Once Upon a Playtime: Using Bibliotherapy to Enrich Child-Centered Play Therapy

Stories have the power to heal, inspire, and transform the way children understand themselves and the world around them. Child centered play therapy provides children with a developmentally appropriate way to express emotions, process experiences, and build resilience. This workshop explores how play therapists can incorporate bibliotherapy into play therapy while maintaining a child-centered, non directive approach. Participants will learn how to identify therapeutic books, apply bibliotherapy techniques that align with child centered play therapy principles, and utilize storytelling interventions to support emotional expression and self-concept. Additionally, the workshop will cover strategies for guiding parents in selecting and using books at home to reinforce the play therapy treatment plan, fostering continued emotional growth beyond the therapy room. Through interactive discussions and experiential activities, participants will leave with practical

strategies to integrate bibliotherapy effectively into their play therapy process and support parental involvement.

Objectives:

1. Describe the role of bibliotherapy in play therapy and how it aligns with child-

centered play therapy principles.

2. Identify key criteria for selecting developmentally appropriate books that support

therapeutic goals in play therapy.

3. Demonstrate techniques for utilizing bibliotherapy in a way that maintains the

child-led nature of child centered play therapy to enhance emotional expression and self-concept in children.

4. Implement strategies for guiding parents in selecting and utilizing books at home to reinforce the play therapy treatment plan.

Topic: Bibliotherapy and Play Therapy

Presenter: Sarah Harig, MS, LPC, RPT-S

Date/Time: Friday, May 9th, 2025 from 9am-12:15pm

Cost: $75.00, $85.00 regular pricing, $95.00 late registration

Student: $35.00 (With VALID ID). Send to paige@crossroadsfamilycc.com for verification. 

About the Presenter

Sarah Harig is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. With over a decade of experience providing therapy to clients with a variety of backgrounds and presenting concerns, Sarah’s expertise includes using creative, developmentally appropriate, and evidence-based therapy approaches like Child Centered Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Sand Tray to help clients express themselves and work through challenges.

Sarah is deeply committed to serving children and the power of play therapy and holds a strong desire to expand access through training and supervision of the next generation of play therapists and professional counselors. Sarah is also passionate about social justice and its importance in the systems that support mental health.

About virtual Crossroads Trainings:

Please visit our website for more information!

This will be a virtual meeting. Participants must be present (visible) for the entire training and will be awarded contact CE upon successful completion of a post test.

This one-time online event has been approved by both NBCC and APT 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.

Class Size Limited to 50 Participants.

Attendance Monitoring and Post Test Requirement: In order to monitor attendance, ensure participation, and receive CE credit, attendees are required to attend the full training, maintain their video camera "ON" throughout the duration of the workshop and complete a post-test within 2 weeks of the training. 



Registration forms and instructions available at www.crossroadsfamilycounselingcenter.com. For questions, please email paige@crossroadsfamilycc.com. Space is limited for each training and is not secured until you receive confirmation. No refunds. 

All proceeds will go directly to The Heart Leaf Center, which on average, one training provides 10-15 play therapy sessions per month to underserved children

About The Heart Leaf Center



The Heart Leaf Center provides high quality mental health services using play-based modalities to military, low income, and multicultural children, adolescents and families in northern Virginia. By offering these services we will help eliminate barriers that our families face, including affordability, availability, language, transportation, and insurance.