NCAPT Spring 2026 Conference, March 6th - 7th
Two days of connection, learning, and professional growth in the field of play therapy on the beautiful campus of Appalachian State University.
Join Us for a Weekend of Learning & Connection!
Kick off Friday at 9:00 AM with a full day of hands-on learning, laughter, and inspiration, available in-person or virtually. Keep the momentum going on Saturday with three hours of engaging sessions and time to connect—again, join us from anywhere or in person! Whether you’re seasoned or just starting out, you’ll gain practical tools, evidence-based strategies, and fresh insights to support online clinical work with children and families.
And it’s not all work! NCAPT is making space for fun, connection, and community with casual meet-ups with colleagues across the state.
Learn. Connect. Grow. Have fun. Don’t miss this chance to be part of something meaningful—whether you join us virtually or in-person!
Presentations
Play Therapy with Digital Natives
Virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ Supervision
Virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ Supervision
Friday, March 6, 2026
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
(6 hours)
This workshop encourages a perspective-taking stance, supporting play therapists in moving beyond hesitation or uncertainty around digital tools and toward thoughtful engagement with the worlds children bring into play therapy. Through guided discussion, case examples, and hands-on explora
Friday, March 6, 2026
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
(6 hours)
This workshop encourages a perspective-taking stance, supporting play therapists in moving beyond hesitation or uncertainty around digital tools and toward thoughtful engagement with the worlds children bring into play therapy. Through guided discussion, case examples, and hands-on exploration of virtual platforms and digital tools, play therapists will build confidence and competence in their clinical application.
Play therapists will explore Digital Play Therapy™ as a natural extension of play therapy practice and examine how core play therapy concepts such as symbolism, thematic play, roles, and the therapeutic powers of play emerge within digital worlds. Rather than focusing on technology itself, the emphasis is placed on understanding how children use digital spaces to communicate, cope, and create, and how therapists can apply play therapy frameworks to conceptualize and
respond to this play in clinically meaningful ways.
Virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ Supervision
Virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ Supervision
Virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ Supervision
Saturday, March 7, 2026
12:30 pm - 3:45 pm
(3 Hours)
This training will highlight the central role of the play therapy supervisory relationship, emphasizing safety, attunement, and collaboration as supervisees navigate complex digital clinical work. Practical guidance will be provided for structuring virtual supervision, offering feedback, a
Saturday, March 7, 2026
12:30 pm - 3:45 pm
(3 Hours)
This training will highlight the central role of the play therapy supervisory relationship, emphasizing safety, attunement, and collaboration as supervisees navigate complex digital clinical work. Practical guidance will be provided for structuring virtual supervision, offering feedback, and supporting supervisees’ clinical growth. Through didactic teaching, group discussion, reflective exercises, and experiential learning, play therapy supervisors will leave with concrete strategies, supervision exercises, and guiding frameworks to support ethical, culturally responsive, and developmentally informed supervision in virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ practice.
As virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ therapy continue to expand, supervisors are increasingly called upon to guide play therapists in training in therapeutic spaces that look and feel fundamentally different from traditional in-person work. Supervising virtual and Digital Play Therapy™ requires not only clinical expertise, but also an intentional awareness of how technology, culture, bias, and perspective shape both therapeutic and supervisory processes. This training is designed to support play therapy supervisors in strengthening their competence, confidence, and reflective capacity when supervising play therapy delivered through virtual
platforms and within digital spaces. Emphasis will be placed on identifying and illuminating
potential blind spots that can arise in digital contexts, such as assumptions about technology use, comfort levels, digital cultural influences, and generational differences. Play therapy supervisors will be encouraged to engage in perspective-taking and reflective awareness to better understand how their own experiences, biases, and preferences may influence supervision in digital spaces.
Meet your Speaker
Rachel Altvater, Psy.D., RPT-S™
Who she is and what she does!
- Owner, Creative Psychological Health Services
- Clinical Consultant, Hopscotch
- Author, Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities
- Published researcher and contributing author in numerous scholarly journal articles and textbooks
- International speaker on incorporating digital tools and virtual methods into play therapy practiceVolunteer
Service to the Play Therapy Community
- Past President, Maryland/DC Association for Play Therapy
- Editorial Advisory Board Member, International Journal of Play Therapy®
- Board of Directors, Foundation for Play Therapy
- Advisory Board Member, PlaySpace
Awards
- Professional Awards: 2023 Outstanding Service Award (MD/DC APT), 2019
- Emerging Leader Service (APT), 2018 Distinguished Alumna of the Year (TCSPP-DC), 2018
- Outstanding Play Therapy Research (MD/DC APT) us for the North Carolina
For more information on Rachel Altvater, Psy.D., RPT-S™ click on picture!