Play Therapy Assessment & Diagnosis Webinar 5.1.26

Presenter: Tatiyahna Richardson, MSW, LCSW

Session date: May 1st, 2026

Session time: 9:00 am-4:30 pm CST

CEs: 6.0 APT Non-Contact CEs

Location: Zoom webinar

Session description:

A child’s play or pattern of behavior in the playroom can guide a play therapist towards an effective diagnosis and treatment plan. This webinar will help play therapists “put the pieces of the puzzle” together when using play therapy to assess, diagnose and treat children across the lifespan. Participants will explore the use of play as an assessment tool to identify common play themes that may signal mental and/or behavioral concerns in children and adolescents. Time will be spent exploring the use of various play therapy historical and seminal theories to address common diagnosis in children including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and more. The workshop will also explore the use of the Child Play Therapy Instrument to aid in play therapy assessment and documentation to enhance their diagnostic skills.

Learning objectives:

1. Identify the advantages of play-based assessments in individual and family play therapy sessions.
2. Discuss the use of play therapy historical and seminal theories in the treatment of children and adolescents with common mental health disorders.
3. Assess play themes that may be a sign of common mental health disorders in children and adolescents.
4. Design measurable play therapy treatment goals and objectives through the use of play therapy case study examples.
5. Demonstrate ways games can be integrated into play therapy sessions to help guide mental health diagnosis.
6. Explain play-based interventions to use in individual, group and family play therapy to
   decrease mental distress in children and adolescents

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-1:00 pm Lunch break
• 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Lecture & experiential learning
• 2:30 pm-2:45 pm Break
• 2:45 pm-4:15 pm Lecture & experiential learning
• 4:15 pm-4:30 pm Q & A and wrap-up

This webinar meets the requirements of APT for a live webinar

What you'll get:

• 6 APT Non-Contact CEs
• Certificate of Completion

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