Mindfulness-Based Play Therapy: Foundations and Practice

An Interactive Book Study and Continuing Education

Experience for Play Therapists

and it is FREE

Friday July 25, 2025

10:00am – 12:00pm EASTERN

9:00am – 11:00am CENTRAL

8:00am – 10:00am MOUNTAIN

7:00am – 9:00am PACIFIC

Course Description

Join Lynn Louise Wonders, author of Mindfulness-based Play Therapy for an innovative continuing education experience that goes beyond traditional webinar formats.

This interactive course combines in-depth book study, collaborative roundtable discussions, and engaging presentations to explore the foundational principles of mindfulness-based play therapy with children and families.

In this course participants will engage with Chapters 1-4 of Mindfulness-based Play Therapy: A Transtheoretical and Neurobiological Approach to Psychotherapy with Children and Families through a dynamic learning format that includes:

Interactive Book Study: Deep dive into core concepts with pre-reading assignments, reflection exercises, and group discussions that bring the material to life beyond passive learning, specifically focusing on how mindfulness principles integrate with play therapy practice.

Roundtable Discussions: Facilitated peer dialogue sessions where play therapists share insights, challenge assumptions, and explore real-world applications of mindfulness principles in their play therapy sessions with children and families.

Author-Led Presentations: Engaging lectures that synthesize key concepts, present current research, and demonstrate practical applications through play therapy case examples and experiential exercises designed specifically for play therapy practitioners.

This specialized play therapy training will explore the ancient roots and contemporary understanding of mindfulness, moving beyond popular misconceptions to examine its therapeutic potential within play therapy interventions. Play therapy practitioners will discover how personal mindfulness practice enhances their effectiveness in the playroom, understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness-based play therapy interventions, and learn to leverage mindfulness principles to strengthen therapeutic relationships with young clients and their families within the play therapy context.

Through this comprehensive exploration, play therapists will gain both theoretical understanding and practical skills for integrating mindfulness-based approaches into their play therapy practice, while developing their own contemplative practice as a foundation for more effective play therapy sessions.

Format: Live online session with breakout discussions, interactive exercises, and collaborative learning opportunities designed for play therapy professionals

Duration: 2 Hours

Target Audience: Play therapists, play therapy trainees, and mental health professionals specializing in play-based interventions with children and families

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this play therapy training, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the historical origins and authentic meaning of mindfulness practices, distinguishing evidence-based therapeutic applications from popular culture interpretations in the context of mindfulness-based play therapy with children and families.
2. Demonstrate understanding of how personal mindfulness practice enhances play therapy effectiveness by identifying specific ways contemplative practice impacts play therapist presence, awareness, and therapeutic skills within the play therapy relationship.
3. Explain the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness-based play therapy interventions, including how mindfulness practices affect brain development, emotional regulation, and stress response systems in children and adolescents during play therapy sessions.
4. Apply mindfulness principles to strengthen the play therapy therapeutic alliance with pediatric clients and their families by implementing specific mindfulness-based strategies that enhance attunement, empathy, and collaborative engagement in play therapy relationships.