Building Powerful Partnerships with Parents, Educators, and Other Grown-Ups in a Child’s World

A 2.5-Day Experiential Play Therapy Retreat 

Children don’t grow and heal in isolation—they are surrounded by a community of grown-ups who shape their world. As play therapists and child-serving professionals, we have the opportunity to strengthen that community by building meaningful partnerships with parents, caregivers, educators, and other important adults in a child’s life.

Play, Partner & Advocate! is an engaging, experiential 2.5-day retreat designed to help participants move beyond simply working with children to creating powerful partnerships around them. Through play therapy experiences, interactive activities, case examples, role plays, and practical tools, participants will explore how collaboration and communication can transform the therapeutic process and create stronger systems of support for children and families.

Together, we will explore how to:

•  PLAY — Use the therapeutic powers of play to strengthen connection, deepen understanding, and support children’s emotional and relational development.
•  PARTNER — Build collaborative relationships with parents, caregivers, teachers, and other grown-ups while navigating differing perspectives, expectations, and concerns.
•  COMMUNICATE — Develop practical strategies for communicating about children in ways that foster trust, reduce defensiveness, and keep relationships at the center of our work.
•  ADVOCATE — Help children’s voices and needs be heard across the systems that surround them while empowering caregivers to become active partners in the healing process.
•  CONNECT — Create a shared circle of support that extends beyond the therapy room and into the child’s everyday world.

Participants will leave with practical strategies, creative interventions, conversation tools, and renewed confidence for engaging the adults in a child’s world. Most importantly, this retreat invites us to consider a powerful question: What becomes possible when the grown-ups in a child’s world learn to play, partner, and advocate together? 

Come ready to PLAY.

Leave ready to PARTNER.

Become a stronger ADVOCATE for children and families.

Presenters:

Dr. Robert Jason Grant – Neurodivergence & Regulation (AutPlay® Therapy) Founder of AutPlay® Therapy, Dr. Grant specializes in neurodiversity-affirming interventions that support co-regulation, sensory-informed care, and clinical adaptation for autistic and neurodivergent clients. Registration: In Person Trainings Page at www.autplaytherapy.com

Dr. Clair Mellenthin – Attachment & Relationship (Attachment Centered Play Therapy) Renowned for her work with children and families, Dr. Mellenthin integrates expressive and attachment-based approaches to help clinicians repair relational ruptures and foster secure connections through play.

Dr. Jessica Stone – Digital Play & Representation (Digital Play Therapy™) Pioneer of Digital Play Therapy™, Dr. Stone explores how technology, co-play, and immersive tools can enhance identity development, self-expression, and therapeutic connection—especially for digitally fluent or marginalized clients.

Continuing Education Credits This retreat includes 16 hours of contact, in-person instruction.  Association for Play Therapy (APT) APT Approved Provider Number 12-318 National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) NBCC ACEP Provider Number 6595 Continuing education hours approved for licensed professional counselors, where applicable. Please check with your licensing board to confirm eligibility. Cancellations and Refunds: For trainings hosted by the AutPlay Therapy Clinic – Robert Jason Grant Ed.D, registration for trainings may be cancelled with a full refund (minus a processing fee) up to 48 hours after registration/payment has been made. Registrations cancelled after that time will not receive a refund, but participants may obtain credit for a future training or home study course.

Dates: July 29-31,2027

Location:

Wine Country Inn, Palisade, CO Nestled among the vineyards of Colorado’s Grand Valley, the Wine Country Inn offers a stunning, serene backdrop for rest and renewal. Attendees can enjoy spacious guest rooms, mountain views, complimentary breakfast, and easy access to the region’s best experiences—all in a boutique hotel environment ideal for learning and connection.

Website: https://coloradowinecountryinn.com Accommodations & Venue Wine Country Inn – Palisade, CO 777 Grande River Drive, Palisade, CO 81526 Stay on site for the full retreat experience! Discounted group room rate: • $175+ Thursday, $200+ Friday & Saturday • Complimentary hot breakfast daily  • Daily wine hour (5–6 PM) • Outdoor pool, spa services, fitness center • On-site restaurants featuring farm-to-table cuisine

RETREAT REGISTRATION

Limit 40 people

What’s Included:

16 hours of live instruction (APT & NBCC credit pending)

All workshop materials

Breakfast daily for those staying at the Wine Country Inn

Lunch provided on Days 1 and 2

Coffee, tea, and water each day

Certificate of completion

Optional Add-On:  Case Consultation Groups ($75) As an optional extended learning opportunity, participants may register for a small-group case consultation with one presenter of their choice. These one-hour groups will offer a focused space to explore clinical material, deepen integration of retreat content, and receive insights aligned with the presenter's area of expertise. Participants may choose ONE group: Dr. Robert Jason Grant – Neurodivergent clients, regulation, AutPlay® Therapy Dr. Clair Mellenthin – Attachment trauma, family systems, relational dynamics Dr. Jessica Stone – Digital Play Therapy™, technology integration, digital expression Spaces are limited (minimum or 4 and maximum or 8 per group) and pre-registration is required. This add-on is ideal for clinicians seeking personalized input and richer clinical connection following the retreat.

If you choose to add this option make sure you choose a group (below) AND add it to your cart before checking out.

Venu Pictures