Program Details

Dates
March 2026
3/26, 3/27, 3/28

Training Format
Live In-Person

Location
Children's Trauma Healing Center
Turnersville, NJ

Presenter
Demi Banchs, MA, LPC, RPT™
Demi Banchs CV 

Program Description

This program explores the transformative impact of child-led play therapy, emphasizing how allowing children to direct the play fosters emotional expression, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills. Participants will learn practical strategies to create a safe, supportive environment that encourages child-led exploration. The program also highlights the theoretical foundations that underpin child-led approaches, helping therapists understand the evidence-based principles that guide this work.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the three central constructs of person-centered theory—phenomenal field, self, and person—and analyze their relevance within the context of play therapy.
  2. Describe the four "Be With" attitudes proposed by Dr. Garry Landreth.
  3. Explain the role of state-dependent functioning in play therapy and how it influences a child’s capacity for engagement, connection, and integration.
  4. Describe how principles of neuroplasticity support the use of child-led play as a developmentally appropriate and healing intervention.
  5. Apply the principle of specificity to select play therapy interventions that directly support the child’s current neurodevelopmental and emotional needs.
  6. Recognize behavior as a form of communication and demonstrate how to respond with curiosity and attunement rather than control or correction.
  7. Identify the steps to providing an attuned therapeutic response in the playroom.
  8. Discuss multicultural considerations in playroom setup, including how materials, language, and environment can reflect and honor a child’s identity and lived experience.
  9. Evaluate the importance of therapist self-awareness in child-led play and demonstrate the ability to identify and respond to personal needs to support presence and co-regulation.
  10. Explain the benefits of child-led play therapy.


CE Credit

Play Therapy
18 APT Contact CE Credits

This event is sponsored by Children’s Trauma Healing Center. Children’s Trauma Healing Center is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy (APT Approved Provider No. 24-749).

Play therapy credit available to mental health professionals & graduate students in a mental health program.

Play Therapy Primary Areas of Instruction

  • Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
  • Play Therapy Skills and Methods
  • Play Therapy Special Topics
  • Play Therapy Cultural and Social Diversity Topics


Social Work
18 Clinical CE Credits
This course, Follow the Leader: The Power of Child-Led Play Therapy,  Approval #12042024-01, provided by Demi Banchs Training and Consulting, a division of Children's Trauma Healing Center, LLC is approved for continuing education by the New Jersey Social Work Continuing Education Approval Collaborative, which is administered by NASW-NJ. CE Approval Collaborative Approval Period: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 through August 31, 2026. New Jersey social workers will receive 18 CE credits for participating in this course.


Please contact us with any questions regarding continuing education credit eligibility.

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

Individuals needing special accommodations, please contact us, [email protected].

Discount Opportunities

We’re committed to making high-quality training accessible to those supporting children and families. A limited number of discounted registrations are available for the programs listed. All discounts require approval prior to registration and must be obtained by contacting us directly.

Group Discount
For teams from the same organization:
10% off for groups of 3–4 participants
15% off for groups of 5 or more participants

To qualify, participants must register together.

Student Discount
Students currently enrolled in a master’s-level graduate program in a mental health profession (e.g., professional counseling, school counseling, social work) are eligible for a 15% discount. 

Proof of current enrollment is required.

Service-Based Discount
Therapists are eligible for a 20% discount if they meet any of the following:

  • Accept Medicaid clients
  • Work in a nonprofit setting clinically serving children and families
  • Serve as a school counselor or social worker in a Title I school


Verification of employment or licensure status may be requested.


To inquire about a group, student, or service-based discount, please contact us, [email protected], prior to registering. If approved, you’ll receive a custom discount code to apply at checkout.

Discounted spots are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: Discounts cannot be combined. If eligible for multiple discounts, the highest applicable discount will be applied. Previously provided coupons for attending workshops cannot be combined with other discounts.

Payment Plans Available

A 3-month payment plan is available for those who prefer to pay in installments. 
A 5% processing fee, calculated based on the original registration fee before any discounts are applied, will be added to the total. 
The first payment is due at the time of registration, with the remaining two payments scheduled monthly.
All payment plans must be requested and approved in advance, and no later than 5 months prior to the program start date.

Reach out to [email protected] for payment plan approval.