“It is a happy talent to know
how to play”
WVAPT April-June Quarterly
Newsletter
Hello All! We hope that everyone enjoyed the WVAPT Spring
Conference and look forward to seeing everyone at the Fall
Conference!
WVAPT Spring Conference
At our Spring Conference this past April we learned
from Beth Hughes Noone about the impact that
trauma has on a young child’s brain and how Play
Therapy is able to
effectively treat trauma
in a non-threatening
manner. We also
learned effective play
therapy techniques such
as the use of sand tray,
art, and role play can be
applied to help traumatized children. WVAPT
would like to express our appreciation to Beth
Hughes Noone for her inspiring presentation. Her
years of
experience,
paired with her
experiential
teaching style,
created a
wonderful,
open forum style conference, that we believe was
beneficial to all! Her depth of understanding of Play
Therapy, and her ability to present the subject in
such an interesting way produced a memorable
Conference!
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Member News
Our complete member list is as follows: (If you do not
see your name below and you are a member of the
Association please email us at [email protected] so
that we may look into it)
Alecia N. Allen
Kathryn Lebby
Tiffany Blair
Mary Longmore-Gable
Laura Blake
Liz M. Lundberg
Shawnna Bowles
Stephanie D. Majetich
Fonda Burton
Tamara Miller
Phyllis Butsch
Lorie Mullan
Michelle Comer
Robert Noone
Sara A. Cooney
Megan L. Parker
Misti Cutlip
Gail Shade
Ann DiMarco
Helen Skormisley
Michalene Ebbert
Marilyn Smith
Eileen Elliott
MaryEllen Vandenberg
Sharon Govotsos
Charlene Vincent
Patricia Grady
Kimberly Waibogha
Regina Grant
Jennifer L. Welker
Margaret Griffiths
Kimberly White
Jennifer Grimmett
Theresa Williams
Katrina Jefferson
Tracy L. Wolford
Contact Information
WVAPT wants to hear from you! If you or your
organization are promoting
Play therapy, we would love
to hear about it! Email any
information or photos from
events to us at:
[email protected]
Play Therapy is designed to deliver treatment at the functional
stage, level of development and/or level of behavioral
symptoms exhibited when threatened, triggered or stressed.
Cognitive ability, age and/or disability are rarely factors that
impede treatment. Participants learned about the growth and
development of Play Therapy; the populations it serves;
outcomes and research that support the process; several
approaches for use as well as learn and experience three
techniques to take with them.
Trainings
New in Play Therapy Training is our President Katrina
Jefferson and her 3 hour CEU training
designed to explain play therapy
success and draw professional interest
in developing play therapy credentials.
‘How the Little Engine that could is the
Fastest Train to the Brain!’ explains
how play therapy is linked with brain
development and brain function.
During these trainings we learned about the growth
and development of play therapy; the populations it serves;
outcomes and research that support the process; several
approaches for use as well as learn and experience 3
techniques to take with you. You leave this train with tools to
help you and others stay on the track to success.
This training has been presented once already this year and
Katrina is looking forward to securing more dates soon!
Follow WVAPT on Facebook, and check the website often for
the announcement of the official date, time and location!
Play Therapy + TF-CBT = Dynamic Duo of Brain &
Behavior Change
On May 15, 2016 our President Katrina Jefferson and
Association Member Patty Grady presented Play Therapy +
TF-CBT = Dynamic Duo of Brain & Behavior Change.
Participants were provided information about Play Therapy
and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a
lecture format, handouts and power point presentation.
Throughout the presentation, following segments of lecture
and when appropriate, supplies for completing therapeutic and
experiential demonstrations of activities were provided and
carried out with participants.
Play Therapy = Brain Therapy
for Trauma, Behavior and
Disability Treatment.
On April 29, 2016 our President
Katrina Jefferson presented: Play
Therapy= Brain Therapy for
Trauma, Behavior and Disability
Treatment.
Play Therapy success is linked with the neuroscience of brain
functioning and results in behavior change.
“What’s On Your Mind?”
On June 23, 2016 WVAPT President presented “What’s On
Your Mind?” A presentation that describes the neuroscience
of the brain, how we learn and use the keys to success as well
as what blocks learning and shuts and locks the door to
success. Play Therapy is a method of creating safety for the
counselor and child to work together collaboratively to build
new neural pathways, to develop or build self-regulation,
promote learning and increase opportunities for success in the
classroom. Counselors will be able to identify the source/s of
negative and disruptive behaviors and actions that point to
solutions to reduce difficulties in the classroom. Behavior and
neurological changes become evident and can be easily
tracked and measured. Through Play Therapy, counselors will
learn keys to unlock the brain with tools and techniques to
promote safety, trust, communication, emotional literacy, and
learning.
From this session, participants were taught to be able to:
• Increase understanding of play therapy in the school setting
to improve student well-being;
• Identify the source/s of a student’s negative and disruptive
behaviors and actions that point to solutions to reduce
difficulties in the classroom; and
• Apply strategies to unlock the brain through tools and
techniques to promote safety, trust, communication, emotional
literacy, and learning.
Board News
WVAPT has filled the following positions :

President ElectStephanie Majetich

Treasurer ElectMisti Cutlip

Public Relations
Director- Tamara
Miller
*Elect members will shadow current board member for 1 year.
documents a minimum of 600 direct client hours
utilizing play therapy plus 50 hours of
concurrent supervision. A maximum of 25 hours
of the 50 hours of supervision may be in a group
setting. These supervised hours must be
completed during or after the applicant earned
his/her Master’s degree.

New School Based RPT
Position
Credentialing Application Listed Below:

Licensing- Current and active individual state
license or certificate from the State Department
of Education to independently practice as a
school counselor or school psychologist.

Educational Degrees- Master’s or higher mental
health degree with demonstrated coursework in:
child development, theories of personality,
principles of psychotherapy, child & adolescent
psychopathology, and ethics.

Clinical Experience- General clinical experience
required by the State Department of Education
school counselor or school psychologist
license/certification, --plus 2 years of continuous
work in school setting post
licensure/certification

Play Therapy Training- 150 hours of play
therapy specific instruction from institutions of
higher education or APT-Approved Providers
(limit 50 non-contact hours)

Supervised Play Therapy Experience and
Supervision-Applicant for the SB-RPT must be
supervised by an RPT-S for a period of no less
than 1 school year during which the applicant
Renewal Criteria-Annual: Current and active
individual state license or certificate from the
State Department of Education to independently
practice as a school counselor or school
psychologist. CE Cycle (every 36 months): 18
hours of play therapy specific instruction from
institutions of higher education or APT
Approved Providers. Plus (3) three hours of
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
specific training (or diagnosis/psychopathology)
Activities Corner
With summer and warm weather here, the possibilities for
activities are endless! Below are some activities that you
and your clients can enjoy all summer long!
Tie-Dye… Anything!
Tie dying is not just for shirts,
anything light colored can be
transformed into a colorful
project! Pillow cases are a
great alternative to using
shirts, because they involve
less planning as they are one size fits all!
Bubble Art
A sensory oriented suggestion for warmer weather is to
create bubble art with your clients. What you will need:

Canvas or paper

Bubbles

Food coloring
Branches exhibiting superior performance are annually
presented Gold Branch Awards and are identified by the Gold
Branch insignia. To earn a Gold Branch Award, a branch must
earn at least 100 points in these core areas between April and
March:
Just mix up the food coloring with bubbles and let
your clients enjoy blowing their problems away
with breathing exercises and creating unique art
at the same time!
Activities Corner Continued

Membership Growth

Sponsored Play Therapy
Education

Communications (emails,
newsletters, etc) to members

Maintain a percentage of branch members who
hold the RPT, RPT-S or SB-RPT credential

Public Play Therapy Outreach promotions

Other: Active website, social media channels,
award programs, networking events, and the branch
leadership/business meeting at the APT Annual
Conference.
Quarterly Board Report (April, May &
June)
Member Business:




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Another easy activity involves things you can pick up out of
your yard for free!
All you need:


Rocks, sticks, shells, or any other pieces of nature you
can find.
Paper or cardboard cut into a circle
Tell your client to express themselves with lines shapes and
colors that explain how they are feeling, using the pieces
of nature you have gathered.
Gold Branch Status
Two open spaces on board- President and Treasurer
filled at WVAPT Spring Conference.
President Elect: Stephanie Majetich
Treasurer Elect: Misti Cutlip
Board members asked to review and provide editing
notes for website.
Board members asked to look ahead to staffing
opportunities and compile a list of what they would
like to come from this experience.
Conference Planning:








Fall Conference dates discussed including November
4th, 11th, and 18th
Dates dependent on speaker availability.
Location discussion centered around Charleston,
Huntington or Logan
Presenter discussedPossibly Beth Hughes Noone with a new topic or
Katrina Jefferson and Patty Grady
Fall Conference dates discussed including November
4th, 11th, and 18th
Location discussion centered around Charleston or
Huntington
Possible collaboration with WVU discussed
National News:
 National Conference Oct. 4-9, 2016
 WVAPT Branch Leadership will be attending the
leadership class scheduled for Wednesday Oct. 5,
2016
New Business:
 Website update discussed- to include more
information and possible member forum.
 Board discussed consultation staffing with members
who would like to participate following the
conference call.
 Outreach Coordinator to contact members to develop
a list of what we can do for our members.
 Case staffing discussed- create a pre-determined form
to be presented in advance.
 Treasurer Report: Treasurer’s report indicates
financial status remains stable.