Mending Invisible Wounds: Play Therapy for Black Youth Experiencing Disenfranchised Grief STL Workshop 7.17.26

Presenter: April Duncan, DSW, LCSW, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™

Session date: July 17th, 2026

Session time: 9:00 am-12:15 pm CST Location: Equal Shares Counseling, 9715 Olive Boulevard, Ground Floor, Olivette, Missouri, 63132

CEs: 3.0 APT Non-Contact CEs

Session description:

Black youth are disproportionately impacted by racialized grief, stemming from events such as the loss of loved ones to homicide, police violence, and mass incarceration. These experiences of disenfranchised grief can undermine their self-esteem, self-worth, and ability to engage in play therapy. This workshop will explore culturally responsive approaches to help Black youth navigate disenfranchised grief through the use of play therapy seminal theories, including cultural considerations in grief work with Black families, focusing on the role of expressive therapies in fostering communal healing and resilience. Attendees will leave with practical tools and interventions to provide trauma-informed, culturally affirming play therapy that provides healing spaces for Black youth and their communities.

Learning objectives:

1. List play themes that may appear in play therapy with grieving Black youth.
2. Utilize play therapy seminal theories to address disenfranchised grief in Black youth.
3. Identify family play therapy interventions to address grief and loss in Black families.

Agenda:

• 9:00 am-10:30 am Lecture & experiential learning
• 10:30 am-10:45 am Break
• 10:45 am-12:00 pm Lecture & experiential learning
• 12:00 pm-12:15 pm Q & A and wrap-up

What you'll get:

• 3 APT Contact Workshop CEs
• Certificate of Completion

*Course evaluation must be completed to receive CE credits. Certificates will be provided upon completion of workshop and evaluation.