12/08/2025
Happy Holidays!
Let’s Have A Jolly Holliday!
The Holidays can be busy and they should be fun! The post-holiday lull of getting back into a routine is not so fun. The chaotic schedule and lack of routine may cause a spike in your child’s behaviors. Here are a few things you can implement to keep those behaviors to a minimum:
- Keep your kiddos sleep routine - only allow a 1 hour difference in staying up late and sleeping in.
- Implement their normal sleep routine 4 days before going back to school to help with the transition.
- Reestablish a routine as soon as possible (nothing too strict or structured, things like meals at the same time, an afternoon reset of downtime, or structured activities.)
- There is such a thing as too much family time - allow everyone 30 minutes to 1 hour of time alone in their rooms or doing separate quiet activities to allow decompression and regulation.
- When school starts back up - allow 30 minutes to 1 hour of decompression time after school with a snack, individual activities, and quiet time.
Calling all Supervisors or Professionals Who are Thinking About Supervising!
Community Spotlight
FirstPlay (Infant Play Therapy) with Stephanie Williams LCSW, RPT-S
Stephanie Williams has over 20 years of experience in working with children of all ages. Her most recent certification in FirstPlay has opened the door to helping families of children from birth to age 3. FirstPlay is a treatment model that enhances the parent child relationship during the critical first years of life to establish secure attachment and overcome difficulties experienced in the early years.
To learn more about Stephanie visit playtherapystlmo.com (http://www.playtherapystlmo.com/)
For more information on FirstPlay visit youtu.be/H1zfS8IGOU8
Cohort 5
Becoming Playful Certificate Program
Have you thought about pursing the Registered Play Therapist credential? Does Association for Play Therapy's phase system for training feel overwhelming? Join us at the Playhouse with our play therapy certificate program Becoming Playful, to meet all of your training needs to accomplish the RPT training standards. Our affordable program offers quality trainings. Sign up and pay in full for the certificate program by December 31st to receive our largest discount. Cohort 5 launches January 15th, 2026. Registration is still open and slots are still available.
To learn more about our program visit: theplayhouseinc.com/certificate-program.html # (https://www.theplayhouseinc.com/certificate-program.html #/)
For any questions contact our program coordinator, Danielle White at danielle@theplayhouseinc.com
December Trainings at the Playhouse
12/12 - Into the Woods! Sandtray with Trauma (Certificate or CE) In-Person
Friday 12th 9:30 - 4:30 pm 6 Hours Content: Special Topics
The world of sandtray therapy can hold healing for many who have experienced adverse childhood events or other forms of trauma. The cognitive distance created by sandtray therapy can allow many individuals to process unspeakable events. Join us for this one day training as we explore the benefits of sandtray therapy and techniques that can be utilized with this special population.
Objectives:
1. Participants will discuss the impacts of trauma on the developing brain.
2. Participants will identify three benefits of sandtray therapy for clients who have experienced trauma.
3. Participants will describe three sandtray techniques for children 4-8 who have experienced trauma.
4. Participants will describe three sandtray techniques for children 9-18 who have experienced trauma.
5. Participants will describe three sandtray techniques for adults who have experienced trauma..
6. Participants will demonstrate sandtray skills through role playing in the experiential portion of the training.
Instructor: Danielle White LPC, RPT-S
12/13 - Sexual Abuse in the Playroom (CE) In-Person
Saturday 13th 9:00 - 4:00 pm 6 Hours Content: Special Topics
Childhood s*xual abuse is an issue that effects children of all backgrounds, yet many play therapists may not feel competent enough to support children with these experiences. It is important to learn the signs of s*xual reactivity behaviors in the playroom, as well as implementing play-based interventions to help children heal from their traumatic experiences. This workshop will explore the use of historical and seminal theories such as Child-Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, Theraplay and Gestalt Play Therapy to address the traumatic effects of childhood s*xual abuse in children of all ages. Attendees will also explore the trauma of domestic s*x trafficking and key items in the playroom to support the healing process in children who have experienced s*xual abuse. In this training participants will:
Objectives:
1. List signs of s*xual reactivity in play therapy sessions.
2. Identify s*xual reactivity behaviors in the playroom.
3. Describe play-based interventions to promote healthy boundaries in play therapy sessions.
4. Discuss play-based interventions to support children who have experienced s*xual abuse.
5. Assess key items to include in the playroom when working with children who have experienced s*xual abuse.
6. Compare the use of seminal and historical play therapy seminal theories to support children who have experienced s*xual abuse.
Instructor: Ebony Hutchinson LCSW, RPT
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