Reclaiming Play after Trauma
Expanding imagination beyond survival in Child-Centered Play Therapy
Friday July 31st 2026
Non-Contact (Online)
Clinician session: 9am-12pm PST
Closed to licensed clinicians and students in a mental health program
3 APT and/or NBCC CEs available
Public session: 1pm-4pm PST
Open to all
3 NBCC CEs available
Participants will examine the relationship between trauma, imagination, and symbolic expression while learning how CCPT principles support emotional regulation, relational safety, and increasing imaginative flexibility.
This training is intended for mental health clinicians, graduate students, and anyone interested in learning more about child-centered play therapy.
Presented by Jennifer Sims, MA, LPCC, RPT
The Redwood Center for Children and Families, APT Approved Provider 26-820
And in partnership with Cascadia Training, NBCC ACEP No. 6475
Recording and materials will be available by August 14th, 2026
Trauma does not eliminate a child's capacity to play, however it can reorganize play around survival. Following overwhelming experiences, children's symbolic worlds may become dominated by themes of danger, protection, control, rescue, and repetition. While these themes represent adaptive attempts to create safety and meaning, Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) recognizes that healing is not achieved by directing children away from traumatic play. Instead, healing occurs through a therapeutic relationship that provides the safety, acceptance, and freedom necessary for children's imaginative worlds to gradually expand.
Grounded in Child-Centered Play Therapy, current trauma research, and the Therapeutic Powers of Play, this training explores how trauma shapes symbolic and imaginative play and how therapists can recognize the difference between trauma-organized play and developmentally typical fantasy. Participants will examine the relationship between trauma, imagination, and symbolic expression while learning how CCPT principles support emotional regulation, relational safety, and increasing imaginative flexibility.
Using case examples, experiential activities, and reflective discussion, participants will learn to recognize common trauma-related play themes, understand the therapeutic functions of repetitive symbolic play, and strengthen their ability to respond to children's imaginative worlds without interpretation, direction, or premature intervention. Special attention will be given to the role of the therapeutic relationship in supporting children's movement from rigid survival narratives toward greater flexibility, creativity, connection, and possibility.
By the end of the training, participants will have a deeper understanding of how the therapeutic powers of play are activated through imaginative play and how Child-Centered Play Therapy provides the relational conditions in which traumatized children can reclaim not only safety, but the freedom to imagine beyond survival.
Date: Friday, July 31st 2026
Times:
9am-12pm PST | Closed to licensed clinicians and students only (3 APT and/or NBCC CEs available)
1pm-4pm PST | Open to public (3 NBCC CEs available to licensed clinicians and students)
Location: Non-contact (on Zoom)
Learning Objectives:
Identify at least four ways trauma may influence symbolic and imaginative play within Child-Centered Play Therapy.
Differentiate trauma-organized imaginative play from developmentally typical fantasy play using characteristics such as flexibility, repetition, emotional organization, and relational themes.
Describe at least four Child-Centered Play Therapy therapist responses that support trauma-related imaginative play while maintaining fidelity to the child-centered approach.
Explain how selected Therapeutic Powers of Play (e.g., self-expression, abreaction, positive attachment, stress inoculation, self-regulation, and creative problem solving) are activated through imaginative play with traumatized children.
Apply Child-Centered Play Therapy skills, including tracking, reflection of feeling, facilitative responding, and therapeutic limit setting, to case examples involving trauma-related symbolic play.
Evaluate changes in children's imaginative play that may reflect increasing psychological safety and imaginative flexibility without relying on symptom reduction or the disappearance of trauma themes as indicators of progress.
Format: Live webinar/Zoom training with lecture, case examples, reflective exercises, and experiential discussion.
APT and NBCC credit available to mental health professionals & graduate students in a mental health program. Choose the CE track of your preference at checkout. All ticket purchasers will receive access to the recording and materials for 30 days after the training.
Live Training
Friday July 31st, 2026
The morning session is closed for licensed clinicians and students in a mental health program only. The afternoon session is open to the public, and all are welcome to join.
3 APT & NBCC CEs available
9am-12pm PST | For licensed clinicians and students only, 3 APT and/or NBCC CEs available
1pm-4pm PST | Open to public, 3 NBCC CEs available to licensed clinicians and students
All live event ticket purchasers will receive access to the recording and materials for 30 days after the live training.
All payments are final and non-refundable. If an unexpected emergency prevents you from participating, you may email us at trainings@theredwoodcenter.org to request an exception.
If a program is canceled by The Redwood Center, participants will receive a full refund.
For our complete cancellation and refund policy, view our Training Policies here.
The Redwood Center for Children and Families
Felton, California
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.
Recording and materials will be available by August 14th, 2026
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
on non-directive play therapy and related topics, and was featured at the Sixth Annual Innovative Child Therapy Symposium in 2025.