On-Demand CE Training
ODL 376: Play with Purpose: A Beginner’s Guide to Child-Centered Therapy
Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.
5 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:
Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 5 Clinical Continuing Education credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 5 Contact hours
Psychologists
APA – 5 CE credits
Counselors 5 Contact hours
NBCC ACEP – 5 Contact hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 5 Contact hours
Addiction Professionals
NAADAC – This course is not approved for NAADAC Contact hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 5 Contact hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 5 Contact hours – EXPIRES 1/2/27
Created On: 1/12/26
Attention Case Managers ONLY: CCMC expires on this course on 1/2/27 and will not be renewed. Please complete before this date.
Target Audience:
This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.
Overview:
This training offers a foundational understanding of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), an evidence-based approach grounded in the belief that children have an innate capacity for growth and self-direction when provided with a safe, accepting, and therapeutic environment. Participants will explore the core principles, theoretical foundations, and essential skills of CCPT. Through discussion, demonstration, and hands-on practice, attendees will learn how to facilitate healing and emotional expression through the language of play. This workshop is ideal for mental health professionals, school counselors, and graduate students seeking to incorporate developmentally appropriate and child-focused interventions into their work.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:
- Define at least three core tenets of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT).
- Describe the therapist’s role in CCPT by identifying and explaining three ways to apply the principles of genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding in a clinical setting.
- Identify five developmentally appropriate toys and materials that support therapeutic play, explaining their purpose within CCPT.
- Demonstrate three key CCPT skills—tracking, limit setting, and reflecting feelings—through guided practice and role-play scenarios.
- Differentiate CCPT from at least two other play therapy models by comparing theoretical approaches and intervention strategies.
- Explain at least three ethical considerations involved in CCPT practice through case-based discussions.
Presenter:
Lauren Chase, PhD, LCMHC, NCC, BC-TMH
Dr. Lauren Chase is a clinical mental health counselor, counselor educator, and owner of Climbing Hills Counseling, a practice where she specializes in working with high-achieving women to raise self-esteem and set stronger boundaries to live a more fulfilling life. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her dog, read historical fiction novels, and explore nature.
Her education and professional career have been focused on culturally responsive child-centered play therapy with children and families. She has worked in various settings, including community mental health, high school, university disability services, homeless shelter, and residential facility over the course of 4 years. She has won awards for her commitment to the field of suicide prevention and for promoting creativity in the counseling profession. Her research interests include social justice advocacy, trauma, cultural humility, and play therapy.