Play Therapy with Children Who Internalize
Presented by Rakima Parson, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S
December 5, 2025
Children who internalize their struggles often go unnoticed, presenting as quiet, compliant, or withdrawn while experiencing emotional distress. This workshop equips participants with tools to recognize, conceptualize, and work with internalizing behaviors through a culturally responsive play therapy lens. Participants will learn how to use Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) techniques to create safety, build self-expression, and strengthen the therapeutic relationship. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how cultural context influences children’s expression of distress and their comfort with vulnerability. Additionally, this workshop will explore effective ways to engage and collaborate with parents, fostering insight, empathy, and alignment between the child’s therapeutic process and the family’s values and needs.
Training Objectives
Credits
Non-Contact Hours / CE Credits
Location
Live via Zoom
Details
Continuing Education for Professionals
Live Webinar Training
Date
December 5th, 2025
Time
9:30am - 12:30pm CT
Pricing
$120, with sliding scale community option
In this live virtual training for play therapists, participants will:
Participants will be able to identify common presentations and cultural and environmental influences related to internalizing behaviors in children to be effective in the play therapy process.
Participants will be able to apply Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) techniques to help children with internalizing behaviors express emotions, build self-awareness, and develop coping skills.
Participants will be able to implement effective play therapy strategies for engaging parents in the therapeutic process to support emotional regulation, resilience, and continued growth at home.
Presented by
Rakima Parson, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S
Dr. Rakima Parson is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor who integrates mental health practice with a public health perspective. She holds a PhD in Behavioral Science and a Master of Science in Counseling. Dr. Parson’s work bridges clinical practice, education, and research with an emphasis on prevention, resilience, and the systemic factors that shape emotional well-being. With extensive experience in school and community-based settings, she specializes in play therapy, child-parent relationship therapy, and trauma-informed care. Beyond clinical work, Dr. Parson supervises emerging clinicians, conducts research, and advances mental health literacy through training and community outreach.
Good to Know
This live webinar takes place via Zoom.
This training will not be recorded.
To receive CE credits, participants must attend the full presentation and must complete the post-presentation evaluation. Live webinar attendees must also complete a post-test on the materials covered.
Ensemble Therapy is an Approved Provider for the Association for Play Therapy (APT), Approved Provider 23-706. Ensemble Therapy is an approved provider endorsed by an international organization and therefore trainings quality for the 50% CEs mandated by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) for LPC and LMFT. Play Therapy credit is available to mental health professionals and graduate students in a mental health program.
It is the responsibility of the attendee to verify whether CE credit offered by the Ensemble Learning Center meets the regulations of the participant’s licensing/certification board.
Before registering, please see our Frequently Asked Questions, including cancellations and refund policy, at the bottom of this page.
Sign Up To Secure Your Spot
Enrollment closes on December 4th at 9:30am CT.
We are committed to making continuing education more readily available so therapists and professionals from all backgrounds have the tools and support to provide relevant and nuanced care with awareness and sensitivity. Please choose the enrollment option that applies to you and your circumstances.
ENROLLMENT RATE
$120
This is the actual cost of enrollment, and this rate is meant for attendees who are able to comfortably meet their basic needs with room for expendable purchases, and those who benefit from financial support or systemic privilege.
USE CODE EARLYRATE-DEC5 FOR $15 OFF UNTIL THREE WEEKS BEFORE
COMMUNITY RATE
$105
This reduced rate is for attendees who are students, those who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those living with disabilities, experiencing financial hardship, or who have been impacted by systemic inequity.
USE CODE COMMUNITY-15 TO APPLY COMMUNITY DISCOUNT
December 5, 2025
Children who internalize their struggles often go unnoticed, presenting as quiet, compliant, or withdrawn while experiencing emotional distress. This workshop equips participants with tools to recognize, conceptualize, and work with internalizing behaviors through a culturally responsive play therapy lens.
Training FAQ
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These learning sessions are designed for professional counselors, social workers, school counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, play therapists, teachers, occupational therapists, child life specialists, school administration, graduate students, and professionals working with children or pursuing training to do so. The content of our learning sessions is presented at the graduate level using inclusive and friendly approaches, but if you are not intending on working with children, we suggest you take a look at our workshops for caregivers and families, which are facilitated for everyone who is interested in deepening their knowledge and connection with children in their lives.
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All of Ensemble's professional trainings offer continuing education credits for licensed professionals, and some of those trainings provide play therapy credit for mental health professionals or students enrolled in a graduate mental health program. It is up to you to read the listed details for each presentation and verify whether CE credit offered by the Ensemble Learning Center meets the regulations of your licensing/certification board prior to signing up.
Offerings listed For Caregivers do not include the option for CE credits, though we always welcome anyone who wants to attend!
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Not all learning sessions count toward play therapy credit. For select trainings, play therapy credit may be awarded to graduate students enrolled in a graduate mental health program or individuals who hold a graduate mental health degree. To receive credit, participants must meet all listed requirements for the training. Play therapy continuing education credit will not be awarded to non-mental health professionals.
Ensemble Therapy is an APT Approved Provider #23-706. The CE hours you earn for qualifying trainings can be applied toward your credentialing as a Registered Play Therapist™, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ or School Based-Registered Play Therapist™.
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No partial CE credit is available. Attendees must be present for the entire duration of the learning session and complete all requirements.
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Cancellation requests can be made by email hello@ensemblelearningcenter.com.
Cancellations received at least 14 days prior to a scheduled learning session are refundable at 50% of the registration fee. Cancellations received less than 14 days prior to a scheduled learning session will receive no refund or credit. No shows or missed learning sessions will receive no refund or credit.
Should Ensemble Learning Center need to cancel a learning session, we will make every attempt to notify paid registrants in a timely manner. All paid registrants will receive a full refund.
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All in-person learning sessions occur in our conference room at Ensemble Therapy’s Spicewood office location. To protect the confidentiality of our clients and respect our healing environment so important therapeutic work can occur, only adult registrants are allowed to attend our learning sessions.
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A replacement CE certificate can be obtained for a $25 administrative fee. Please reach out to hello@ensemblelearningcenter.com to request an additional copy.