AutPlay® Therapy Training
March 28, 2025 - March 29, 2025
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Sponsored by:
Presenter: Robert Jason Grant, EdD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S™
I received my Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership (with a research emphasis in leadership qualities of counseling center and clinic directors), my Master’s Degree in Counseling, and my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, families, and adults primarily serving neurodivergent individuals (autism, ADHD, sensory differences, learning disorders, and developmental disabilities). I am the creator of AutPlay® Therapy, an integrative family play therapy framework designed to help address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children and adolescents. I am also trauma informed and trained and utilize EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
I am a supervisor, consultant, and life coach and I utilize several years of advanced training and my own lived neurodivergent experience to provide affirming services to children and their families. I have infused my experience and love for education and mental health care to create training programs for professionals and caregivers. I am 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. I am also a multi-published author of several articles, book chapters, and books including the following titles:
The AutPlay® Therapy Handbook: Integrative Family Play Therapy with Neurodivergent Children
Understanding Sensory Differences: A Neurodiversity Affirming Guidebook for Children and Teens
Understanding Autism: A Neurodiversity Affirming Guidebook for Children and Teens
Understanding ADHD: A Neurodiversity Affirming Guidebook for Children and Teens
Implementing Play Therapy with Groups: Contemporary Issues in Practice
Play Therapy Theories and Perspectives: Diversity of Thought in the Field
In 2015, I was awarded Play Therapist of the Year by the Missouri Association for Play Therapy. In 2017, I was presented with the APT Service Award by the National Association for Play Therapy. I am currently serving as past chair on the board of directors for the Association for Play Therapy and am a board member for the Digital Play Therapy program. I am also a part time instructor in the Play Therapy Certificate program at Mid America Nazarene University (MNU).
For speaking, training, and consultation inquires, you may contact me at (417)-755-9042 for more information. You may also email me at drgrant@robertjasongrant.com.
Agenda: March 28 & 29, 2025
8:15 am – 8:45 am: Registration
8:45 am – 10:15 am: Training
10:15 am – 10:30 am: Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Training
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm: Lunch (on your own)
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Training
2:45 am – 3:00 pm: Break
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Training
Location: Oklahoma City University Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel Watson Lounge (Lower Level) 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Description: This is an intensive 12 hr training that focuses on teaching the AutPlay Therapy framework – a diversity understanding for implementing play therapy with neurodivergent children (autistic, ADHD, sensory differences, learning differences, developmental disabilities, etc.) and their families. The AutPlay Therapy framework highlights neurodiversity affirming and informed constructs within the therapeutic powers of play and seminal play therapy theories and approaches. Emphasis is placed on understanding and addressing mental health needs for neurodivergent children and adolescents. This training provides awareness for the play therapist in working with neurodivergent children and adolescents and how to be in healthy, safe, and affirming therapeutic relationship. Participants learn how to conceptualize the neurodivergent child’s spectrum of presentation and how to assess for needs (therapy goals). AutPlay inventories and worksheets will be highlighted along with how to affirmingly include parents and children as partners in the play therapy process. Concepts will be covered and explored through experiential play interventions designed to address therapy goals. The three general therapy phases in play therapy implementation will be covered which include intake and assessment, structured play interventions (theory and approach selection), and termination. Affirming understanding of neurodivergent play and regulation and dysregulation concepts will be covered. The AutPlay Therapy Follow Me Approach (FMA) is explained which details how to work with children with little to no engagement and attunement ability creating integrative play therapy to improve connection and relationship development. Several play therapy interventions are explained and demonstrated through session video clips. Experiential activities are presented, and case conceptualization and planning are discussed. Once you have registered for the training, you will be emailed a pre-training form with a few instructions before your two-day in-person training. The instructions include processes for completing the full AutPlay certification program. This includes instructions for purchasing and reading the book The AutPlay Therapy Handbook: Integrative Family Play Therapy with Neurodivergent Children by Robert Jason Grant and watching the recorded webinar – Introduction to AutPlay Therapy.
Learning Objectives:
1) Explain neurodiversity and the neurodiversity paradigm as it relates to play therapy work.
2) Conceptualize the foundational principles of being neurodiversity informed and affirming related to play therapy.
3) Conceptualize integrative play therapy processes for individualizing therapy approach.
4) Describe common mental health goals for neurodivergent children addressed through play therapy.
5) Identify several structured play therapy interventions to use for addressing therapy goals.
6) Implement the three overarching phases of play therapy (AutPlay Therapy framework) – intake and assessment, structured intervention (play therapy theory/approach selection), and termination.
7) Discuss how to affirmingly involve parents and children as partners in the play therapy process.
8) Describe the AutPlay model of regulation/dysregulation.
9) Identify play therapy interventions to address dysregulation needs (creating a regulation play time).
10) Implement the AutPlay Follow Me Approach, designed for children with higher support needs.
11) Explain common neurodivergent play presentations as manifested in play therapy work.
12) Understand the diversity complexities and concepts present when implementing play therapy with neurodivergent children.
RPT CE Hrs Categories: Book Certificate – The 8 hrs can count as any combination of 4 toward cultural and social diversity, 2 toward seminal theories, 2 toward skills and methods or all 8 in special topics or applicants’ choice.
Introduction to AutPlay recorded webinar – The 4 hrs can count as any combination of 2 toward cultural and social diversity, 2 toward seminal theories, or all 4 in special topics or applicants’ choice.
Two Day 12 Hr Training – Any combination of 6 toward cultural and social diversity, 4 toward seminal theories, 2 toward skills and methods, or all 12 toward special topics or applicants’ choice.
The 12 in-person CEs from this two day workshop are approved for the State of Oklahoma LMFT/LPC/LCSW boards and APT. CEs will only be awarded to LMFT, LPC, & LCSW licensure within the State of Oklahoma. For other states, check with your state board.
APT Approved Provider 17-491
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Cost: Early Bird (Before December 31, 2024): $499 + processing fees
General Admission: $575 + processing fees
Admission closes on March 23, 2025
Cancellation Policy:
• If OPTTI cancels a training, we will refund registration fee or participant can decide to use that as a credit to an upcoming training.
• Individual course cancellations for this training received more than 14 days prior to scheduled training are refundable less a $50 administrative fee.
• Cancellations received within 14 days prior to this training will be refunded 50% of cost and no refunds will be given within 7 days prior to the training.
• Missed training (no shows) will not be given a refund.
• Must attend entire training, partial CE credit is not available.