The Playful Heart Conference is an annual conference hosted by Crossroads Family Counseling Center in September of each year. Individuals who attend the conference are able to use these trainings towards their RPT licensure. Proceeds will be donated to The Heart Leaf Center.
5th ANNUAL PLAYFUL HEART CONFERENCE
Playful Heart Conference 2026
Join Crossroads Family Counseling Center for two days of engaging, experiential play therapy training designed to strengthen clinical skills, deepen understanding of family relationships, and enhance therapeutic work with children and caregivers.
The Playful Heart Conference features four outstanding play therapy presentations led by nationally recognized experts in the field. Attendees will explore family play therapy, attachment-informed play therapy, culturally responsive family work, and filial therapy through interactive learning experiences, practical interventions, case examples, and evidence-based approaches.
Whether you are a social worker, counselor, marriage and family therapist, or play therapist, these trainings offer valuable tools to strengthen your work with children and families while earning continuing education credit.
Conference Highlights
• Learn from nationally recognized play therapy leaders
• Gain practical, ready-to-use play therapy interventions
• Explore attachment, family systems, cultural identity, and filial therapy
• Earn APT, NBCC, and ASWB continuing education credits
• Network with fellow mental health professionals
• Participate in experiential and interactive learning activities
Featured Presentations
Family Play Therapy: The Value of Inviting Families into Deeper Connections : Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, ATR
Attachment in the Playroom: Promoting Co-regulation, Connection, and Love : Anne Stewart, PhD, RPT-S
Honoring Identity in Family Work: Integrating Racial, Cultural, and Spiritual Identity into Play Therapy with Families : Kristian Owens, LCSW-C, RPT
When One Hour Isn’t Enough: Accelerating Progress Through Filial Therapy : Cathy Canfield, LCSW, RPT-S
Who Should Attend?
Social Workers, Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Psychologists, School Mental Health Professionals, Graduate Students, and Play Therapists interested in strengthening their clinical work with children, families, and caregivers.
Location
Friday and Saturday In-Person Trainings:
Moose Lodge 3529 Chain Bridge Road Fairfax, VA 22030
Virtual Training information will be provided to registered participants prior to the event.
INCLUDES:
- 4 separate training sessions
PLEASE READ ADDITIONAL CE INFORMATION AT THE END OF THIS SECTION
LOCAL HOTELS:
- Best Western, 3535 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030, (703) 591-5500
- Hampton Inn City of Fairfax, 10860 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030, (703) 385-2600
1. VIRTUAL LIVE WEBINAR – Friday 9/25 from 9am – 12:15pm
This workshop explores the role of family play therapy in strengthening attachment, improving family relationships, and helping children with social or emotional difficulties. Participants will learn how systemic, attachment-based, and expressive play therapy approaches—including play, art, and sand therapy—can engage families in meaningful experiential work that promotes empathy, emotional connection, and positive change. Practical family play therapy activities and clinical examples will help clinicians build confidence using creative, dynamic interventions to support healthier family interactions and overall well-being.
Objectives:
- Define the terms “systemic” or “contextual” family therapy and list two reasons for play therapists to consider dyadic work;
- Define the rationale for integrating play and family therapy approaches:
- List three family play therapy activities;
- Provide two guidelines for the active observation of family dynamics as parents engage in play-therapy activities.
Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Play Therapists.
Presenter: Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, ATR
Where: Virtual Live Webinar
When: Friday , September, 25, 2026
Presentation: 9:00 am-12:15 pm (ET)
Cost: Early Bird (ends 8/14) $80.00, Regular Rate $90.00
Student: $40.00 (With VALID ID). Send to celeste@crossroadsfamilycc.com for verification.
Schedule:
9:00-10:30- Presentation on the terms “systemic” or “contextual” family therapy and explanation for two reasons for play therapists to consider dyadic work and the rationale for integrating play and family therapy approaches.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45- 11:30 Will teach 3 family play therapy techniques
11:30-12:00 Will Provide guidelines for the active observation of family dynamics as parents engage in play-therapy activities.
12:00-12:15 Questions and Answers
This will be a live webinar meeting via Zoom. Participants must be present for the entire training and will be awarded contact CE upon successful completion of a post test. Participants may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussion.
System requirements:
- Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher
- Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher
- Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & any other medium that is internet accessible.
This one-time online event has been approved by APT,NBCC and ASWB for 3.00 CE Hours. This workshop meets APT’s definition of Live Webinar
CFCC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. CFCC maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 13-360.
CFCC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7493. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CFCC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
CFCC provider #2347, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/04/2025–10/04/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 general continuing education credits.
About the Presenter: Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, ATR is an internationally recognized clinician, author, and educator specializing in trauma, attachment, child abuse treatment, and expressive therapies, including play, art, and sand therapy. A Founding Partner of the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery & Education in Fairfax, Virginia, she serves as a Senior Clinical Consultant and holds numerous advanced credentials, including Approved AAMFT Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor, Registered Art Therapist, and Registered Sand Therapist-Teacher/Consultant. Dr. Gil has directed child sexual abuse treatment programs, served on national boards related to child abuse prevention, and received numerous honors, including the APT Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the author of multiple influential books, including Post-Traumatic Play, Play in Family Therapy, and the classic Outgrowing the Pain, and continues to provide supervision, consultation, and specialized trainings nationally and internationally through the Starbright Training Institute.
Participants who wish to attend the full day conference in-person and in community are welcome to join us at The Moose Lodge to attend the virtual session. Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be provided for those participants attending both sessions on a given day.
2. IN PERSON – Friday 9/25 from 1:15 – 4:30pm
Participants will explore how attachment theory informs effective play therapy practice and enhances caregiver-child relationships. This experiential workshop is designed for play therapists seeking to deepen their understanding of attachment-informed interventions and strengthen their clinical work with children and families through a play therapy lens. The workshop will examine key attachment theory constructs, including secure base, safe haven, and reflective functioning, and their application within play therapy settings to support emotional regulation, connection, and resilience.
Grounded in attachment theory and play therapy, this training integrates current research findings with practical, experiential learning opportunities. Through creative activities, expressive interventions, discussion, and hands-on practice, participants will learn ways to incorporate attachment-informed concepts into play therapy treatment. Attendees will also explore children’s literature and therapeutic activities that promote healthy attachment and strengthen caregiver-child interactions.
Objectives:
Following the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe at least three attachment theory constructs (secure base, safe haven, and reflective functioning) and their relevance to play therapy practice.
- Identify at least three research findings that support the application of attachment theory within play therapy interventions.
- Demonstrate at least three experiential play therapy activities designed to promote attachment security and strengthen caregiver-child relationships.
- Apply attachment-informed play therapy interventions that incorporate the concepts of secure base, safe haven, and reflective functioning into clinical case examples.
- Utilize at least three children’s books in play therapy and explain the attachment theory concept represented by each resource.
- Design one attachment-informed play therapy intervention that can be implemented to enhance caregiver-child interactions and emotional connection.
This training qualifies as a Play Therapy Theories/Approaches Training.
Presenter: Anne Stewart, PhD, RPT-S
Where: In-Person – The Moose lodge 3529 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030
When: 9/25
Presentation: 1:15pm-4:30pm ET
Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Play Therapists.
CE’S: 3 In Person APT, NBCC, and ASWB-Social Work CE Credits-Certificates issued after completing course evaluation at the end of training.
Schedule:
1:15 PM – 2:45 PM Presentation, Attachment Theory Concepts, and Research Findings
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Break
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM Experiential Play Therapy Activities, Children’s Literature Review, and Role Play Practice
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM Conclusion, Questions, and Discussion
CE info:
This will be a live in person meeting. Participants must be present for the entire training and will be awarded contact CE upon successful completion of a post test. Participants may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussion.
This one-time online event has been approved by APT,NBCC and ASWB for 3.00 CE Hours. This workshop meets APT’s definition Contact hours.
CFCC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. CFCC maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 13-360.
CFCC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7493. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CFCC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
CFCC provider #2347, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/04/2025–10/04/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 general continuing education credits.
Cost: Early Bird (ends 8/14) $80.00, Regular Rate $90.00
Student: $40.00 (With VALID ID). Send to celeste@crossroadsfamilycc.com for verification.
About the Presenter: Dr. Anne Stewart is a playful practitioner of play therapy across the lifespan. She served as Chair of the APT Board of Directors, founded the Virginia Association for Play Therapy, and is the recipient of the APT Distinguished Service Award. She delights in sharing playful nature-based family adventures.
Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be provided for those participants attending both sessions on a given day.
3. IN PERSON – Saturday, 9/26 from 9am – 12:15pm
Participants will explore how racial, cultural, and spiritual identities influence family dynamics, emotional expression, and healing, particularly for children and families of color.This experiential workshop is designed for therapists seeking to deepen their work with families through a culturally responsive and identity-affirming play therapy lens. The workshop will also examine how racialized stress, intergenerational patterns, and spirituality emerge in family therapy and how these experiences can be engaged therapeutically to create healing spaces in play therapy where children and families feel seen, supported, and valued in their full identities.
Grounded in play therapy and mind-body approaches, the training helps clinicians move beyond surface-level cultural competence toward more intentional, relational, and embodied therapeutic work through reflection, case discussions, and experiential activities, participants will learn practical ways to integrate identity into assessment, case conceptualization, and intervention.
Objectives:
- Identify at least three ways racial, cultural, and spiritual identities influence family dynamics, child behavior, and emotional expression within play therapy settings.
- Describe how racialized stress and intergenerational experiences of oppression may present in children’s play and family interactions.
- Demonstrate at least two culturally responsive play therapy interventions that integrate elements of a family’s racial cultural, or spiritual identity.
- Apply an identity-informed lens to case conceptualization by incorporating at least three identity-related factors (e.g. race, culture, spirituality, family values) into a sample case scenario.
- Utilize at least two reflective practices to increase self awareness of personal biases, cultural assumptions, and their impact on the therapeutic relationship.
- Develop one actionable strategy to intentionally incorporate a family’s cultural or spiritual practices into ongoing treatment planning.
This training qualifies as a Play Therapy Cultural and Social Diversity Topics.
Presenter: Kristian Owens, LCSW-C, RPT,
Where: In-Person – The Moose lodge 3529 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030
When: Sunday, September, 27, 2026
Presentation: 9:00am-12:15pm (ET) Time
Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Play Therapists.
CE’S: 3 In Person APT, NBCC, and ASWB-Social Work CE Credits-Certificates issued after completing course evaluation at the end of training.
Schedule:
9:00-10:30- Discuss understanding of identity,culture and family systems in play therapy
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45- 11:30 Review culturally responsive play therapy interventions and self-reflection
11:30-12:00 Case conceptualization and treatment planning
12:00-12:15 Questions and Answsers
CE info:
This will be a live in person meeting. Participants must be present for the entire training and will be awarded contact CE upon successful completion of a post test. Participants may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussion.
This one-time online event has been approved by APT,NBCC and ASWB for 3.00 CE Hours. This workshop meets APT’s definition Contact hours.
CFCC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. CFCC maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 13-360.
CFCC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7493. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CFCC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
CFCC provider #2347, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/04/2025–10/04/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 general30 continuing education credits.
Cost: Early Bird (ends 8/14 at 11:59pm ) $80.00, Regular Rate $90.00
Student: $40.00 (With VALID ID). Send to celeste@crossroadsfamilycc.com for verification.
About the Presenter: Kristian Owens, LCSW-C, RPT, is a licensed therapist, Registered Play Therapist, and Reiki Master who specializes in working with children, teens, and families. She is the founder of Resilient Child Therapy Institute, LLC, where she integrates play therapy, expressive arts, and mind-body approaches to support emotional healing and growth. Kristian is known for her culturally responsive and relationship-centered work, with a focus on helping children and families strengthen communication, build resilience, and feel more connected within themselves and in their relationships.
Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be provided for those participants attending both sessions on a given day.
4. IN PERSON – Saturday 9/26 from 1:15 – 4:30pm
This workshop introduces clinicians to filial play therapy, an evidence-based model of play therapy that equips parents to conduct therapeutic play sessions with their children. Participants will learn how to structure filial play therapy, teach parents foundational play therapy skills, and support families in strengthening attachment, emotional regulation, and communication. This training emphasizes practical application of play therapy techniques within the family system, allowing clinicians to extend the impact of play therapy beyond the therapy room.
Objectives:
- Describe the theoretical foundations and structure of filial play therapy and its role within the broader framework of play therapy.
- Identify and demonstrate at least three core parent coaching skills used in filial play therapy, including tracking, reflecting feelings, and therapeutic limit setting within play therapy sessions.
- Apply play therapy principles to design a structured filial play therapy parent training plan, including session sequencing, parent coaching, and home-based play therapy implementation.
Presenter: Cathy Canfield, LCSW, RPT-S
Where: In-Person – The Moose lodge 3529 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030
When: Saturday, September, 26, 2026
Presentation: 1;15pm-4:30pm (ET) Time
Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Play Therapists.
CE’S: 3 In Person APT, NBCC, and ASWB-Social Work CE Credits-Certificates issued after completing course evaluation at the end of training.
Schedule:
1:15-2:45PM Foundations of filial play therapy
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-3:30 Review parent coaching skills and treatment planning
3:45-4:15 Discuss designing a structured filial play therapy parent training plan
4:15-4:30 Conclusion and Questions
CE info:
This will be a live in person meeting. Participants must be present for the entire training and will be awarded contact CE upon successful completion of a post test. Participants may ask and answer questions throughout the presentation and participate in instructor-led discussion.
This one-time online event has been approved by APT, NBCC and ASWB for 3.00 CE Hours. This workshop meets APT’s definition of Contact hours.
About the Presenter: Cathy Canfield, LCSW, RPT-S,EMDR-C, is the owner of Counseling of Alexandria. She specializes in child and family therapy using play therapy and EMDR. With over 20 years of experience, she trains clinicians in practical, relationship-based approaches that strengthen parent-child connection and improve clinical outcomes.
Continental Breakfast and Lunch will be provided for those participants attending both sessions on a given day.
CFCC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. CFCC maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 13-360.
CFCC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7493. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CFCC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
CFCC provider #2347, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/04/2025–10/04/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 general continuing education credits.
Attendance Monitoring: In order to monitor attendance, ensure participation, and receive CE credit, attendees are required to attend the full training. Attendees are required to sign in and out and attend the full training. At the end of the training, a course evaluation will be required and then a CE certificate will be immediately issued.
Registration forms and instructions available at www.crossroadsfamilycounselingcenter.com. For questions, please email info@crossroadsfamilycc.com. Space is limited for each training.
Need a refund for some reason? Please notify info@crossroadsfamilycc.com at least TWO WEEKS BEFORE conference start date. Refunds will be reimbursed with a $25.00 administration fee.