BC Play Therapy Association holds workshops throughout the year to help advance the education of Play Therapy Practitioners and related professions. These usually revolve around a specialized speaker teaching a subject of importance to the advancement of play therapy as a therapeutic practice.

12 NON-Contact CEs/NON-Contact CEUs for APT

12 LIVE WEBINAR CEs/CEUs for CAPT

For BCPTA credentialing or renewal this training can be counted as 12 Contact CE Credit Hours.

A certificate of completion will be provided based on attendance with your video on throughout the duration of the workshop and successful completion of a post-test and an evaluation component.

*This ONLINE workshop will NOT be recorded*

EARLY BIRD PRICING of 15% OFF until September 15th, 2025

Beyond the Trauma Basics: Comprehensive Sexual Abuse Therapy for Children and Youth

*Live ONLINE Workshop*

Presented by Kaela Blahey, MA, RCC, SE™ Practitioner in Training

12 NON-CONTACT CEs/CEUs for APT

12 LIVE WEBINAR CEs/CEUs for CAPT

For BCPTA registration or renewal this training can be counted as 12 Contact Continuing Education Credit Hours

Two-Day Online Workshop

Friday & Saturday, October 17 & 18, 2025, 9:00am – 4:30pm

A Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the event

Workshop Description:

Sexual abuse (SA) continues to be a prevalent and devastating social issue with far reaching implications on the lives of children and youth. For this reason, the vast majority of counsellors and Play Therapists, at some point in their career, will be called on to support a child or youth who has experienced sexual abuse. Despite this, even some of the most experienced counsellors doubt their skills and knowledge when faced with working with this population. Many clinicians have spent years developing thoughtfully integrated therapeutic approaches through extensive Play Therapy training, and learning more about trauma and its impact on our clients–yet, without specialized training in sexual abuse therapy, this doubt still remains.

This workshop aims to alleviate this doubt by going beyond the basics of trauma and Play Therapy and stepping into the niche treatment areas of comprehensive sexual abuse therapy for children and youth. Participants are expected to already have a fundamental understanding of both Play Therapy and trauma before attending the workshop.

We will cover a broad range of topics unique to the field of sexual abuse therapy, including:

•      The impacts of grooming on therapeutic work
•      Sexual behavior problems
•      Sibling sexual abuse
•      Internet safety and pornography
•      Childhood masturbation

Each topic will be exemplified through a blend of case studies and experiential learning and examined through the lens of individual work with children/youth and their caregivers, clinical process elements, and broader social systems that directly influence therapeutic work. We will draw upon your existing knowledge base and apply it to the specialized work of sexual abuse therapy–empowering you to recognize the tools and wisdom you already possess while learning how to confidently apply your knowledge in new ways.

Initiated through BCPTA’s desire to honour local not-for-profit knowledge and experience, this workshop acknowledges that the experience of front-line clinicians working alongside clients with complex needs is valuable and worth sharing.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in this workshop, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to:

•      Define the impacts of childhood sexual abuse on children and the clinicians who work with them
•      Identify key psychoeducational elements to effective SA therapy
•      Understand how trauma responses can be uniquely shaped by sexual abuse
•      Learn tools for working with dissociation
•      Recognize grooming and its implications on the therapeutic process and relationship
•      Support caregivers of children and youth who have been sexually abused
•      Understand sexual abuse prevention education throughout the developmental stages
•      Identify and respond to different sexual abuse disclosures
•      Learn how to work with cases of suspected sexual abuse
•      Recognize and respond to sexual abuse themes that emerge through play
•      Develop an understanding of some of the behaviors unique to children who have experienced sexual abuse both inside and out of the playroom (e.g., self-stimulation)
•      Understand what sexual behavior problems are and their link to sexual abuse
•      Learn how to support clients who are involved in the criminal justice system
•      Learn to navigate cases that are involved with the criminal justice system (e.g., being subpoenaed, testifying in court)

WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM ATTENDING:

Play therapists, children’s counsellors, family therapists, family counsellors, psychologists, social workers, school counsellors, and other mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families will benefit from this training. Participants are expected to already have a fundamental understanding of both Play Therapy and trauma before attending the workshop.

About the Presenter:

Kaela (she/her) has experience providing clinical counselling for a broad range of mental health challenges facing children, youth and parents. Kaela is passionate about advocating for the wellbeing of children and has devoted her career to a specialization in clinical counselling with children, youth, and adults who have experienced sexualized violence, emotional and physical abuse, neglect and children with sexual behaviour problems.

Kaela has extensive play therapy experience and training, has taught master’s level classes, and has experience working within, and an understanding of, the criminal justice system. Kaela has received advanced level training in both EMDR and Somatic Experiencing. To learn more, please go to https://www.illumecounselling.com/

Should you have any questions about this workshop, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@bcplaytherapy.ca

Schedule for the Workshop:

Friday & Saturday, October 17 & 18, 2025