The Playful Heart Conference: Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, ATR

This workshop explores the role of family play therapy in strengthening attachment, improving family relationships, and helping children with social or emotional difficulties. Participants will learn how systemic, attachment-based, and expressive play therapy approaches—including play, art, and sand therapy—can engage families in meaningful experiential work that promotes empathy, emotional connection, and positive change. Practical family play therapy activities and clinical examples will help clinicians build confidence using creative, dynamic interventions to support healthier family interactions and overall well-being.

Objectives:

1. Define the terms “systemic” or “contextual” family therapy and list two reasons for play therapists to consider dyadic work;
2. Define the rationale for integrating play and family therapy approaches:
3. List three family play therapy activities;
4. Provide two guidelines for the active observation of family dynamics as parents engage in play-therapy activities.

Presenter: Eliana Gil, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, ATR

Where: Moose Lodge 3529 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030

When:Friday, September 25, 2026

Presentation: 9:00 am-12:15 pm (ET)

Cost: Early Bird (ends 8/14 at 11:59pm) $80.00, Regular Rate $90.00

Student: $40.00 (With VALID ID). Send to celeste@crossroadsfamilycc.com 

Target Audience: Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Play Therapists.

Schedule:

9:00-10:30- Presentation on the terms “systemic” or “contextual” family therapy and explanation for two reasons for play therapists to consider dyadic work and the rationale for integrating play and family therapy approaches. 

10:30-10:45 Break 

10:45- 11:30 Will teach 3 family play therapy techniques 

11:30-12:00 Will Provide guidelines for the active observation of family dynamics as parents engage in play-therapy activities.

12:00-12:15 Questions and Answsers

CE's 3 In Person APT, NBCC and ASWB- Social Work CE Credit- Certificates will be issues after completion of a course evaluation at the end of the training.

This in peron event has been approved by APT,NBCC and ASWB for 3.00 CE Hours. This workshop meets APT’s definition of Live Webinar

CFCC is approved by the Association for Play Therapy to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. CFCC maintains responsibility for the program. APT Approved Provider 13-360.

CFCC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7493. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CFCC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

CFCC provider #2347, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 10/04/2025–10/04/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3 general continuing education credits.