2025 Black Play Therapy™ Symposium: BLACK History Special – $424 (Regular Investment: $499)

Registration includes:

– 15 hours (Four Sessions) of hands-on and experiential training

– Training materials and handouts

– Presentation slides

– Exclusive bonus interventions

– Conference Swag Bag

– Morning and afternoon refreshments

– Friday Night “Family Reunion”

July 11-12, 2025 – 8:30 am – 5:45 pm

Hilton Springfield in Springfield, VA (15 Minutes from DCA Regan Airport).

 MLK Special Ends January 31, 2025!

2025 Black Play Therapy™ Symposium: Reconnecting the Bonds: Addressing Disengagement in Black Family Systems

Friday July 11, 2025

Presenter: Dr. Althea T. Simpson, LCSW, RPT-S™

CE Classification: Ethics, Special Topics, or Cultural and Social Diversity

CE Credit: 1.5 Hours

Keynote: Ethics As A Foundation for Care: Exploring Risk and Resilience in Black Families Through Play

This keynote will explore the foundational dynamics of risk and resilience in Black families, highlighting how play therapy can be a powerful tool for fostering healing, connection, and growth. Using current research and evidence-based practices, we will examine systemic and relational challenges threatening family cohesion and identify protective factors promoting resilience.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Evaluate ethical considerations specific to play therapy and clinical practice with Black families through a cultural and systemic lens.
• Apply evidence-based risk and resilience assessment strategies using play-based techniques.
• Integrate ethical decision-making frameworks with cultural humility principles in play therapy and clinical practice.
• Implement at least two culturally responsive play therapy interventions that strengthen family bonds.

Presenter: Kenneth Hopson, LCPC-S

CE Classification: Skills & Methods, Special Topics or Cultural and Social Diversity

CE Credit: 2.0 Hours

Strengthening Bonds: Expressive Strategies for Black Family Cohesion and Resilience

This session will examine barriers threatening cohesion within Black families, focusing on how systemic and interpersonal challenges impact family dynamics. Participants will explore culturally relevant protective factors that help insulate Black families from disintegration, including how play therapy frameworks can foster resilience and connection.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify at least three systemic and interpersonal barriers threatening cohesion within Black families.
• Using a play therapy lens, apply at least two expressive strategies that encourage cohesion and shared connection, emphasizing cultural relevance and sensitivity for Black families.
• Integrate at least one modality that can be used in play therapy sessions to address the challenges faced by Black boys and promote their emotional growth, resilience, and success within family and community systems.

CE Credit: 4.0 Hours

Presenter: Dr. Althea T. Simpson, LCSW, RPT-S™

Integrating Play Therapy and Faith as Healing Tools for a Culturally Responsive Approach to Black Family Systems

Recognizing that spirituality is a cornerstone in many Black families, this session provides therapists with culturally responsive strategies through a play therapy lens to incorporate faith-based practices into play therapy while respecting the diverse spiritual beliefs of their clients. Rooted in family systems theories, participants will learn how to navigate the intersection of faith, culture, and mental health to strengthen family bonds, enhance communication, and promote healing.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the impact of stigma in Black faith communities that contribute to family disengagement.
• Identify at least three crucial factors for implementing faith-based mental health interventions in play therapy.
• Analyze the influence of spiritual and faith practices on family roles, dynamics, and communication and develop strategies for incorporating these elements into culturally responsive play therapy sessions.
• Implement at least three spiritually grounded therapeutic interventions that promote healing and reconnection in families facing systemic and relational challenges.

Saturday July 12, 2025

Presenter: Dr. Althea T. Simpson, LCSW, RPT-S™

CE Classification: Skills & Methods, Special Topics, or Cultural and Social Diversity

CE Credit: 7.5 Hours

LEGO® of My Family: Reconnecting Bonds and Addressing Disengagement in Black Family Systems

This session will explore the barriers that disrupt cohesion within Black families, focusing on the impact of systemic and interpersonal challenges on family dynamics. Through an immersive experience, participants will discover how LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® (LSP) can serve as a powerful, culturally responsive tool in play therapy and family therapy to address disengagement and rebuild meaningful connections within Black family systems.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify how family disengagement impacts children and caregivers.
• Identify at least two historical and systemic factors contributing to disengagement in Black family systems.
• Using a play therapy lens, engage in experiential activities using LSP to visualize family dynamics and promote healing through symbolic play.
• Apply at least three family systems theories to assess and address disengagement in Black families through play therapy interventions.
• Design culturally affirming play therapy interventions using LSP incorporating Black family traditions, strengths, and resilience factors.
• Integrate the foundational principles and methodology of LSP to create symbolic representations of family dynamics, fostering engagement and connection in Black family systems through play therapy interventions.
• Identify and implement LSP techniques to address intergenerational trauma and societal pressures, impacting family cohesion and contributing to disengagement in Black family systems.
• Reflect on and evaluate their own cultural biases, assumptions, and therapeutic approaches, enhancing their self-awareness and ability to provide culturally responsive play therapy interventions for Black families.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Registration Cancellation Deadlines:

– 100% refund: Available if the BPTS is canceled.

– 75% refund: Available for cancellations received by May 29, 2025 (30 business days prior)

– 50% refund: Available for cancellations received between May 30- June 12, 2025

– 25% refund: Available for cancellations received between June 13 – June 20, 2025

– No refunds will be issued after June 23, 2025 (less than 14 business days before the event)

Additional Policy Terms:

– All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to hello@blackplaytherapy.com

– Registration fees may be transferred to another attendee at no additional cost up until July 7, 2025

– Guest Friday night “Family Reunion” event tickets are non-refundable.

Emergency Situations:

– Documentation may be required for cancellations due to medical emergencies or bereavement.

– Each emergency situation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

No-Shows:

– Registrants who do not attend or cancel before the event will not receive a refund.

Please note: All refunds will be processed within 10-15 business days of approved cancellation. Refunds will be issued using the original payment method.

*Event schedule subject to change. Attendees will be notified.

Play Therapy Continuing Education Credit Available for Mental Health Professionals and Graduate Students in a Mental Health Program. Sponsored by Unicorn Life Training APT Approved Provider 18-532

Unicorn Life Training, #2031, is approved as an ACE provider 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: 01/24/2025 – 01/24/2026. Social workers participating in this symposium will receive up to 15 continuing education credits.