Hawai'i Association for Play Therapy - HAPT

02/04/2026

Happy International Play Therapy Week! This is the week to celebrate our play therapists, along with a great week to spread the word about what play therapy is! This week is dedicated to raising awareness of the healing and transformative power of play, spotlighting the important work of play therapy, and honoring the commitment and expertise of our play therapists and credentialed registrants who make an invaluable difference. I would love to see pictures of what play therapy represents to you! I also invite you to visit the A4pt.org website for videos promoting play therapy, as well as links to brochures for the community. Spread the word!

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) is a national professional society established in 1982 to foster contact among mental health professionals interested in exploring and, when developmentally appropriate, applying the therapeutic power of play to communicate with and treat clients, particularly....

01/20/2026

🎉 Registration is NOW OPEN! 🎉

The 2026 HAPT Spring Conference is officially open for registration, and we can’t wait to gather with you!

📅 April 9–10, 2026
📍 Hawaiʻi
🎤 Featured Presenter: Jessica Stone, Ph.D., RPT-S

Join the Hawaiʻi Association for Play Therapy for two days of connection, learning, and experiential play therapy practice. This conference will focus on innovative, creative, and developmentally responsive approaches you can bring directly into your clinical work.

✨ What to expect:
• Experiential and engaging training
• Practical tools for play therapy practice
• Community connection with play therapists across Hawaiʻi and beyond
• Continuing education opportunities

👉 Register now:
🌐 http://www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net/annual-conference.html

Spots are limited — we encourage you to register early! More details about the schedule, venue, and conference experience will be shared soon.

We can’t wait to learn, play, and grow together! 🌈🧸

Thursday & Friday | 🕘9:00 AM – 5:00 PMIncludes morning and afternoon breaks and a lunch break each day.🍽Lunch provided for participants registered by March 26, 2026.

10/28/2025

Happy Birthday to the Hawaiʻi Association for Play Therapy (HAPT)! 🎉

We’re celebrating another year of supporting play therapy across Hawaiʻi — keiki, teens, families, and the clinicians who show up for them. 🌈🧸

Why join HAPT?

🌺 Community & Connection
Play therapy can be beautiful work — and it can also feel isolating. HAPT gives you a local ‘ohana of clinicians who get it. You’re not practicing alone.

🎓 Training & Continuing Education
Members get access to high-quality, culturally responsive trainings in play therapy and child mental health, including opportunities to earn APT-approved continuing education hours toward/maintaining your RPT, RPT-S, or School-Based-Registered Play Therapist credentials.

🌱 Professional Growth
Whether you’re brand new to play therapy or already credentialed, HAPT helps you grow your skills: case consultation, supervision support, and guidance through the RPT / RPT-S process.

🌐 Advocacy for Children & Play
We believe play is not “just play.” Play is how children communicate, process trauma, and heal. By being a member, you’re helping increase awareness and access to developmentally appropriate mental health care for Hawaiʻi’s keiki.

🌊 Local Voice, Local Values
We center aloha, relationship, safety, and cultural humility in our work with children and families here in Hawaiʻi. Membership supports trainings and outreach that reflect our communities — not mainland templates.

If you care about mental health for children and teens in Hawaiʻi, we would love to have you with us this year. 💙

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau, HAPT — and mahalo to every member, past and present, who has helped us grow. 🥳

09/19/2025

Check out this training available, happening in Hawaii! Registration for this training is open to Hawaii residents only until October 1st. We are also offering early bird discounts for this training with $100 off for anyone who registers before October 19th, 2025.

If you are able to share the attached graphic on social media please include the link for registration https://community.theraplay.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1986853&group= or the following text: To register please visit www.theraplay.org and click on calendar

Thank you so much and please let me know if you have any questions,

Jodi Kelloff
The Theraplay Institute
Community Outreach Manager
224 414 3550 x 134 | www.theraplay.org | jodi@theraplay.org

05/16/2025

Have you registered for the training on May 25 on the Big Island yet??? Come learn about incorporating cultural inclusivity into your practice and navigating legal and ethical concerns with families. Incorporating elements of playful pedagogy, the training will be playful and engaging!
🎨🧸 Calling All Play Therapists & Mental Health Professionals! 🌺📚

Join us in beautiful Hilo, Hawai‘i for a unique in-person training:

Rules & Reflections: A Two-Part Training on Ethics & Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
🗓 Sunday, May 25, 2025
📍 Hilo, HI
🧠 Earn 6 APT CE credits (NBCC CEUs available for HCA members)
🌈 Presented by: Dr. Janessa Henninger, LPC, RPT-S & guest facilitator Mekaila Pasco, M.A.

✨ Morning Session (9AM–12PM):
Integrating Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
Explore culturally rooted, community-centered strategies grounded in Hawai‘i’s values. Participate in reflective, experiential activities designed to grow your cultural humility and inclusive practice.

✨ Afternoon Session (1PM–4PM):
Legal & Ethical Responsibilities in Play Therapy
Build confidence in navigating complex legal and ethical scenarios through engaging case studies and practical frameworks.

💵 Rates:

HAPT/HCA Members: $125 full day | $65 half day

Non-Members: $175 full day | $90 half day

Students: $100 full day | $50 half day

🎟 Register now: www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net

Have questions? Email us at HAPTgroup@gmail.com

🌿 This is a beginner-to-intermediate level training, and space is limited—don’t miss this opportunity to grow with the local play therapy community!

 The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use...

05/07/2025

***Date change to May 25th, register now!
Aloha Colleagues,

The Hawai‘i Association for Play Therapy and the Hawai‘i Counseling Association are excited to invite you to an engaging two-part training:

Rules & Reflections: Ethics and Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
Presented by Janessa Henninger, Ph.D., LPC, RPT-S

This interactive training will explore the ethical foundations of play therapy while weaving in culturally responsive practices rooted in Hawai‘i’s values. Whether you're new to play therapy or a seasoned clinician, this training offers practical tools, real-world case discussions, and space for reflection—all in the spirit of growth and connection.

What to Expect:

Part 1: Culturally Sensitive Play Therapy Grounded in Aloha, Lōkahi & Mālama with additional speaker Mekaila Pasco, MA.

Part 2: Legal & Ethical Essentials in the Playroom

The training will take place in-person on Sunday May 25, 2025, Hilo, HI. Address provided post registration. Register at www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net.

05/01/2025

Training postponed to May 25.
Aloha Colleagues,

The Hawai‘i Association for Play Therapy and the Hawai‘i Counseling Association are excited to invite you to an engaging two-part training:

Rules & Reflections: Ethics and Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
Presented by Janessa Henninger, Ph.D., LPC, RPT-S

This interactive training will explore the ethical foundations of play therapy while weaving in culturally responsive practices rooted in Hawai‘i’s values. Whether you're new to play therapy or a seasoned clinician, this training offers practical tools, real-world case discussions, and space for reflection—all in the spirit of growth and connection.

What to Expect:

Part 1: Legal & Ethical Essentials in the Playroom

Part 2: Culturally Sensitive Play Therapy Grounded in Aloha, Lōkahi & Mālama with additional speaker Mekaila Pasco, MA.

The training will take place in-person on Sunday May 25, 2025, Hilo, HI. Address provided post registration. Register at www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net.

04/28/2025

Aloha and Happy Monday!

Don't forget, the Hawai‘i Association for Play Therapy and the Hawai‘i Counseling Association are excited to invite you to an engaging two-part training:
Rules & Reflections: Ethics and Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
Presented by Janessa Henninger, Ph.D., LPC, RPT-S

This interactive training will explore the ethical foundations of play therapy while weaving in culturally responsive practices rooted in Hawai‘i’s values. Whether you're new to play therapy or a seasoned clinician, this training offers practical tools, real-world case discussions, and space for reflection—all in the spirit of growth and connection.

What to Expect:

Part 1: Legal & Ethical Essentials in the Playroom

Part 2: Culturally Sensitive Play Therapy Grounded in Aloha, Lōkahi & Mālama

The training will take place in-person on Sunday May 4, 2025. Register at www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net.
*** Please note, the location has changed. The training will still take place in Hilo. Location to be emailed to you by Wednesday, May 1.

Hope to see you there!

HAPT Board

04/24/2025

🌺 Join Us In Hilo 🌺
Rules & Reflections: A Two-Part Training on Ethics & Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
🧸 Presented by Janessa Henninger, Ph.D., LPC, RPT-S

🗓 Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 🏝 Location to be announced after registration
🕘 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Earn 6 APT CE credits (NBCC CEUs available for HCA members!)

🎯 Morning Session: Legal & Ethical Responsibilities
✔ Explore confidentiality, consent, and mandated reporting
✔ Apply ethical decision-making in real-life scenarios

🌈 Afternoon Session: Culturally Sensitive Play Therapy in Hawai‘i
✔ Rooted in the values of Aloha, Lōkahi, and Mālama
✔ Learn inclusive, community-centered strategies
✔ Participate in reflective, experiential learning

👩‍🏫 Dr. Henninger brings 15+ years of clinical experience and 10 years in counselor education—plus 5 years of work in Hawai‘i, honoring its people and culture.

🎓 Students: $100 full day | 💼 HAPT/HCA Members: $125 | 🎟 Non-Members: $175
🔗 Register now: www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net
📩 Questions? Email: HAPTgroup@gmail.com

✨ Let’s play, reflect, and grow together—ethically and inclusively!

04/12/2025

Aloha Colleagues,
The Hawai‘i Association for Play Therapy and the Hawai‘i Counseling Association are excited to invite you to an engaging two-part training:Rules & Reflections: Ethics and Cultural Sensitivity in Play Therapy
Presented by Janessa Henninger, Ph.D., LPC, RPT-SThis interactive training will explore the ethical foundations of play therapy while weaving in culturally responsive practices rooted in Hawai‘i’s values. Whether you're new to play therapy or a seasoned clinician, this training offers practical tools, real-world case discussions, and space for reflection—all in the spirit of growth and connection.What to Expect:Part 1: Legal & Ethical Essentials in the PlayroomPart 2: Culturally Sensitive Play Therapy Grounded in Aloha, Lōkahi & MālamaThe training will take place in-person on Saturday May 10, 2025 at UH Hilo Campus Center.
Register at www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net.

Hope to see you there!

02/16/2025

The clock is ticking! Have you registered yet???
The 26th annual HAPT Conference is happening on February 20-21 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii in Honolulu! We've invited Georgie Wisen-Vincent, a nationally known play therapy export and co-author of the book The Way of Play to speak for 2 days on The Way of Play: The Dynamic Power of Neuro-based Play Therapy. Attendees can earn up to 12 in-person CEU's from APT.

02/04/2025

Happy New Year HAPT Family and Friends,
I am pleased to announce we will be hosting the 26th annual HAPT Conference on February 20-21 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii in Honolulu! We've invited Georgie Wisen-Vincent, a nationally known play therapy export and co-author of the book The Way of Play to speak for 2 days on The Way of Play: The Dynamic Power of Neuro-based Play Therapy. Attendees can earn up to 12 in-person CEU's from APT.
REGISTRATION
HAPT and HCA Members rate* $275 (2 day) $150 (1 day)
Non-member rates $365 (2 day) and $195 (1 day)
Student rate $200 (2 day) and $100 (1 day)
Register online at HAPT website: www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net
Register by January 21 to have your name entered into special drawing.
*Join APT & HAPT: Joining HAPT now gets you a discount on the conference and other trainings and opportunities. It also enables you to grow professionally through association newsletters, journals, networking and peer consultation. Go to www.hawaiiplaytherapy.net
to download the membership application, or join online at the Association for Play Therapy (APT) website at www.a4pt.org.

Play Therapy CEU’s will be provided without charge sponsored by HAPT (APT Approved Provider 99-053).
CE Credits through NASW will also be available for purchase for $25
12 hours of CE credits for both days or 6 hours for one day
Purchase orders can be mailed to:
Hawaii Assc. for Play Therapy
PO Box 22966
Honolulu, HI 96823
Further information and handouts will be provided electronically following registering for conference.
Email HAPTgroup@gmail for further information.

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use...