Training Child and Adolescent Therapists to Integrate Play Therapy & Expressive Arts into Clinical Practice like an Expert.
Cathi Spooner
RPT-S, LCSW
When Play Therapy Feels Unclear…
Learn How to Understand What’s Really Happening in Your Play Therapy Sessions
Play therapy trainings, consultation, and community for play therapists who want to confidently understand children’s play, apply neuroscience and attachment theory, and make clear, clinically sound decisions in sessions.
If You’ve Ever Left a Play Therapy Session Thinking…
“What just happened in that session?”
You’re not alone—and it’s not because you need more play therapy activities.
You’re seeing meaningful play, but struggling to understand what it means
You’ve learned play therapy techniques, but feel unsure how to apply them in real time
You want better outcomes for your clients, but don’t feel confident in your clinical decisions
You don’t need more tools.
You need a clear way to understand and interpret play therapy sessions.
A More Effective Way to Learn Play Therapy
At Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training, we help play therapists move beyond surface-level techniques and develop real clinical clarity.
You’ll learn how to:
- Understand children’s play using a neuroscience and attachment-based play therapy approach
- Identify themes and patterns in play therapy sessions (including sand tray therapy)
- Use case conceptualization to guide your treatment planning and play therapy interventions
- Make intentional, theory-driven decisions during play therapy sessions
- Confidently apply what you learn with children and adolescents
Because effective play therapy isn’t about guessing what to do next—
it’s about knowing why you’re doing it.
The Foundation of Our Work
The wisdom of theory for application, with the insights of research, within the context of authentic relationship.
Theory — to help you understand what you’re seeing
Research — to guide intentional clinical decisions
Relationship — where real change happens
Play Therapy Training, Consultation, and Community—
All in One Place
Whether you’re looking for play therapy training, ongoing consultation, or advanced clinical mentorship, you’ll find the support you need to grow your skills and confidence.
Play Therapy Trainings
Experiential, neuroscience-informed play therapy trainings designed to help you understand play, improve outcomes, and confidently work with children and teens.
Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE (PTEC)
An online play therapy community offering consultation, case support, and ongoing learning so you don’t feel alone in your clinical work.
Play Therapy Elevation CIRCLE (PTEC)
An online play therapy community offering consultation, case support, and ongoing learning so you don’t feel alone in your clinical work.
Play Therapy Academy (PTA)
Advanced play therapy training and mentorship for clinicians ready to deepen their skills, strengthen case conceptualization, and practice at a higher level. If you’re pursuing your Registered Play Therapy credential, then PTA will help you accomplish it.
Not ready yet? Start with a free play therapy resource.
Learn from an Experienced Play Therapist and Trainer
Hi, I’m Cathi Spooner, LCSW, RPT-S. I specialize in play therapy for children, adolescents, and families—using an attachment and neuroscience-informed approach to support healing and growth.
After 30+ years of clinical work and training play therapists, I saw a common problem: Play therapists were leaving play therapy trainings inspired… but still unsure how to actually apply what they learned in play therapy sessions. That’s why I created Renewing Hearts Play Therapy Training. Everything here is designed to help you:
- Understand what’s happening in play therapy sessions
- Strengthen your clinical decision-making
- Feel confident in your work with children and teens, including proven strategies to work with parents
Where Are You in Your Play Therapy Journey?
Feeling stuck or second-guessing your play therapy sessions?
Want hands-on, practical play therapy training?
Ready to elevate your clinical skills and confidence?
Feeling stuck or second-guessing your play therapy sessions?
Want hands-on, practical play therapy training?
Ready to elevate your clinical skills and confidence?
What Play Therapists Are Saying About Our Play Therapy Trainings
"I walked away with a more intentional framework for my sessions and greater confidence in my clinical decision-making—especially in how I set expectations with parents and involve them in the process."
Jessica B.
"Cathi has expansive knowledge and experience! She presented excellent material and I really enjoyed learning from and with others participating in the activities."
Kathy R.
"Cathi's personality and use of activities made her training interesting and fun! I am eager to take future courses from her and learn everything I can from her integrated family approach."
Ryan A.
You Don’t Need More Play Therapy Techniques.
You Need Clarity, Confidence, and Support.