LEAPT Cruise 2026 Classes

ALL of the classes offered during the LEAPT cruise of listed below.

Title: What If There Is MORE? Exploring Liminal Thinking through an Adlerian Play Therapy Lens

Presenter(s): Terry Kottman and Dana Holtz

Date: March 28, 2026

Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Description: Liminal thinking and Adlerian play therapy both explore how people understand their inner worlds. Liminal thinking focuses on the thresholds of belief—those in-between spaces where change becomes possible by questioning assumptions and embracing new perspectives. It's about recognizing that what we believe is not always "the truth," but rather a constructed reality that can evolve. Adlerian play therapy explores a child’s lifestyle - the unique way they view themselves, others, and the world - and private logic - an internal set of beliefs and conclusions - to help them make sense of their world and build healthier ways of interacting within it. Through reflective and experiential exercises attendees will identify their “obviouses,” expand “delight loops,” disrupt “doom loops,” and build “double-learning loops” in order to enhance their ability to grow as play therapists and support the growth and healing of their play therapy clients (and their caregivers too).

Contact: 2.0 hours
2.0 hours on Play Therapy Special Topics

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Describe the concept of liminal thinking and core components such as “obviouses,” “delight loops,” “doom loops,” and “double-learning loops.”
2. Discuss the similarities between liminal thinking and the Adlerian play therapy concepts of lifestyle and private logic.
3. Apply the components of liminal thinking discussed in relation to Adlerian play therapy to themselves as play therapists as well as play therapy clients (and caregivers) to enhance overall client health and growth.

***************************************************************************************

Title: Parenting with the Brain in Mind: How to Tailor Play Therapy Parent Consultations Using Neurobiology

Presenter(s): Dalena Dillman-Taylor

Date: March 29, 2026

Time: 8:00am-11:15am

Paragraph description of the class: Advancements in neuroscience provide theoretical and conceptual support for principles and practices of play therapy for young children. These neurobiological underpinnings are helpful in therapists’ work with parents as well. Parent consultation is an integral component of Adlerian play therapy. In this interactive training, the presenter will walk you through the parent consultation process across the four phases of Adlerian play therapy, connecting each phase to neurobiology research. In particular, the presenter will unpack Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) across the four phases of parent consultations. Utilizing the integrated Adlerian play therapy and IPNB framework, the presenter will discuss case examples and show brief video examples to illustrate (a) session progress, (b) resistant parents, and (c) skills unique to connecting with parents of play therapy clients. Come ready to play, gain skills and insight on how to walk alongside parents through the play therapy journey.

Contact: 3.0 hours 
1.5 hours on Play Therapy Special Topics
1.5 hours on Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Name the eight domains of IPNB.
2. Describe at least two parent-specific skills for parent consultations in the play therapy process.
3. Create at least one intervention per phase of AdPT that encompasses IPNB.

***************************************************************************************

Title: Fostering the Adlerian Play Therapy Concept of Social Interest (Discussion Group)

Presenter(s): Amy Holsinger and Dana Holtz

Date: March 30, 2026

Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Description: Gemeinschaftsgefuhl, loosely defined as a sense of community or social interest, is a foundational element of Adlerian play therapy and is an innate human characteristic. While all children possess the innate potential to develop social interest, it must be fostered and developed intentionally through nurturance, guidance, and explicit instruction. Join us for an engaging discussion group focused on promoting social interest, a known protective factor, with children and families in the play therapy process thereby boosting Crucial Cs, fostering resilience, and promoting empathy. Through guided questions and open conversation, participants will have the opportunity to explore the value of social interest and ways to incorporate techniques designed to cultivate social interest in the play therapy process. This session will be lightly facilitated by presenters to encourage respectful dialogue and meaningful exchanges from an Adlerian play therapy perspective.

Contact: 2.0 hours
0.50 hours Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
1.50 hours Play Therapy Skills and Methods

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Explain the Adlerian play therapy construct of social interest.
2. Discuss methods to incorporate social interest into the play therapy process in order to promote connection, belonging, and prosocial behaviors.

***************************************************************************************

Title: Digging in the Sand to Open Doors as a Play Therapist

Presenter(s): Amy Holsinger, Valerie Reyna, and Dana Holtz

Date: March 31, 2026

Time: 8:00am-11:15am

Description: What beliefs are you holding on to that could be getting in your way as a play therapist and impacting your ability to work with clients? This presentation supports play therapists in exploring the governing beliefs (or core beliefs) that shape their lifestyle convictions. Dave Gray explains in Liminal Thinking that governing beliefs give meaning and order to life while generating feelings of self-worth. Through lecture and individual sand tray creation, participants will explore their own governing beliefs that give order and meaning to their life. Sand trays will be used to support play therapists in understanding how their own governing beliefs impact their work in the playroom. Join us as we embark on a journey to enrich the play therapy process by uncovering and shifting play therapists’ governing beliefs that might be getting in their way.

*** Please note a portion of this experience will take place on the beach at Great Stirrup Cay (scheduled port of call) and participants will be asked to bring 10-15 small sand tray miniatures for experiential practice. ***

Contact: 3.0 hours
2.0 hours on Play Therapy Special Topics
1.0 hours on Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Explain the concept of governing beliefs related to the play therapist’s lifestyle convictions.
2. Describe three (3) governing beliefs that act as their core beliefs.
3. Analyze how the identified governing beliefs impact their work with play therapy clients and their families

***************************************************************************************

 Title: The Family Tapestry: Exploring Family Atmosphere and Constellation Through Adlerian Play Therapy

Presenter(s): Erica Wassenaar

Date: March 31, 2026

Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Description: This workshop examines the principles of Adlerian play therapy, highlighting the significance of family atmosphere and family constellation within play therapy sessions. Participants will deepen their understanding of how family dynamics impact a play therapy clients’ behavior and emotional well-being. Through interactive activities, case studies, and experiential exercises, attendees will learn to integrate Adlerian concepts into their play therapy practices to help their clients gain insight into their family’s dynamic. The workshop aims to equip participants with practical tools to assess and enhance family relationships and facilitate effective therapeutic interventions for play therapy clients.

Contact: 2.0 hours
1.0 hour Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories
1.0 hour on Play Therapy Skills and Methods

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Define family atmosphere, including the emotional climate and relational interactions within the family unit that shape a child’s perceptions and experiences.
2. Explain the concept of family constellation and its implications in play therapy and demonstrate how to map family relationships and roles.
3. Design and practice specific Adlerian play therapy interventions that help children express their feelings about their family dynamics, facilitating deeper insights for both the therapist and the family.

***************************************************************************************

 Title: Using Enneagrams with Personality Priorities and Crucial Cs in Adlerian Play Therapy

Presenter(s): Valerie Reyna

Date: April 1, 2026

Time: 8:00am-11:15am

Description We will look at how to discover a person’s Enneagram number and what that can tell us about their lifestyle, personality priorities, and Crucial Cs. We will explore how this can be utilized in the playroom with developing metaphors to encourage the child’s assets.

Contact: 3.0 hours
3.0 hours on Play Therapy Special Topics,

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Identify a client’s Enneagram number.
2. Explain how play therapists can use Enneagrams with the Adlerian concepts of personality priorities and Crucial Cs.
3. Develop a play therapy metaphor to go along with the client’s Enneagram.

***************************************************************************************

Title: Adding Blobs to Your Play Therapy Toolbox

Presenter(s): Amy Holsinger

Date: April 1, 2026

Time: 3:30pm-6:45pm

Paragraph description of the class: What are Blobs and how can I use them? In this session, play therapists will be introduced to Blobs developed by Pip Wilson and illustrated by Ian Long. Blobs use feelings and body language that can be interpreted in hundreds of different ways to enable communication, expression, and understanding. Integrating Blobs in play therapy sessions enables play therapists to build rapport, learn about lifestyle elements, create awareness, and build skills. Participants will leave this session with new skills to immediately use Blobs in their work with children.

Contact: 3 CE hours 
3.0 hours on Play Therapy Skills and Methods

Objectives: Following the workshop, participants will be able to -
1. Describe ways to incorporate Blobs in play therapy sessions to build rapport, learn about lifestyle, create awareness, and build skills.
2. Explain the three (3) levels of Blob question structure used when assessing lifestyle elements in play therapy.
3. Create two (2) play therapy interventions implementing Blobs in Phase 3 to help the client gain awareness.

***************************************************************************************

Offering 18 CE hours Contact

APT Approved Provider 99-055

 

League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists (LEAPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7402. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. League of Extraordinary Adlerian Play Therapists (LEAPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

 

Cruise is to be booked separate from the LEAPT registration.

Cruise info=
-Norwegian Cruise Line
-March 28-April 2, 2026
-Leaving from/Returning to Jacksonville, Florida
-Ports of call = Nassau Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, and Grand Bahama

Once registration is paid in full students will receive contact information for LEAPT's person cruise consultant.  This is needed in order to be considered part of the LEAPT cruise group.   

Have concerns????? Have questions???? Contact Dana Holtz via text at 702-781-3050 or email at LEAPTcruise2026@adlerianplaytherapy.com