalt, Psychodynamic, Adlerian, etc.).
  6. Discuss specific examples of expressive arts in play therapy.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform expressive art play therapy techniques and interventions as presented through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify at least three expressive art play therapy interventions presented and practiced.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving play therapy interventions with adolescents, teens, and adults.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using expressive arts in play therapy.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using expressive arts in play therapy.

Register for Expressive Arts in Play Therapy Workshop

Games, Activities, and Narrative Techniques in Play Therapy (March 2025)

March 23-24, 2025

The therapeutic power of selected games, structured activities, and narrative techniques will be explored as they pertain to play therapy. Basic techniques and strategies for incorporating such tools and techniques will be described, demonstrated, and practiced.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the historical context and the beginnings of utilizing games, activities, and narrative technique in play therapy.

  1. Explain the benefits and rationale for utilizing games, activities, and narrative technique in play therapy interventions.
  2. Analyze the benefits of using games, activities, and narrative technique in play therapy.
  3. Assess critical factors to consider when choosing games, activities, and narrative technique in play therapy.
  4. Review counseling theories commonly used with games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.
  5. Discuss how to choose games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.
  6. Discuss specific examples of games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.
  7. Demonstrate basic ability to perform games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy presented through role-plays and small group activities.
  8. Identify at least three games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.
  9. Describe the most current research and literature involving games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.
  10. Identify three ethical considerations when using games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.
  11. Identify potential multicultural considerations when using games, activities, and narrative techniques in play therapy.

Register for Games, Activities, and Narrative Techniques in Play Therapy Workshop

Program Details

  • Overview

    The Play Therapy workshops are aligned with the guidelines established by the Association for Play Therapy and pertain to five main areas: 

    • Play Therapy History
    • Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
    • Play Therapy Skills and Methods
    • Play Therapy Special Topics
    • Cultural & Social Diversity

    Seats are limited to the first 30 participants, registration is required. Registration closes the Thursday prior to the start of the weekend workshop 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Participants MUST attend the entire workshop to earn CE Certificate.

  • Schedule

    • 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays & Sunday
    • Half-hour lunch break
    • Lunch not included

  • Location

    The registered play therapy workshops are held at the main ODU Campus in 2101 Constant Hall in Norfolk, Virginia.

  • Lodging

    The Spring Hill Suites by Marriott is located directly across the street from the workshop location. The hotel offers ODU discount rates - (888) ODU-7488.

Faculty

Dr. Sharon Silverberg is the director of the Old Dominion University Registered Play Therapy Program through the School of Continuing Education and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Services in the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and AAMFT Approved Supervisor, she is approaching twenty years of clinical experience with children, adolescents, adults, and families, as well as providing clinical supervision. Dr. Silverberg has presented nationally and internationally on play therapy topics and contributed to a book chapter on clinical supervision in play therapy.

Dr. Silverberg enjoys sharing her clinical experiences and love of play therapy with others while helping them along their journey to becoming competent and confident play therapists!

Dr. Sharon Silverberg, Registered Play Therapy Instructor (Continuing Education)

What our students say

The ODU Continuing Education Play Therapy classes have ignited my passion to become an excellent Registered Play Therapist. Using play therapy opens doors of resistance allowing deeper, significant change in clients. Keeping a playful attitude deepens connections and empowers clients to tackle the hard stuff. Thanks to Dr. Silverberg's amazing hands-on instruction, I am on my way to becoming the play therapist I want to be!

Denise Maxwell

As a therapist, it is crucial to know how to interact with children and their parents in a way that meets them where they are, and provides the best care. We can't assume that we know how to do that. These Play Therapy modules provide excellent training that are applicable not just for counselors, but anyone that provides care to children. Plus, the trainings are fun and interactive.

Melody Diehl Resident in Counseling

To date, I have participated in three of the play therapy workshop weekends. Due to me living in another state, I unfortunately didn't learn of the workshop weekends until half-way through the series. I have participated in the following workshop weekends: Systematic Interventions: Group, Filial & Family Play Therapy, Play Therapy and Creative Interventions with Adolescents and Adults, and Sand Tray & Narrative Techniques in Play Therapy. Dr. Sharon Silverberg is very passionate about helping her students strengthen their skills. She is competent, dynamic, and experienced. Although she has an abundance of experience, she has a way of relating to her students by being transparent and sharing her knowledge in a way that is inspiring without intimidating her students. The workshop weekends always fly by. We have so much fun that we lose track of time. She has a unique way of creating a culture in the class that have the students to show a level of vulnerability in the hands on activities. However, Dr. Silverberg always ensures that the environment is safe for the students. She also makes sure she mixes up the groups to avoid "cliques" from forming. Dr. Silverberg provides a great balance for the workshop weekends by ensuring that we are provided with history/education, discussion time, video learning, "homework", hands on activities, and Q&A. I thoroughly enjoy the hands on activities because I feel I can relate to my clients in a more personal way since I have set in the "client" seat when we practiced the skills/interventions in class. I am also appreciative for the hand-out resources that Dr. Silverberg gives us during the workshop weekends and adds to our Dropbox folder. The workshop weekends have taught me about traits and skills in myself that I can apply to my work.

Porscha Henson MA, NCC, LPC

Cost & Aid

  • Fees

    $339 per 2-Day Workshop

  • Financial Aid

    Continuing Education can accept payments for courses in several different forms. ODU's helpful staff can assist you in determining if you might qualify for any number of various funding options that could assist you with non-credit continuing educational opportunities to improve your marketability and advance your career.

  • Refund Policy

    To cancel your registration, you must send a request in writing to ssilverb@odu.edu at least seven (7) days before the workshop start date. Failure to attend a workshop does not constitute cancellation. Course registration fees, less a $50 processing fee, will be refunded via the original form of payment. In the unlikely event that this workshop is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, ODU Continuing Education will fully refund registration fees, but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including change or cancellation charges to include but not limited to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.