Building Blocks: Supporting Social Development Through Group Play Therapy

A New Workshop For Therapists on August 16, 2025

About Building Blocks

Building Blocks is a program I developed in my private practice to address challenges with social behavior in young children. Building Blocks has helped dozens of children overcome social anxiety, mange strong feelings, improve impulse control, follow verbal directions, and feel more comfortable and confident in group settings.

As children born or very young during the pandemic shutdown work their way through preschool and early elementary classrooms, the need for social skill intervention is high. The Building Blocks program is a great solution. It offers a program that is evidence-based, structured yet highly flexible, and able to meet the needs of the moment. Learn to facilitate these groups and become part of the solution.

What You Will Learn

• The critical importance of social skill development in early childhood.
• Neurosequential model of therapy and how it relates to social skill development.
• Framework for offering an effective eight week program for children ages 3-8.
• Games and activities to support development of important skills such as body awareness, impulse control, following visual and verbal cues and emotional vocabulary.
• How to select and create additional activities that are culturally relevant and of interest to a specific group.

Following the workshop, you will be ready to…

• Use the information to develop and lead similar groups at your agency or private practice.
• Work with Katrinca to bring the Building Blocks to a nearby school or clinic.
• Integrate new knowledge and skills into individual and family play therapy.

About Me

I have been providing mental health service to children and families in the Bay Area of over 20 years. Prior to that, I taught preschool 15+ years. The Building Blocks program is a result of bringing the skills and knowledge from these two setting together. In addition to providing group, family and individual play therapy through my private practice, I enjoy teaching others what I know through trainings and consultation.

Who Should Attend?

• This course is designed for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs and pre-licensed associates. It is also appropriate for early childhood educators.
• Price: $210
• 12 CEUs available, additional $25
• 6 hours of play therapy training towards credentialing through Association for Play Therapy for no additional charge.

Only 6 slots available for participants!

Ready to Get Started?

Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
Time: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: 685 14th Street, Oakland 94612

Click the button below to get register for August 16th’s training and read more information on how to register on behalf of another.

Description

WORK TOWARD BECOMING A REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST 

Building Blocks: Supporting Social Skill Development Through Group Play Therapy

DATE, TIME AND LOCATION

August 16, 2025  9:00 AM to 4:30 PM 1 hour lunch, two 15 minute breaks.

684 – 14th Street, Oakland, CA  94612

TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is designed for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs, pre-licensed associates and graduate mental health students.

PREREQUISITES

None

DESCRIPTION

As children born or very young during the pandemic shutdown work their way through preschool and early elementary classrooms the need for social skill intervention is high. This workshop equips play therapists to be part of the solution by offering a structured yet flexible 8 week program for children ages 3-8. Participated can take what they learn and develop their own program or continue to work with Katrinca to provide this program in local pre-schools and clinics. Knowledge and skills also applicable to work in individual and family play therapy.

TRAINER
Katrinca Ford is a licensed marriage and family therapist and Register play therapist/ supervisor. She has been providing play therapy to children and families in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Prior to becoming a therapist, Katrinca worked with children in a variety of settings including 15+ years teaching preschool. Currently Katrinca sees children and families in her office in downtown Oakland. Katrinca enjoys sharing what she knows about children, child development and play therapy with others. She is known for her lively, informative and engaging trainings.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Explain the critical importance of social skill development in early childhood.
2. Explain neuro sequential model of therapy and how it relates to social skill development.
3. Learn a framework for offering an effective eight week program for groups of 3-5 children.
4. Name at least 5 social skills that can be effectively addressed in group play therapy.
5. Learn at least one activity that can address each of the targeted social skills.
6. Learn to select and create activities to address targeted social skills that are culturally appropriate for a specific group.

Continuing Education
Growth Through Play Therapy is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists,1032322, to sponsor continuing education for LMFT’S, LCSW’S, LPCC’S AND LEP’S. They maintain responsibility for this program/course and its content. There is an additional charge of $25 for CEs.

Growth through Play Therapy is an approved provider for the Association for Play Therapy APT 09-241. There is no extra charge for APT educational credits.

Partial credit cannot be offered. This workshop and presenter have no conflict of interest in presenting this workshop, nor is there any commercial support.

ACCOMMODATIONS
To request accommodations for special needs, please email the Program Administrator at kepernet@gmail.com

GRIEVANCES
To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email kepernet@gmail.com or call 510-923-0520

CERTIFICATES

Course Completion certificates will be awarded at the end of the course in exchange for a completed evaluation form. Course meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Growth through Play Therapy is an approved provider for The Association of Play Therapy, 09-241

CANCELLATION POLICY
Full refund if canceled 45 days in advance minus $75 administrative fee; after that date there will be no refund unless space is filled from the waiting list. In the case of insufficient enrollment, the training will be postponed or cancelled and there will be a full refund offered.

QUESTIONS
Contact Katrinca Ford at 925-831-1926 or katrinca@familyplaytherapy.com