NEAPT 2026 Annual Conference
LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE!
May 1-2, 2026 | DoubleTree by Hilton Nashua
Friday, May 1st | 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Addressing Sensory Processing Needs in Play Therapy by Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™
This training explores using play therapy approaches and interventions to address sensory processing differences through a neurodiversity affirming lens. The concept of neurodiversity will be covered including understanding the sensory different neurodivergent child. An overview of the sensory processing system will be covered along with descriptors of the eight sensory processing areas. The benefits of non-directive and structured play therapy will be considered as well as the foundations for using play therapy with sensory needs. The concept of a sensory regulation play time will be defined and explored. Several play therapy interventions designed to help with sensory needs will be explained and presented through examples and session video clips. Current research will be presented, and participants will have the opportunity to understand how to create a sensory friendly play therapy room.
Intermediate| Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics, Play Therapy Cultural and Social Diversity Topics
Participants will be able to…
- Define sensory processing differences and how these differences can present in play therapy sessions.
- Identify four play therapy interventions that can be used to address sensory needs.
- Describe the eight sensory processing areas, screening processes, and implementing a neurodiversity affirming approach in play therapy.
- Outline a sensory regulation play time to help children with sensory and regulation needs.
- Identify how to make a play therapy room and office spaces sensory friendly.
- Conceptualize the foundations of using a neurodiversity affirming play therapy construct with sensory different children.
- Define hyper and hypo responses in regard to sensory processing.
- Explain three findings for research related to play, play therapy, and sensory processing..
Robert Jason Grant is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ (RPT-S™). He specializes in working with children, adolescents, families, and adults primarily serving neurodivergent individuals. He is the creator of AutPlay® Therapy, an integrative family play therapy framework designed to help address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children and adolescents. He is also trauma informed and trained and utilizes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
Dr. Grant is a supervisor, consultant, and life coach and has utilized several years of advanced training and his own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. He has infused his experience and love for education and mental health care to create training programs for professionals and caregivers. He is an international trainer and keynote presenter, having presented for the American Counseling Association, Association for Play Therapy, American Mental Health Counselors Association, and The World Autism Congress. He is also a multi-published author of several articles, book chapters, and books.
Saturday, May 2nd | 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Post-traumatic play: When children design their own play therapy journey – Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™
This workshop will focus on a unique type of play therapy that can signal that traumatic material is still central and/or unresolved to the child and/or the family. We will look at the characteristics of post-traumatic play, three typical phases of this type of play therapy, and discuss how witnessing the play in a safe setting is therapeutic in and of itself and allows for trauma processing on a deep level. The unique feature of this type of self-initiated play therapy is that it is client-directed and a form of gradual exposure that the child utilizes at his or her pace. Clinicians will learn the benefits of post-trauma play, and recognize the signs that the play is helping the child experience a renewed sense of control and mastery, critical in trauma work. Finally, we will offer some specific ideas for making interventions when the play therapy appears to be stuck and potentially retraumatizing to the child. In addition, we will look at how this play can differ from more generic play in children participating in play therapy. Several unique behaviors, such as sexual acting out in the office, or with toys, will also be discussed. This workshop focuses on Play Therapy Special Topics as well as Play Therapy Skills and Methods.
Intermediate | Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics
Participants will be able to…
- Define the term “post-traumatic play therapy”
- List three characteristics of post-traumatic play therapy
- Identify two substantial benefits of children utilizing post-traumatic play therapy
- List two ways to document positive progress when children use post-trauma play therapy
- Name three ways to help children interrupt stuck patterns in their post-traumatic play therapy
- Describe two ways parents can be of assistance to the child’s post-trauma play therapy and trauma processing
Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S™ is a Founding Partner of Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery & Education, LLC, a group private practice in Fairfax, VA, where she currently works as a Senior Clinical Consultant. She is an Approved AAMFT Supervisor as well as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, a Registered Art Therapist, a Registered Sand Therapist-Teacher/Consultant, and a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist. She is also a Circle of Security Certified Parent Educator, a Level II Theraplay provider, and participated and completed a two-year Individual Certification process with Dr. Bruce Perry on the Neurosequential Model of Therapy. Dr. Gil provides specialized trainings on an array of topics involving trauma, attachment, and treatment options, with an integration of expressive therapies (art, sand, play). Eliana has directed two child sexual abuse treatment programs in Northern Virginia and continues her work in the field of child abuse prevention and treatment. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who received her doctorate in family therapy from the California Graduate School of Family Psychology in San Rafael, California. She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abused of Children and the National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse. She received APT’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
Dr. Gil has written numerous chapters, journal articles, and books on child abuse and related topics and has participated in educational videotapes that feature her work through Guilford Press, as well as a self-published DVD on Family Play Therapy. Her most recent books include Post-Traumatic Play: What Clinicians Should Know and the second edition of Play in Family Therapy. She also co-authored a book with Dr. David Crenshaw on Termination Challenges in Psychotherapy. Her classic book Outgrowing the Pain, has been translated into many languages. Dr. Gil is a well-known international lecturer, author, and clinician. She is bilingual and bicultural with Ecuadorian parents. Since 2014, she has been semi-retired and continues to supervise, consult and teach. Dr. Gil conducts specialized, unique trainings in Fairfax, VA through Starbright Training Institute. She provides trainings across the country on a regular basis, although greatly reduced from previous years.
Eliana has dreamed of being a grandmother since she was a young child and cherished her relationship to her own grandmothers, Emilia and Teresa. She now has four grandchildren under the age of 18 and looks forward to being closer to them geographically and continuing to be a part of their lives. She loves watching her adult children, Eric and Teresa as they have grown into loving, smart, patient, and creative parents.
For CE, participants will need to download the form, complete and mail to ICE with payment of $30. The form will be available 2 weeks prior to the conference.
SEATING IS LIMITED. Full payment is due at the time of registration to confirm registration. If payment isn't received within seven (7) days of registration, your registration may be canceled.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Friday, May 1, 2026
8:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Sessions Begins
12:15 p.m. Lunch on Your Own
1:45 p.m. Sessions Begins
5:00 p.m. Session Ends
Saturday, May 2, 2026
8:00 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast and Coffee
8:45 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks, Annual Meeting
9:15 a.m. Session Begins
12:30 p.m. Lunch on Your Own
1:45 p.m. Session Continues
5:00 p.m. Conference Concludes
HANDOUTS: In an effort to reduce paper waste and be more “green,” our policy is to email all handouts. Please include a valid email address with your registration to receive the handouts.
PARKING: Complimentary parking is available at the hotel for participants.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: At NEAPT, your safety is a priority. As NEAPT moves forward with producing live meetings and conferences, we will continue to monitor the continually evolving guidance released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as all federal, state, and local government mandates, to provide an environment that is as safe as possible for all event participants. By participating in person, I agree to follow the meeting’s health and safety policies. Attendees of NEAPT events voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19 and its variants, and are advised to undertake precautions deemed necessary, to include those recommended by the CDC and the State of Connecticut. NEAPT will provide hand sanitizers and will allow for social distancing. Let us know if you need something to make you feel more comfortable.
PHOTO RELEASE: By registering for this conference, you are giving permission for NEAPT to use any photographs that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NEAPT deems appropriate and desirable. Photographs may be used on the NEAPT website, social media pages, and/or newsletter for any purpose. By completing the registration, you are also consenting to waive any rights to the photographs indefinitely. If you do not wish to have your photo used, it is your responsibility to notify registration of your request to be omitted.
CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be requested in writing and received no later than April 11, 2026. Cancellations are subject to $35 processing fee. No refunds after April 11, 2026. Substitutions (allowing another person to attend in your place) may be made in writing for no additional cost. No refunds are given due to inclement weather.
HOTEL INFORMATION: DoubleTree by Hilton Nashua, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua, NH 03063. Attendees are responsible to make hotel reservations. The hotel number is 866-245-2153. Click here for the direct booking link. Limited quantity of rooms available in the room block.
New England Association for Play Therapy: NEAPT is a professional organization striving to advance the theory and practice of play therapy through activities such as conferences, seminars, and networking in order to serve the mental health needs of New England children, families, schools and communities. For more information on the Conference visit our website at www.newenglandplaytherapy.org.
EXHIBITS: Exhibitors will be welcome to provide books and therapeutic materials for sale Friday & Saturday.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: This program is co-sponsored, by the New England Association for Play Therapy and The Institute for Continuing Education. The Conference offers a total of 12.00 CE Hrs. (6.00 hrs. per day), with full attendance required for the days you attend.
Continuing education credit is awarded on a daily basis, with full attendance required for the days attended. The CE processing fee is $30.00, to be paid by participants who wish to submit application for CE credit for their participation in the program. Application forms and other required CE materials will be available on- site for submission to The Institute for Continuing Education. If you have questions regarding the program, continuing education learning objectives, faculty, contact The Institute at: 800-557-1950 / email: instconted@aol.com
NOTE: To receive continuing education credit, applicants must complete all CE materials, sign in/out at designated locations, and submit an evaluation form for the sessions attended.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if CE credit offered by The Institute for Continuing Education meets the regulations of their state licensing/certification board(s).
NOTE: This program offers no “ethics hours”. The program workshops are not academic and may not be used toward fulfillment of a degree.
Psychology: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Counseling: For counselors seeking CE credit, The Institute for Continuing Education will submit a co-sponsorship application to NBCC for this program.
New York: The Institute for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. Provider MHC-0016.
Social Work: Application for social work continuing education credit has been submitted. This website will be updated regarding approval.
New York: The Institute for Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers, Provider SW-0025.
Marriage/Family Therapy: The Institute for Continuing Education is a recognized provider of continuing education by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for MFT, Provider MFT-0012.
Massachusetts: This program has not been submitted for pre-approval for MA MFTs.
Play Therapy: The Institute for Continuing Education is approved by The Association for Play Therapy to sponsor continuing education specific to play therapy. The Institute maintains responsibility for the program. APT Provider 98-040.
Non-U.S. Professionals: The Institute for Continuing Education holds no CE provider status with Canadian or other Non-U.S. licensing/certification boards. It is your responsibility to check the regulations of your licensing/certification board to determine CE requirements for training activities.
Non-Credit Events: Breakfast, lunch, reception events, committee/business meetings, networking sessions
Skills Level: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced. Attendees are urged to review the session descriptions to determine appropriateness for professional and personal needs.
Instructional Methodology: May include lecture, demonstration, audio/visual, experiential practice of techniques, case examples, large and small group discussion.
ADA: If you have special needs, please contact NEAPT at neapt@newenglandplaytherapy.org.
