Play Therapy to Support Social-Emotional Expression in Black Boys STL Workshop 7.18.26

Facilitator: April Duncan, DSW, LCSW, Registered Play Therapy-Supervisor™

Session Date: July 18th, 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 Contact CEs

Description:

In the Black community, boys are often told at a young age they should not cry and should suppress their emotions. This workshop explores this phenomenon and how it negatively affects the social-emotional development of Black boys and men. Attendees will learn fun, play-based activities to gain rapport with Black boys, as well as interventions to encourage social-emotional expression in the playroom. This includes the application of group and family play therapy to help promote attachment and bonding in Black boys with family members and peers. The workshop will also discuss ways to gain buy-in with Black caregivers who may struggle with their boys engaging in certain categories of play.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss play-based interventions to build rapport with Black boys.
2. Analyze play therapy interventions to encourage social-emotional expression in group play therapy with Black boys.
3. Explain the application of game play therapy with Black boys to encourage social-emotional expression.
4. Describe music-based interventions to promote social-emotional development in Black boys.
5. Assess ways to gain buy-in with taboo categories of play in play therapy with Black boys.

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.