One Day Group Theraplay®  South Jordan, UT (30 minutes south of Salt Lake City)

CEs Available: 6.5      |      One Day Training      |      In-person

Group Theraplay® is an adult-directed, structured play group that incorporates playful, cooperative and nurturing activities that enhance the emotional well-being of children. Unlike other play group approaches, Theraplay learning takes place on a non-verbal level. Instead of talking about positive social behavior, the group leaders and children do positive social interaction. Positive messages from the group interaction gradually become a part of the child’s internal sense of self. If you are a professional working in classrooms, day cares, residential settings or with family groups, this training is for you. 

This training will take place a day after the Level One Theraplay & MIM in South Jordan, UT  May 4-7, 2026 and there are seats still available. Those not participating in the Level One are still welcome to participate so long as they have completed the prerequisites by the day of the training.

Prerequisites

Level One Theraplay & MIM or Theraplay Modules 1 & 2

Schedule

This is a one day training taking place May 8, 2026 from 9 am - 4:30 pm Eastern Time. View this training’s detailed agenda.

Trainer

Kerri Garner, LPC, specializes in the use of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and EMDR along with Theraplay® in her work with children, adolescents, families, and adults from all over the world. An adoptive mother herself, Kerri is passionate about bringing children and their caregivers into closer, healing relationships with each other. While her specialties include childhood abuse, trauma, attachment, PTSD, relationships, and parenting, she enjoys working with cross-cultural transition, immigrant families, and adjustment related to multicultural experiences as well.

Summary    

• Create an atmosphere that is warm, nurturing, engaging, and challenging
• Promote warm relationships between children and adults and friendships among peers
• Engage hard-to-reach children
• Place emphasis on cooperation between children
• Encourage children to learn and practice self- control
• Help children with regulatory disorders and tactile issues
• Simultaneously address cognitive, social, and emotional development

Learning Objectives     

• Apply Theraplay play principles, including the four dimensions, to group treatment
• Integrate play therapy skills in using the group rules and group techniques through planning and practice of Group Theraplay activities
• Demonstrate how to adapt the use of group Theraplay in play therapy with various populations
• Describe how nurturing and co-regulating physical connection can assist children to feel calm and more organized in a play therapy group setting
• Name three techniques for managing resistance and problem situations in play therapy groups
• List three essential strategies for successful implementation

Who Should Attend?

People who work with children and families in many different capacities will benefit from training programs offered by The Theraplay Institute. Visit our Who Should Attend page for more information. This course’s Content Level is Intermediate.

Bibliography

View this training’s bibliography for books and other materials referenced in the development of the content for this program.

For information about our CE process, cancellation policy, and how to contact us with questions and concerns visit our FAQ page. Attendance of the entirety of a program (in-person or virtual) is required in order to receive continuing education or a letter of completion.

There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

Registration Terms and Conditions