Redefining the Playroom: Delivering Play Therapy in a Digital World

Presenter

Dr. Rachel Altvater (Psy.D., RPT-S™) is a multi-award winning, pioneering expert, leader, researcher, international trainer, author, and supervisor in the field of play therapy. She is a licensed psychologist and holds national certifications as a Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™ and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She is the owner of Creative Psychological Health Services, past president of the Maryland/DC Association for Play Therapy, editorial advisory board member for the International Journal of Play Therapy®, clinical advisory board member for PlaySpace, and clinical consultant for Hopscotch. Dr. Altvater authored the book Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities, published her research in the International Journal of PlayTherapy® on technology use in play therapy, and is a contributing author in numerous scholarly texts on implementing digital technologies in play therapy practice.

Program Description

Virtual play therapy has emerged as an essential method of service delivery in the digital era, requiring play therapists to thoughtfully adapt core therapeutic principles to online environments where children now live, learn, and play. As digital culture increasingly shapes childhood experiences, video games, virtual platforms, and digital tools have become modern expressions of play—rich with symbolism, creativity, and relational meaning. This workshop explores the foundational components of providing effective virtual play therapy while integrating digital tools in ways that preserve therapeutic presence, intentionality, and the therapeutic powers of play.

The workshop will address essential considerations for virtual play therapy practice, including setting therapeutic parameters, maintaining ethical standards, and selecting developmentally appropriate digital tools aligned with treatment goals. Through didactic instruction, experiential demonstrations, and guided discussion, play therapists will gain practical strategies for meeting children where they are, within the digital worlds they naturally inhabit, while remaining grounded in play therapy theory and best practices. By the end of the training, play therapists will feel more confident delivering virtual play therapy that is culturally responsive, developmentally informed, and clinically intentional in the modern digital landscape.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain core components of effective virtual play therapy practice, including how digital-era culture and modern methods of play influence therapeutic engagement with digital native children.

2. Apply developmentally appropriate digital tools within virtual play therapy sessions to support the play therapy process and therapeutic goals.

3. Evaluate ethical, clinical, and practical considerations associated with delivering play therapy through virtual platforms, including tool selection, therapeutic boundaries, and clinician competence.

CE Credits

3 Non-contact APT Credit Hours

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).

3 ASWB ACE Clinical Credit Hours

Children’s Trauma Healing Center, provider # 2430, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.

ACE provider approval period: 07/22/2025–07/26/2026.

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.

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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:

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1. 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.

2. 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.

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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.

Cost

Pre-licensed Graduate Students: $50

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.

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NJ APT Members: $50

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Non NJ APT Members: $60

**Registration and CEs are included in the cost.