to educate, encourage, and promote the advancement of play therapy professionals

2026 Annual MO APT Conference

  • When?

    June 12, 2026 - 09:00am to 4:00pm

    June 13, 2026 - 09:00am to 4:00pm

  • Where?

    Columbia, MO (exact location TBD)

  • Day 1 Courses

    June 12, 2026 - 9:00am to 12:00pm

    Session #1:Fostering Cultural Inclusivity in Play Therapy (3 hours)
    Content Area: 3 Hours Cultural and Social Diversity


    Workshop Description:

    Children and families come to play therapy with diverse cultures,
    identities and abilities. A core ethical component for a play therapist is to display cultural humility
    in their work with clients from all walks of life. But what exactly does that mean? This session
    will challenge the play therapist to evaluate the way they treat and view the behaviors of clients
    from diverse populations. Using self-reflective activities, attendees will be challenged to make a
    plan to address identified cultural biases in play therapy sessions. Play therapists will be able to
    enhance their multicultural competency in play therapy therapy with children and families from
    diverse racial/ethnic, spiritual, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

    Learning Objectives:
    1. Identify six (6) ways bias may appear in the playroom.
    2. Discuss toys and materials to reduce bias in the playroom.
    3. List four (4) components of a culturally competent play therapist.

    —
    Lunch: 12:00pm to 1:00pm

    —

    Session #2: Engaging Adults in Play Therapy (3 hours)
    Content Area: 1 Hour Seminal Theories & 2 Hours Special Topics

    Workshop Description:

    Although play therapy is effective for clients of all ages, when people
    hear the term “play therapy” they tend to only think about its application to children and
    adolescents. But, yes! Adults can play too! This workshop will explore the benefits of
    implementing play-based interventions in individual and group play therapy sessions with adults
    of all ages. Expressive interventions such as sand tray, art and music will be explored in its
    application in play therapy with adults. Participants will also explore the applications of historical
    and seminal play therapy theories with adults across the lifespan.


    Learning Objectives:
    1. Identify five (5) benefits of integrating play therapy into sessions with adults.
    2. Discuss seven (7) play therapy interventions to engage adults in play therapy.
    3. Describe four (4) historical and seminal play therapy theories to use in play therapy with adults


  • Day 2 Courses

    June 13, 2025 - 9:00am to 4:00pm, Lunch from 12:00 to 1:00

    Session #3: Trauma-Informed Practices in Play Therapy (6 hours)
    Content Area: 3 Hours Skills and Methods & 3 Hours Special Topics

    Workshop Description:

    “Trauma” can be used to describe a variety of situations a child has
    experienced that has a negative effect on the child’s development. This workshop will explore
    the various types of trauma experienced by children and adolescents such as bullying,
    witnessing interpersonal violence and more, while also engaging in experiential play-based
    interventions to support children and families with those experiences in the playroom and
    beyond. Play therapists will explore the foundations of trauma in children across the lifespan
    and their various symptom presentations in the playroom, as well as key items in the playroom
    to support youth experiencing trauma from all backgrounds.


    Learning Objectives:
    1. Discuss 21 play themes that may be a sign of trauma in the playroom.
    2. List eight (8) goals for addressing trauma in the playroom.
    3. Describe ten (10) types of trauma that may be addressed in individual and family play therapy
    sessions.
    4. Analyze ten (10) play therapy interventions to decrease traumatic stress in children.
    5. Compare two (2) attachment-based play therapy approaches to address disruptions in the
    parent-child relationship.
    6. Identify five (5) play therapy interventions to help children and adolescents create trauma
    narratives.

Register Now for 2026 MO APT Conference

Meet the Presenter

  • Dr. April Duncan

    April Duncan (DSW, LCSW, RPT-S) obtained her Bachelor’s in Arts & Science from the
    University of Missouri-Columbia (2006), Masters of Social Work from Saint Louis University
    (2012) and Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California (2021). She is
    the founder of BMH Connect, an organization focused on Black youth empowerment through
    the use of play therapy. As an author in several publications, Dr. April is a racial trauma expert
    and leader in her field in advocating for the use of play therapy to address the mental health
    needs of Black children. With over ten years of clinical and play therapy experience, Dr. April
    also provides consultation and support for various stakeholders in non-profits, schools, the
    juvenile justice system and the child welfare system, to teach the value of applying a cultural
    lens when addressing trauma in children from all backgrounds. She also is an adjunct instructor
    in the online MSW program at Tulane University and former advisory board member for the
    World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals.

Request to Exhibit

To have an exhibit for participants to buy/order or demonstrate your products, please contact us:

Request to Exhibit

Donate for the Silent Auction

To donate items for our silent auction and door prizes, please reach out to us to get connected to Amber Schilb. We will recognize donors like you as contributors at our event, making the donation of items a great opportunity to advertise your business. Additionally, you will be provided with a tax donation letter! Thank you for supporting MAPT and the professionals involved in this organization!

Donate

Donations or Silent Auction Items can also be sent directly to:

Amber Schilb

5556 N. Ricky Fork Dr.

Columbia, MO 65202

Other Important Information:

Refund Policy: Refunds will be given for paid continuing education training cancelled by MAPT and for when MAPT relocated trainings to another region of the state. For attendees who cancel 48 hours prior to the start of the training, a MAPT credit will be provided to attendees for the amount paid and can be used at a future MAPT training.

Conference Pricing (per day):

  • Member: $200

  • Non-Member: $260

  • Student: $100

Early Bird Pricing (per day):

  • Member: $140

  • Non-Member: $200

Early-Bird Pricing will expire on: May 1st, 2026

Description & Objectives

DAY 1

Fostering Cultural Inclusivity in Play Therapy (3 hours)

Children and families come to play therapy with diverse cultures, identities and abilities. A core ethical component for a play therapist is to display cultural humility in their work with clients from all walks of life. But what exactly does that mean? This session will challenge the play therapist to evaluate the way they treat and view the behaviors of clients from diverse populations. Using self-reflective activities, attendees will be challenged to make a plan to address identified cultural biases in play therapy sessions. Play therapists will be able to enhance their multicultural competency in play therapy therapy with children and families from diverse racial/ethnic, spiritual, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Learning Objectives:

1) Identify 6 ways bias may appear in the playroom

2) Discuss toys and materials to reduce bias in the playroom

3) List 4 components of a culturally competent play therapist

Engaging Adults in Play Therapy (3 hours)

Although play therapy is effective for clients of all ages, when people hear the term “play therapy” they tend to only think about its application to children and
adolescents. But, yes! Adults can play too! This workshop will explore the benefits of implementing play-based interventions in individual and group play therapy sessions with adults of all ages. Expressive interventions such as sand tray, art and music will be explored in its application in play therapy with adults. Participants will also explore the applications of historical and seminal play therapy theories with adults across the lifespan.

Learning Objectives:

1) Identify 5 benefits of integrating play therapy into sessions with adults

2) Discuss 7 play therapy interventions to engage adults in play therapy

3) Describe 4 historical and seminal play therapy theories to use in play therapy with adults

DAY 2

Trauma-Informed Practices in Play Therapy (6 hours)

“Trauma” can be used to describe a variety of situations a child has experienced that has a negative effect on the child’s development. This workshop will explore
the various types of trauma experienced by children and adolescents such as bullying, witnessing interpersonal violence and more, while also engaging in experiential play-based interventions to support children and families with those experiences in the playroom and beyond. Play therapists will explore the foundations of trauma in children across the lifespan and their various symptom presentations in the playroom, as well as key items in the playroom to support youth experiencing trauma from all backgrounds.

Learning Objectives:

1) Discuss 21 play themes that may be a sign of trauma in the playroom

2.) List 8 goals for addressing trauma in the playroom

3) Describe 10 types of trauma that may be addressed in individual and family play therapy
sessions

4) Analyze 10 play therapy interventions to decrease traumatic stress in children

5) Compare 2 attachment-based play therapy approaches to address disruptions in the
parent-child relationship

6) Identify 5 play therapy interventions to help children and adolescents create trauma
narratives