AutPlay® Therapy Training (2-day Intensive)
with Dr. Robert Jason Grant
Friday, March 20th & Saturday, March 21st, 2026
Monmouth University | West Long Branch, NJ
Presenter Biography
Dr. Robert Jason Grant is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy. He is a therapist, supervisor, and consultant and utilizes several years of advanced training and his own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. He is an international trainer and keynote presenter and multi-published author of several articles and books.
Program Description
This is an intensive 12 hour training that focuses on teaching the AutPlay® Therapy framework– a diversity understanding for implementing play therapy with neurodivergent children (autistic, ADHD, sensory differences, learning differences, developmental disabilities, etc.) and their families. The AutPlay® Therapy framework highlights neurodiversity affirming and informed constructs within the therapeutic powers of play and seminal play therapy theories and approaches. Emphasis is placed on understanding and addressing mental health needs for neurodivergent children and adolescents.
This training provides awareness for the play therapist in working with neurodivergent children and adolescents and how to be in healthy, safe, and affirming therapeutic relationship. Participants learn how to conceptualize the neurodivergent child’s spectrum of presentation and how to assess for needs (therapy goals). AutPlay® inventories and worksheets will be highlighted along with how to affirmingly include parents and children as partners in the play therapy process. Concepts will be covered and explored through experiential play interventions designed to address therapy goals.
The three general therapy phases in play therapy implementation will be covered which include intake and assessment, structured play interventions(theory and approach selection), and termination. Affirming understanding of neurodivergent play and regulation and dysregulation concepts will becovered. The AutPlay® Therapy Follow Me Approach (FMA) is explained which details how to work with children with little to no engagement and attunement ability creating integrative play therapy to improve connection and relationship development. Several play therapy interventions are explained and demonstrated through session video clips. Experiential activities are presented, and case conceptualization and planning are discussed.
Learning Objectives
-
Explain neurodiversity and the neurodiversity paradigm as it relates to play therapy work.
-
Conceptualize the foundational principles of being neurodiversity informed and affirming related to play therapy.
-
Conceptualize integrative play therapy processes for individualizing therapy approach.
-
Describe common mental health goals for neurodivergent children addressed through play therapy.
-
Identify several structured play therapy interventions to use for addressing therapy goals.
-
Implement the three overarching phases of play therapy (AutPlay® Therapy framework) – intake and assessment, structured intervention (play therapy theory/approach selection), and termination.
-
Discuss how to affirmingly involve parents and children as partnersin the play therapy process.
-
Describe the AutPlay® model of regulation/dysregulation.
-
Identify play therapy interventions to address dysregulation needs (creating a regulation play time).
-
Implement the AutPlay® Follow Me Approach, designed for children with higher support needs
-
Explain common neurodivergent play presentations as manifested in play therapy work.
-
Understand the diverse complexities and concepts present when implementing play therapy with neurodivergent children.
CE Credit
Play Therapy
12 APT Contact CE Credits
This event is sponsored by New Jersey Association for Play Therapy. New Jersey Association for Play Therapy is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Approved Provider No. 05-159).
Primary Areas of Instruction
Any combination of 6 toward cultural and social diversity, 4 toward seminal theories, 2 toward skills and methods, or all 12 toward special topics or applicants’ choice.
Play therapy credit available to mental health professionals & graduate students in a mental health program.
Social Work
Social workers completing this course receive 12 clinical continuing education credits.
Continuing education credits are provided by the Monmouth University School of Social work in accordance with New Jersey Administrative code 13:44G and are recognized by the New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners.
Please Note: To receive credit, participants must attend the full program and complete all required components, including the course evaluation. CE certificate will be automatically issued upon completion of all course requirements.
Please contact us with any questions regarding continuing education credit eligibility.
Policies & Procedures
Grievance Policy
New Jersey Association for Play Therapy (NJAPT) is committed to conducting activities in compliance with ethical and legal standards in mental health professions. However, NJAPT also recognizes that complaints may arise. NJAPT strives to address complaints as quickly as possible when they happen.
The materials and claims made by the presenters are theirs alone, and that using what is learned in trainings is expected to be incorporated into sound clinical and ethical judgment. Complaints may be submitted either verbally or in writing to the NJ APT President. The following guidelines are followed with respect to achieving resolution:
-
For complaints relative to a speaker or workshop leader, contents of instructional materials being presented, or an individual education style being used, the individual voicing disapproval is requested to first address concerns to the presenter. If the presenter is not available, the individual will place his/her/their comments in writing. The NJ APT President or acting liaison will convey these comments to the speaker while maintaining confidentiality of the complainant.
-
If the complaint concerns a continuing education activity, its content, level of presentation, or facilities in which the event is being held, the President will attempt to resolve the matter as expeditiously as possible. If the offered resolution (resolutions may include but not be limited to partial/full refund of fee paid; credit towards a future event) not satisfactory to the individual filing the complaint, then further action may be taken.
In the latter instance, the individual is requested to place his/her/their complaint in writing to the attention of the President of NJ APT. The complaint is then reviewed by the President and Immediate Past President in consultation with the Conference Committee and/or CE administrator. A written response will be issued within 30 days of the receipt of the written complaint.
Within 30 days of the resolution, the complainant may file a written appeal to the President. The decision of the President is final.
Refund Policy
Refund requests for must be submitted in writing to nja4pt@gmail.com no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled program start date for a full refund minus any processing fees. For a 50% refund minus any processing fees, requests must be made no later than 15 days prior to the scheduled program start date. For a 30% refund minus any processing fees, requests must be made no later than 2 days prior to the scheduled program start date. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made the day before or the day of the program start date.
Disclosure Statement
It is the goal of NJ APT to provide educational seminars and workshops that are free from commercial interests, conflicts of interest, financial relationships. NJ APT aims to provide quality programs that are grounded in play therapy theory, empirically sound, and free of external bias. NJ APT asks that instructors present materials that are supported by empirical evidence and to clearly outline the accuracy and efficacy of their program. Instructors are also expected to discuss the limitations of their program and the risks that may be involved.
NJ APT requires that any personal or financial relationships by those in a position to influence or control content be disclosed. NJ APT encourages instructors to produce documentation identifying any conflict of interest, competing interest, or commercial support for each program. Should any conflicts of interest be disclosed, NJ APT and the disclosing party agree to resolve them before moving ahead with the planning or participation of any workshop or seminar. By participating in educational seminars or workshops hosted by NJ APT, participants are not required to produce, market, re-sell, or distribute any material or other services.
Additionally, it is noted that educational material and content is the property of the instructors, not NJ APT. NJ APT does not make any claims or promises regarding the efficacy of techniques or products represented during educational seminars and workshops, and it is expected that participants will use what is taught alongside their best clinical and ethical judgment.
Requirements to Participate in the Training
All participants are REQUIRED to purchase and read The AutPlay® Therapy Handbook: Integrative Family Play Therapy with Neurodivergent Children by Dr. Robert Jason Grant prior to the program start date.
Link to access book
All participants are REQUIRED to watch the free recorded webinar - Introduction to AutPlay® Therapy prior to the program start date.
Cost
Pre-licensed Graduate Students: $350
All students must submit current course schedule or other form of proof of current student enrollment to nja4pt@gmail.com. If we do not receive your proof of current student status within 24 hours of registration, your registration will be cancelled and refunded minus any processing fees.
All APT Members: $400
Any APT member from a branch OTHER THAN New Jersey must submit proof of membership to nja4pt@gmail.com immediately prior to or after completing registration. If we do not receive your proof of membership within 24 hours of registration, your registration will be cancelled and refunded minus any processing fees.
Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Proof of Membership
Non-Members: $500
You may save by becoming an APT member. Membership costs up to $110 and unlocks the discounted member rate and additional professional benefits.
APT Membership & Benefits Guide
**Registration, CEs, and lunch are included in the cost.
