Utilizing Play Therapy in the School Setting

Presented by Suzanne O'Brien, LPC, RPT™, CCST, EMDR-Trained
September 6, 2025

In this workshop for school counselors-in-training, seasoned school counselors, and mental health providers who work in school settings, you will gain a greater understanding of play therapy theories and techniques and how they can be embedded into your current practice to support the well-being of the students in your care and enhance their academic and behavioral success.

Participants will be encouraged to examine their current school counseling programs and to incorporate play-based strategies and activities that are supported by current research and standards of practice. 

Enroll now

Training Objectives

Credits
2 Contact Hours / CE Credits

Location
Ensemble Therapy
Northwest Austin Location
4210 Spicewood Springs, Suite 203
Austin, Texas 78759

Details

Continuing Education for Professionals
In-Person Training

Date
September 6, 2025

Time
11:00am - 1:00pm CT

Pricing
$65, with sliding scale community option

In this in-person training for professionals in school settings, you'll learn and be able to:

  • Describe the critical components of play therapy

  • Identify at least three different play therapy theories and how they can be utilized in the school setting

  • Analyze your current school counseling practices and how they can be enhanced through the use of play therapy

Presented by

Suzanne O'Brien, LPC, RPT™, CCST, EMDR-Trained

Suzanne O'Brien is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT™) who served as a school counselor in elementary schools for over twenty years. She is a Certified Clinical Sandtray Therapist (CCST) and recently became EMDR-Trained. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling from St. Edward's University and her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Texas State University. 

Suzanne has and continues to work closely with students who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events, as well as students with learning differences, behavioral challenges and autism. 

Good to Know

This is an in-person training and will not be recorded. Please dress comfortably, bring a water bottle, snacks, and anything else you need to feel comfortable in a classroom setting for the duration of our training.

To receive contact hours, participants must attend the full presentation and complete the post-presentation evaluation.

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

We are committed to making continuing education more readily available so therapists from all backgrounds have the tools and expertise to provide relevant and nuanced care with awareness and sensitivity. Please choose the enrollment option that applies to you and your circumstances.

ENROLLMENT RATE
$65

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. 

COMMUNITY RATE
$55

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.

Enrollment is Now Closed

Training FAQ

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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™.

  • No partial CE credit is available. Attendees must be present for the entire duration of the learning session and complete all requirements.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • A replacement CE certificate can be obtained for a $25 administrative fee. Please reach out to hello@ensemblelearningcenter.com to request an additional copy.