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"In Here, You Can Do and Say Almost Anything"

Limit Setting in the Child-Centered Playroom

Online
Friday May 29th 2026
9am-12pm PST
1pm-4pm PST

As part of the Play Therapy for the People series, this 3-hour Zoom training provides clinicians with practical tools for setting boundaries that protect the child, the therapist, and the room. Participants will learn to manage boundary-testing and aggression in ways that preserve the child's dignity and maintain the essential safety of the therapeutic relationship.​​

While aimed at therapists learning to deepen their understanding of Child-Centered Play Therapy, this training is open to parents, Allied professionals, and other people who care about kids.

The playroom is designed to be a world where the child is in charge of their own experience. But what happens when the paint hits the walls, or a toy is aimed at your head?

Total permission can feel overwhelming for a child without the safety of structure. This 3-hour workshop explores the art of therapeutic limit-setting - the "walls" that actually allow for deeper freedom. We will move beyond simple "rules" to explore ways of setting boundaries that preserves the child’s dignity and keeps the therapeutic relationship intact.

In this training, you will learn to:

  • Balance radical acceptance with the clinical necessity of physical and emotional safety.

  • Master the ACT Model: Acknowledge the feeling, Communicate the limit, and Target the alternative.

  • Navigate Aggression: Practical strategies for when a child tests the boundaries of the room.

  • Maintain the "Nondirective" Spirit: How to set necessary limits without becoming a disciplinarian.

  • Manage Your Response: Identifying your own internal triggers when a child pushes against the limits.

 

Whether you are a seasoned play therapist or new to the sandtray, this session provides the tools to ensure your playroom remains a safe, predictable space for healing.

Live Trainings
Friday April 29th, 2026

9am-12pm PST

1pm-4pm PST

All live event ticket purchasers will receive access to the recording and materials for 30 days after the live training.

Purchase the Recording

If the live training is full or you can't make the time, you can purchase access to the recording here. Recording and materials will be available by the end of the week following the training.

Meet Your Trainer

About Jen

Jennifer Sims is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Registered Play Therapist™ with nearly 20 years of experience supporting children and families. Known for her engaging, experiential teaching style, she helps parents and professionals turn challenging skills into approachable, hands-on learning.

Jen has advanced training in Child-Centered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Gestalt Play Therapy, EMDR for children, and AutPlay. She regularly develops and presents trainings

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on non-directive play therapy and related topics, and was featured at the Sixth Annual Innovative Child Therapy Symposium in 2025.

The Redwood Center for Children & Families

A circle of support for the whole family.

©2023 by The Redwood Center.

Created by Charlotte Warren and West Mossgrove

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