Events
Workshop/Presentation Title:
Exploring Play Therapy Approaches: An Examination of Play Therapy’s History and Seminal Theories
Workshop Description:
In this workshop, participants will review major historical events and prominent figures within the field of play therapy. Ten seminal theories and approaches recognized by the Association for Play Therapy will be identified and examined. Through didactic and experiential activities, attendees will explore the three primary branches of historically significant play therapy approaches and theories.
Learning Objectives
During this workshop, participants will:
1. Review major historical events and prominent figures in the field of play therapy
2. Examine the 10 historically significant theories/approaches recognized by the Association for Play Therapy
3. Explore the three primary branches of seminal and historically significant theories and approaches to the field of play therapy
Workshop Presenters:
Robert Paul Maddox II, PhD, LPC (MO & WY), NCC
Lindsey Salisbury, M.Coun., LPC, NCC, RPT-S™
Christine Vencill, MSW, LCSW
Presenters Brief Bios:
Dr. Robert Paul Maddox II is a counselor educator at the University of Wyoming at Casper. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, an Ed.S. in Counseling Education, and a M.A. in Community Counseling. Additionally, he is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with experience in school and clinical mental health counseling. He currently serves as the Play Therapy Online Graduate Certificate Program Coordinator at the University of Wyoming, and he also coordinates the counselor education program's school counseling track at the University of Wyoming's Casper branch campus. Dr. Maddox has published articles and presented at state, regional, national, and international conferences regarding a variety of topics such as play therapy, trauma informed care, ethics, addictions treatment, school counseling, creativity in counseling, social justice, and experiential learning.
Christine Vencill, MSW, LCSW is a faculty member with the University of Wyoming, Division of Social Work. Within the Division of Social Work, Christine teaches the theory, practice, and child and family classes. She has been working in clinical social work for 9 years providing therapeutic support for children and families through play therapy techniques. Her experience working in the fields of custody and child welfare has allowed for strategies rooted in theory to support children and families during transitions while ensuring a safe and nurturing environment. Christine has presented previously on topics related to co-parenting with children in mind and trauma-informed care through leadership.
Lindsey Salisbury, M.Coun., LPC, NCC, RPT-S ™ is a school counselor at Laramie Montessori Charter School as well as serves as a mental health counselor at her own private practice, Arrow Counseling. She currently serves as the Treasurer for the Wyoming Association for Play Therapy, was previously the President from 2020-2023, and has been a member of the board since 2018. Her academic credentials include a master’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in school counseling from Idaho State University along with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wyoming. Additionally, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S ™ ). She is also certified in Adlerian Play Therapy and is currently working towards an advanced certification in Adlerian Play Therapy.
March 29th, 2025
University of Wyoming - Casper
125 College Drive
UU326
Casper, WY 82834
Workshop Title:
Navigating Ethical Challenges in Play Therapy: Utilizing Ethical Decision-Making Models
Workshop Description:
In this workshop, participants will examine the benefits of ethical decision-making models for addressing common issues in play therapy. Practical strategies for navigating ethical dilemmas that can frequently arise in play therapy will be identified and reviewed. Through playful and creative hands-on activities, attendees will explore various components of the ethical decision-making process utilizing an ethical decision making model.
Learning objectives:
During this workshop, participants will:
1. Identify commonly identified dilemmas in play therapy practice
2. Examine effective strategies and tools for ethical-decision making in play therapy
3. Explore how ethical decision making models can help address common dilemmas in play therapy
4. Apply an ethical decision-making model to play therapy practice
Presenters:
R. Paul Maddox II, PhD, LPC (MO & WY), NCC
President & Board Member, Wyoming Association for Play Therapy (WAPT),
Assistant Professor, Counselor Education
University of Wyoming
rmaddox1@uwyo.edu
Stephanie Idalski, MA, LPC
Vice President & Board Member, Wyoming Association for Play Therapy (WAPT),
Counselor, Counseling and Play Therapy Center, Buffalo, WY
Presenter Brief Bios:
Dr. Robert Paul Maddox II is a counselor educator at the University of Wyoming at Casper. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, an Ed.S. in Counseling Education, and a M.A. in Community Counseling. Additionally, he is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) with experience in school and clinical mental health counseling. He currently serves as the Play Therapy Online Graduate Certificate Program Coordinator at the University of Wyoming, and he also coordinates the counselor education program's school counseling track at the University of Wyoming's Casper branch campus. Dr. Maddox has published articles and presented at state, regional, national, and international conferences regarding a variety of topics such as play therapy, trauma informed care, ethics, addictions treatment, school counseling, creativity in counseling, social justice, and experiential learning.
Stephanie Idalski, MA, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor based in Buffalo, Wyoming, where she has been practicing since 2015 in a group private practice. She holds a Master’s degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from Chadron State College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State University. Stephanie is an active vice president and board member of the Wyoming Association for Play Therapy, demonstrating her dedication to advancing the field of play therapy in the state. Currently working toward becoming a registered play therapist, she is passionate about providing therapeutic support to individuals, particularly through play therapy techniques.
Summer Workshop August
Presenter:
Celeste Fiori, PPC, NCC
Title of Presentation:
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy and Parenting Stress: Caring for Children with Documented Disabilities
Description:
This presentation will discuss a culturally sensitive approach to supporting children diagnosed with documented disabilities and their caregivers. The aim of this presentation is to explore child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) as an effective intervention for decreasing general parenting stress and pediatric illness-related parenting stress, as well as increasing positive parent self-efficacy. Participants will explore underserved groups and how to utilize play to address the unique challenges that are present within these groups through experiential activities. Exposure to traumatic medical events involving children with documented disabilities and their parents can influence how the child adjusts to these unpredictable times, emphasizing the function of the parent-child relationship in these circumstances (Christofferson et al., 2020). Overall, by focusing on specific play themes, cultural considerations, and relationships, play therapists can help support parents while they navigate an extremely challenging journey with their child.
Christofferson, J. L., Okonak, K., Kazak, A. E., Pierce, J., Kelly, C., Schifano, E., Sciolla, J.,
Deatrick, J. A., & Alderfer, M. A. (2020). Family consequences of potentially traumatic
pediatric medical events: Implications for trauma-informed care. Journal of Family
Psychology, 34(2), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000597
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn about three types of documented disabilities.
Participants will identify two new cultural considerations when working with underserved populations in play therapy.
Participants will work through one child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) session using medical trauma-specific language and examples specific to children with documented disabilities.
Presenter:
R. Paul Maddox II, Ph.D., LPC (MO & WY), NCC
Workshop Title:
Ethical Decision-Making Strategies For Addressing Commonly Identified Issues In Play Therapy
Workshop Description:
In this workshop, the benefits of utilizing an ethical decision-making model when addressing various commonly identified issues in play therapy will be examined. Strategies for ethical decision-making in play therapy will be discussed. Participants will engage in playful and creative activities to help them explore various components of the ethical decision-making process.
Learning objectives:
During this workshop, participants will:
1) Examine the steps involved in ethical decision-making utilizing a model that can be applied to play therapy practice
2) Explore the benefits of utilizing an ethical decision-making model when facing commonly identified dilemmas in play therapy
3) Identify strategies and tools that can assist play therapists in making ethical decisions.
Our cancellation and refund policy can be found under the tab Policies.
2020 Conference
Reaching Children Through Play: An Experiential Approach
Dr. Norton is the co-founder of Experiential Play Therapy®. He has co-authored the book, Reaching Children through Play Therapy: An Experiential Approach. He has authored and published several articles on play therapy and authored the newsletter for the Center for Experiential Play Therapy. His presentations have included several state and national APT conferences and programs throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. His focus is on trauma dynamics in very young children and will emphasis the meanings of metaphorical expressions during play therapy.
Webinar Description: Children express the dynamics of their trauma experiences through their play process. The child also expresses several other levels of how the trauma experience has affected their functioning. This workshop will explain and demonstrate how children express the details of their trauma experience through play. These different levels of individual functions will be discussed and demonstrated with children in different developmental stages and expressed as part of the play process. The workshop will focus on how play therapists can respond in the play to move the child through the healing process. Dynamics of this process will be presented through video presentations.
This is an incredible two-day event with Dr. Byron Norton, the co-founder of Experiential Play Therapy. Topics include the EPT model and why it works, metaphors of play, therapeutic treatment for trauma, effective play responses, and MORE. Dr. Norton is an engaging speaker with over 40 years’ experience in the playroom. 14 CE credits (non-contact). NBCC credits available. DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!