2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Friday Afternoon – Duration: 3 hours

Presenter: Simonne Jones, LPC-S, RPT-S™

Course Description: Why do people do what they do? Why do you do what you do? Let’s learn! We do not always operate on illogical, chaotic, senseless, or bad behavior. There is a reason why we do what we do. Understanding your personality and theirs supports a great amount of positive mentorship, leadership, and professionalism. Many personality trainings have offered a variety of models, this model uses four colors that make it fun and easy to remember. This training is very interactive and fun. This training will help you learn how to interact with people from the “inside out” instead of the “outside-in”.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to…

• Gain a conceptual and practical understanding of the Spectrum Temperament Development (Personality) Foundations, Colors Under Stress, as well as the Supervision-Supervisee Relations Module.
• Understand the needs and motivators of self and others
• Learn how to become a better leader and how to interact and problem-solve with your learners.
• Learn how personality shows up in the playroom when working with children

Saturday – Duration: 6 hours

Presenter: Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S™

Course Description: In an era where pop culture deeply influences the lives of children and adolescents, harnessing the power of superheroes and villains in play therapy presents a unique opportunity to connect with clients on a meaningful level. This workshop will equip mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate these beloved characters into therapeutic practices, promoting diversity, inclusion, and emotional resilience. Participants will explore the rich narratives and diverse backgrounds of superheroes and villains, learning how to leverage these stories to address various therapeutic goals. Through engaging activities, discussions, and practical applications, therapists will gain valuable insights into using pop culture as a bridge to foster understanding, empathy, and personal growth in their clients. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a robust toolkit of creative and inclusive strategies to enrich their play therapy practice, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for all clients.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to…

• Identify at least three therapeutic benefits of incorporating pop culture elements, specifically superheroes and villains, into play therapy sessions, enhancing therapeutic engagement and communication with clients
• Analyze and discuss the significance of diversity and inclusion within play therapy, citing at least two examples of how different cultural, racial, and social identities are represented in popular media and how these representations can be utilized to foster inclusivity and empathy in play therapy sessions
• Demonstrate at least two practical techniques for incorporating superhero and villain narratives into play therapy sessions, using these characters to help clients explore their own identities, strengths, and challenges
• Design and share an engaging intervention that utilizes superhero and villain themes to address therapeutic goals such as building resilience, enhancing social skills, and promoting emotional regulation, tailored to meet the diverse needs of individual clients.
• List at least two sources where they can find more information on pop culture references they are unfamiliar with, ensuring they can continuously expand their knowledge and effectively incorporate these elements into their play therapy practice
• Articulate at least three Therapeutic Powers of Play, specifically highlighting how integrating superhero and villain themes can enhance emotional expression, problem-solving skills, and relationship-building in play therapy sessions.