“Supporting Neurodivergent Children through Play Therapy: ASD, ADHD, CCPT, Directive Approaches, & Telehealth Strategies“

In a small group so that you have time for practice and questions!

Friday, October 16, and

Saturday, October 17, 2026

9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Presented by: Amanda Luisi, LPC, ADHD-CCSP Certified

Registration Fee: $400

Register before September 1, 2026, for a reduced fee of $375

Center for Counseling and Education

50 S. Maple Ave. Marlton, NJ 08053

11 Contact Play Therapy CEs

   APT Approved Provider #15-439

   This program is approved to provide 11 contact APT and NBCC CEs

The training emphasizes practical session design, including structured and unstructured play interventions, transitions, visual supports, regulation breaks, and co-regulation strategies, with attention to caregiver collaboration and generalization of skills across environments. Clinical examples, experiential activities, and evidence-informed strategies are used throughout to ensure participants can apply learning directly to therapeutic practice with neurodivergent children.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and differentiate neurodivergent play profiles associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including variations in sensory processing, communication styles, emotional regulation, and play engagement.  
2. Describe and apply Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) skills and therapist stances when working with neurodivergent children, including tracking, reflecting, following the child’s lead, and developmentally appropriate limit-setting.  
3. Select and implement directive play therapy strategies tailored to individual sensory, communication, and regulation needs, including interventions that support executive functioning, impulse control, emotional identification, and co-regulation.  
4. Design and utilize structured and unstructured play therapy session flows—both in-person and via telehealth—that incorporate transitions, visual supports, movement, and regulation breaks, and caregiver collaboration. 
5.  Apply play therapy interventions that intentionally target social-emotional learning, communication skills, and self-regulation in neurodivergent children through structured activities, therapeutic games, visual supports, and caregiver-supported generalization. 
6. Integrate CBT-informed interventions into play therapy with neurodivergent children by identifying cognitive distortions, supporting flexible thinking, and using developmentally appropriate cognitive restructuring strategies.
7. Teach and model coping strategies that support emotional regulation, including identifying feelings, linking thoughts–feelings–behaviors, and practicing adaptive responses through play-based and experiential methods.
8. Develop individualized sensory and regulation toolkits in play therapy, incorporating sensory preferences, calming strategies, and environmental supports to promote self-regulation across settings.
9. Collaborate with caregivers to increase consistency and generalization of skills, including psychoeducation on neurodivergence, modeling co-regulation strategies, and creating home-based supports.
10. Assess and adapt play therapy interventions based on a child’s developmental level, neurodivergent profile, and window of tolerance, ensuring interventions remain flexible, responsive, and strengths-based.
11. Apply culturally responsive and neurodiversity-affirming practices in play therapy, including adapting interventions to align with a child’s cultural context, family values, communication norms, and beliefs about behavior, development, and help-seeking.

Registration Fee: $400 

      Registration may be canceled with a full refund (minus credit card processing fees) by contacting info@cfcenj.com with this request a minimum of 30 days prior to Day 1 of the workshop.