Wisconsin Association for Play Therapy
Growing together through the power of play
“Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child's natural medium of self-expression. It is an opportunity which is given to the child to 'play out' his feelings and problems just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual 'talks out' his difficulties.”~Virginia Axline
About
Welcome to the official website for the Wisconsin Association for Play Therapy branch! Here you will find all the latest details for conferences, events, trainings, opportunities to connect with your branch, and play therapy resources for therapists and caregivers.
Contact
You can contact us at:
[email protected]Or follow us on social media!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064351492674Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisconsinapt/
About the WI APT BoardPresident: Kathryn Hector, MA, LPC/LPCC, RPT™Vice President: Brittany Massengale Houin, PhD, LPC, RPT™Treasurer: Isabelle Wangerin, MA, LPCSecretary: Connie Eller, MS, LPC, CCPTSocial Media Coordinator Kimberly Hagmann, MS, LPC-IT
Upcoming TrainingsAnnual Conference
Date: Friday March 6th, 2026
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Location:
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704You Can Register via our Evenbrite Page (copy and past link): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-wisconsin-association-for-play-therapy-conference-registration-1980748541207?aff=oddtdtcreatorThis is a two part conference. You are welcome to join us for either the morning or evening session (we hope you will join us for both!).Note our Annual Meeting will be held over the included lunch for an opportunity to connect and meet with your board and fellow WI play therapists!Pricing$200 for both sessions, lunch included
$100 for both sessions, lunch included (Students)
$120 for individual sessions, lunch includedRegister via our Evenbrite Page:Session 1: 9:00 am to 12 pmPlay Therapy as Refuge: Affirming LGBTQ+ Youth & FamiliesLGBTQ+ youth and their families are navigating intensified sociopolitical stressors that increase fear, concealment, and minority stress; often surfacing directly in play themes, family conflict, and school-related concerns. This interactive, intermediate-level workshop equips play therapists to build affirming and protective clinical spaces through culturally responsive language, microaggression repair, playroom/environment adaptations, and caregiver engagement strategies. Participants will complete a self-reflection activity on therapist “lenses,” use an inclusivity checklist to identify practice improvements, and develop a caregiver support plan with concrete resources. Attendees leave with ready-to-use interventions and implementation commitments.This workshop content and activities are intended to fulfill the requirement for two (2) continuing education Cultural & Social Diversity hours specific to play therapy.Theoretical Basis: Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)Workshop Objectives:
Following the workshop, participants will be able to:1- Evaluate personal countertransference and bias by completing the “Check Your Lenses” self-reflection and identifying two in-session strategies to reduce harm.2- Assess their play therapy practice for affirming and protective care by completing an inclusivity checklist and selecting three concrete improvements across language, environment, and clinical routines.3- Develop a caregiver engagement plan that includes three affirming resources to increase family support and resilience for LGBTQ+ youth.Session Two 1pm to 4pm:Beyond the Mask: Neurodiversity-Affirming Play Therapy in PracticeNeurodivergent youth often enter play therapy after repeated experiences of misunderstanding, pressure to “act typical,” and navigation of systems that prioritize compliance over connection. This interactive, intermediate-level workshop equips play therapists to provide neurodiversity-affirming care by reframing behavior as communication, tailoring the playroom for sensory and regulation needs, and strengthening stakeholder (guardians, families, schools) communications around accommodation, autonomy, and attachment. Participants will practice affirming therapist language, design an inclusive playroom plan, and apply case vignettes to identify treatment targets, accommodations, and advocacy steps across home and school systems. We also address how current misinformation and media narratives can impact caregiver beliefs, anxiety, and goals. This workshop content and activities are intended to fulfill the requirement for two (2) continuing education Cultural & Social Diversity hours specific to play therapy.Theoretical Basis: Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)Workshop Objectives:
Following the workshop, participants will be able to:1- Define neurodiversity from an affirming framework and identify at least three neurodivergent presentations commonly observed in play therapy.2- Assess their play therapy practice for inclusivity and access by selecting at least three concrete adaptations to the playroom and session structure that increase engagement and regulation.3- Apply case vignettes to develop an advocacy and collaboration plan that includes two accommodations and one communication and coordination step with caregivers and schools to support the child across systems.About the PresentersBrittany Massengale Houin, PhD, LPC, RPT (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in Counselor Education at Viterbo University and Vice President of the Wisconsin Association for Play Therapy. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Wisconsin and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) with clinical experience across school-based services, private practice, and crisis/inpatient settings, and she provides clinical supervision.Brittany has presented at state, regional, and national conferences on affirming clinical care with LGBTQ+ youth and families and on neurodiversity-affirming play therapy. Her scholarship focuses on child-centered play therapy and academic outcomes, professional identity development, and incorporation of expressive arts into teaching, supervision, and clinical work. She is committed to accessible, culturally responsive training that equips clinicians with practical and applicable tools.Cameron Houin, PhD, LPC, RPT, NCC (they/them) is the Director of the Counselor Education Department, which encompasses three graduate programs: MS in Mental Health Counseling, MS in School Counseling, and EdD in Counselor Education and Supervision. Dr. Houin is tenured with teaching experience at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. They are a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist with clinical experience in college counseling, school-based mental health counseling, and private practice, in addition to work with the LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse populations.Dr. Houin’s research agenda includes topics such as social justice, intersectionality, identity development, and expressive and experiential techniques in Counselor Education and Supervision. They have presented at regional, national, and international counseling conferences. Additionally, they serve on the Institutional Review Board and the Social Justice and Equity committee for Viterbo University. Outside of work, they are passionate about plants and gardening, their three dogs, and anything related to creative expression.Please sign up via our Evenbrite Page (copy and paste link): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-wisconsin-association-for-play-therapy-conference-registration-1980748541207?aff=oddtdtcreatorWe can't wait to see you there!
Become a Registered Play Therapist™Becoming a Registered Play Therapist™ is a huge accomplishment and demonstrates commitment to the field of play therapy. If you are interested in becoming a Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor™ (RPT-S™) please check out the Association For Play Therapy's page. There you can explore the needed licensure, education, supervision, and clinical hours that are needed to be credentialed through APT.Want to learn more about becoming a Registered Play Therapist™? Visit APT’s Credentialing Homepage today!
APT Credentialing Page: https://www.a4pt.org/page/CredentialsHomepage
Become a Member of APTInterested in joining APT and the Wisconsin APT branch? We invite you to review a list of Member Benefits, then Join APT!To become a member of APT go to their website: https://www.a4pt.org/page/MembershipFAQs
Wisconsin Branch:
https://www.a4pt.org/members/public_profile.asp?id=706121855
ResourcesLooking for information on parenting and play therapy? Check out APT Parent's Corner:
https://www.a4pt.org/page/ParentsCornerHomePagLooking for a Registered Play Therapist™? We invite you to search the Association for Play Therapy Find a Play Therapist directory.https://www.a4pt.org/search/custom.asp?id=3571