Friday, May 8th, 2026 from 9:00AM-12:15PM

Virtual Play Therapy Training 

Play is widely understood as the language of children, especially in therapeutic work where it is often their most authentic form of communication. But when we tune in more deeply, another essential truth becomes clear: Play expresses what the nervous system holds. This training introduces EMDR-informed principles as a pathway for understanding and supporting the nervous system within the play space, helping therapists recognize what a child’s system is expressing and how to respond in ways that bring movement, settling, and direction to the therapeutic process.

Participants will learn how to recognize overwhelmed or “stuck” nervous systems in children and then embed simple, developmentally sensitive EMDR-informed micro-interventions  into the play therapy approaches they already use. These tools are designed to complement existing play therapy models and do not require EMDR protocol or certification. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies they can integrate immediately into their sessions, as well as clear ways to track and communicate therapeutic progress over time.

Objectives:

1. Describe the basic EMDR principles and the purpose of each phase, and explain how these phases may appear or be reflected in children’s play.

2.  Identify at least three indicators in children’s play that suggest the nervous system may be overwhelmed, stuck, or needing support.

3. Demonstrate at least three EMDR-informed micro-interventions that can be embedded within existing play therapy models

Topic: EMDR and Play Therapy

Presenter: Amanda Harrington, Ph.D., LPC

Date/Time: Friday, May 8th, 2026 from 9:00AM-12:15PM

Cost: $75.00 early bird end 4/06 at 9am, $85.00 regular pricing ends 5/05 at 9am, $95.00 late registration

Student: $35.00 (With VALID ID). Send to paige@crossroadsfamilycc.com for verification. 

Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, and Play Therapists

Schedule:

9:00am-10:15am Learn the basic EMDR principles and the purpose of each phase, and explain how these phases may appear or be reflected in children’s play.

10:15am-10:30am Break

10:30am-12pm Learn about the indicators in children’s play that suggest the nervous system may be overwhelmed and learn about EMDR-informed interventions that can be used in play therapy

12:00-12:15 Wrap Up and Discussion