.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1209,h:864)
33rd Annual Kentucky Association for Play Therapy Conference
2026 Conference Presentor
2 Day Conference Information
2 Day Conference Information
Dora Henderson is our speaker for the 33rd Annual KY APT Conference! Dora is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S™) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor Qualified Supervisor (LMHC-QS), specializing in integrating the power of play with EMDR and the integration of neuroscience with play therapy. She is also a TraumaPlay™ Supervisor and an EMDR Consultant-in-Training, and the co-host of the Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summit at the Beach. Dora is passionate about helping individuals of all ages heal from traumatic experiences and move towards a happier, healthier life. She has training and certifications in various areas, to include Sand Tray Therapy, TraumaPlay™ , Theraplay®, MAP, Adlerian therapy, as well as the Safe & Sound Protocol. Dora is also the creator of beautiful puppets and books, to including Neuro & the Ception Force Friends™ series, Polly Vagale, Neuro & The Ception Force Friends and The Vagus Nerve Super Highway, as well as the Adventures of Sandi & Clammy series. Her trainings, consultations and supervision, and professional work integrates play, puppetry, expressive arts, and neuroscience in easy-to-use and family-friendly ways.
The Great Nervous System Adventure: An Expedition of Bottom-Up, Top-Down Play and Beyond
Course Description:
This two-day experiential training integrates play therapy theory, neuroscience, and creative interventions to support clinicians in deepening their understanding of the nervous system and its role in emotional regulation and trauma healing. Through engaging activities such as expressive arts, sand tray, sensory stations, and movement-based play, participants will explore the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and clinical play therapy.
Participants will discover how concepts from polyvagal theory and somatic psychology can be translated into developmentally appropriate play therapy practices that support neuroception of safety, co-regulation, and healing. This training offers a blend of hands-on learning and scientific exploration, grounding play therapy interventions in contemporary research. Emphasis is placed on nervous system-informed care, bottom-up integration, and playful approaches to trauma-informed treatment.
By the end of this course, participants will have a strong working knowledge of how to incorporate play therapy tools to support nervous system regulation in children and families, using accessible language, creative techniques, and a clear understanding of the neurobiological foundations of play.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the components and functions of the autonomic nervous system through engaging discussions and interactive play therapy activities
- Explore the principles of polyvagal theory and how they relate to emotional regulation and safety within the context of play therapy
- Demonstrate an understanding of neuroception by participating in play therapy activities that explore how safety is perceived in the nervous system
- Create brain hats as a visual and hands-on play therapy tool to represent different brain functions
- Use playful animal representations in the Neurozoo activity to illustrate how brain systems interact in relation to trauma and behavior
- Apply play therapy techniques that support the rewiring of trauma responses through co-regulation and creative expression
- Integrate somatic practices within play therapy sessions to support emotional healing and healthy attachment
- Identify basic neuronal structures and functions through developmentally appropriate play therapy activities
- Participate in sensory-based experiential learning stations designed to support nervous system regulation through play
- Utilize sand tray techniques as part of a play therapy approach to processing nervous system states and trauma narratives
- Demonstrate movement-based play therapy activities that support co-regulation and help clients embody polyvagal principles
- Reflect on personal and professional experiences throughout the training and identify ways to apply play therapy interventions grounded in nervous system science in clinical practice
2 Day Conference Information
2 Day Conference Information
2 Day Conference Information
APT Approved Provider No. 00-08
CE information:
Continuing Education Credit: 12 contact hours are available for this 2 day event upon completion of the evaluation and signing in and out via Google Forms each day. No partial credit will be given. The evaluation will be provided at the end of the presentation.
NBCC CE's - Kentucky Association for Play Therapy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5789. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Kentucky Association for Play Therapy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Play Therapists - KY-APT is approved by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to offer continuing education specific to play therapy. APT Approved Provider No. 00-081.
Play Therapy credit available to mental health professionals & graduate students in a mental health program