Crisis, Adaptation, Trauma, and Stress

Our Summer Institute is a two-day, face-to-face workshop series, with day one centered on trauma and day two focused on the intersection of play therapy and trauma.

SAVE THE DATE

June 11 - 12, 2027

REGISTRATION:

Featured Speakers:

We are honored to welcome Dr. Dee Ray, an internationally recognized leader, scholar, and pioneer in the field of play therapy, as a featured presenter. With more than 30 years of counseling experience, Dr. Ray has made extraordinary contributions to advancing child-centered play therapy through her research, teaching, clinical practice, and professional leadership.

Dr. Ray is a Regents Professor and Elaine Millikan Mathes Professor in Early Childhood Education at the University of North Texas, where she also serves as Director Emerita of the Center for Play Therapy. She is a former President of the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling and past Board Chair of the Association for Play Therapy. She currently maintains a private practice, Empathy Well, in Highland Village, Texas, and presents internationally on child-centered play therapy.

A highly respected researcher and prolific author, Dr. Ray has published more than 120 peer-reviewed articles and numerous influential books. She is a two-time recipient of the Association for Play Therapy's Outstanding Research Award and editor of the second edition of Play Therapy: Theory, Research, and Practice (2025). Her notable publications include:

A Therapist's Guide to Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years
Advanced Play Therapy: Essential Conditions, Knowledge, and Skills for Child Practice
Multicultural Play Therapy (co-author)
Group Play Therapy (co-author)

Dr. Ray's professional credentials include Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), Certified Child-Centered Play Therapy Trainer/Supervisor, Certified Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Trainer/Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor (NCC). She is also a distinguished Fellow of the American Counseling Association.

Featured Presentation

The Complexity of Trauma: The Child-Centered Play Therapy Approach

Join Dr. Ray as she explores the complexities of childhood trauma through the lens of child-centered play therapy, drawing on decades of clinical experience, groundbreaking research, and expertise in therapeutic work with children.

Play therapy credit is only awarded to mental health professionals. Attendees must complete the entire training for CE credit; no partial credit is available. Late arrivals may forfeit their trainee spot. APT has the right to refuse or cancel ineligible CE purchases at any time and shall not be held accountable for any outside fees associated with this cancellation. If trainees have any complaints about the workshops, they can contact playinstitute@shsu.edu. Provider #: 07-211