Clair Mellenthin

Playful Pathways: Integrating Attachment Centered Play Therapy with Teens & Tweens (and their parents!)
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-14 | 181 E 5600 S #200, Murray, UT 84123, 181 E. 5600 S. #200, Murray, UT, 84123, United States
TWO DAY EVENT!!
Playful Pathways: Integrating Attachment-Centered Play Therapy with Adolescents
12 CE – APT and NASW approved
Day 1:
Description:
Attachment Centered Play Therapy (ACPT) is an integrative, prescriptive play therapy model that blends the original and current theories of attachment with the power of play therapy to create a holistic, systemic approach to working with children and families. This approach allows the clinician to view the child within the framework of their family system, treating the family as if they were “the client” instead of focusing on the individual child and presenting behavioral or emotional issues. Through the lens of attachment theory, participants will gain a new understanding of how children and families interact and bond to one another in healthy vs maladaptive ways. We will be exploring how trauma, abuse, neglect, and grief impact the bonds of attachment within the family system, as well as ways to engage even the most difficult parents and invite them into the play therapy process. You will learn how to repair, rebuild, and create safety within the parent-child relationship using the power of Attachment Centered Play Therapy.
Participants will spend the day learning new and innovative play therapy techniques including hands on experiential activities, sand tray interventions, and expressive arts. You will leave with a creative toolbox of tips, techniques, and a clear understanding of how attachment styles impact relationships.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify how attachment theory applies to play therapy and to view family systems through the lens of attachment.
2. Conceptualize attachment patterns that impact parent-child relationships.
3. Conceptualize generational attachment patterns and how these manifests in family-based play therapy.
4. Analyze attachment theory as it applies to play therapy to provide integrated therapeutic treatment.
5. Evaluate the four key concepts of attachment theory and how these concepts apply to attachment centered play therapy.
6. Analyze various family systems through the lens of attachment theory to strengthen clinical assessment skills.
Day 2:
Take a deeper dive into how ACPT can be used successfully with tweens and teens (and their parents!!) Enhance your clinical practice by learning how to blend expressive arts techniques with Attachment Centered Play Therapy! By doing so, a creative atmosphere featuring safety and compassion is created in the office, studio, or play therapy room to support freedom of expression, allowing clients to communicate the unspeakable.
Expressive arts have long been heralded in psychotherapy for their effectiveness in trauma treatment, making them a valuable resource for play therapists and other mental health professionals. In this workshop, we will be exploring and demonstrating through hands-on activities how to use expressive arts alongside play therapy techniques with tweens and teens to address attachment issues, trauma, self-esteem, and empathy development.
Appropriate for play therapists, counselors, psychotherapists, and others working with tweens and teens, participants will end the day having gained a diverse toolbox of play therapy and expressive arts techniques, and a deeper understanding of the complimentary healing powers that play therapy combined with expressive arts can bring to clinical work with this population.

6 Learning Objectives:
1. Describe 2 expressive arts-based interventions in play therapy with teens.
2. Explain how utilizing a blended approach of modalities can be useful in play therapy.
3. Evaluate attachment theory and different attachment styles that impact parent’s ability to engage and be involved in their child’s treatment
4. Develop strategies to introduce and maintain parent involvement in play therapy
5. Analyze how adolescent’s participation changes in play therapy
6. Conceptualize the neuroscience of the impact of trauma on brain development and it’s impact on behavior and emotions.

Becoming a Lilypad: The Role of Attachment in Play Therapy Supervision
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | Online
Supervision is a vital component in the journey to becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). In this workshop, participants will explore how attachment theory informs and enhances the supervisory relationship, fostering a secure and supportive environment for supervisees. Using the metaphor of the lilypad—providing a stable base while allowing growth and exploration—we will examine how supervisors can embody this role to nurture supervisee development. Attendees will gain insights into attachment dynamics in supervision, learn practical strategies for creating secure connections, and explore ways to address roadblocks in the supervisory relationship. This interactive and experiential workshop is designed to deepen your understanding of attachment as it applies to supervision while strengthening your skills as an RPT supervisor.
Learning Objectives:

Identify the principles of attachment theory and explain their relevance to the supervisory relationship in Registered Play Therapist (RPT) supervision.
Develop practical strategies to create a secure, attachment-based supervisory environment that fosters growth, exploration, and professional development in play therapy supervisees.
Analyze common roadblocks in the play therapy supervisory relationship and apply attachment-informed techniques to address challenges and strengthen the supervisor-supervisee connection.

Playful Healing: Integrating Attachment Centered Play Therapy and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy 2026
2026-05-08 - 2026-05-09 | St George UT
Get ready to dive into a hands-on, heart-centered workshop! Join us for TWO DAYS as we blend the powerful approaches of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) and Attachment-Centered Play Therapy (ACPT) in a fun, immersive experience. Perfect for mental health professionals, psychotherapists, and play therapists, this workshop will deepen your skills in culturally sensitive play therapy. Discover new ways to use ACPT techniques—like Family Play Therapy and EFFT—while embracing the richness of diverse cultural perspectives. Come ready to learn, play, and connect!
You will leave with a toolbox full of new play therapy interventions, ways to incorporate parents into the playroom, and an understanding of the nuances of relationship patterns that exist within families.

Learning Objectives:

Conceptualize core tenets of EFFT, highlighting its fundamental principles and techniques. Particular focus will be on understanding emotional responses within family systems.
Explore how EFFT can be adapted and integrated into the context of play therapy for a holistic healing experience.
Develop insight into the fundamentals of Attachment-Centered Play Therapy (ACPT), emphasizing the significance of secure attachment in childhood development.
Evaluate the four key concepts of attachment theory and how these concepts apply to attachment-centered play therapy.
Practice three practical play therapy techniques for incorporating play as a medium for expression, exploration, and healing within the therapeutic process.
Implement play therapy interventions with a cultural lens to suit EFFT and Attachment-Centered Play Therapy (ACPT).
Address potential complexities in play therapy when combining EFFT, ACPT, and cultural adaptations.
Utilize practical play therapy strategies for navigating areas of intersectionality within the family play therapy process.
Conceptualize how attachment theories apply across different cultural contexts, including recognizing attachment style variations and behavior influenced by cultural norms and family dynamics.
Ascertain and respect cultural differences in therapeutic environments, including the playroom.
Develop skills for building cultural competence, including awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for effective cross-cultural communication and intervention.
Enhance the professional development of play therapists by emphasizing the importance of ongoing learning and ethical practice in culturally informed play therapy.

Presented by: Clair Mellenthin LCSW, RPT-S &amp and Liliana Baylon, LMFT-S, RPT-S, ICEEFT EFT Supervisor
About Clair:

Clair Mellenthin, LCSW, RPT-S is an international speaker, award winning author, and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. She is the creator of Attachment Centered Play Therapy. Throughout her career, she has specialized in providing play therapy to children, teens, and their families. Ms. Mellenthin frequently presents professional play therapy and family therapy nationally and internationally.
Ms. Mellenthin is the Past-President of the Utah Association For Play Therapy. She is the author of several books including Attachment Centered Play Therapy; Play Therapy: Engaging & Powerful Techniques for the Treatment of Childhood Disorders; and My Many Colors of Me Workbook. In addition, she has authored several chapters and articles. Ms. Mellenthin frequently appears on local and national television and radio as an expert on children and family issues.

About Liliana:

Liliana Baylon, LMFT-S, RPT-S, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, MBA, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) and bicultural therapist holding a Master’s Degree in Counseling & Marriage, Family, & Child Therapy from the University of Phoenix. With extensive speaking, training, and consulting experience spanning a range of organizations and topics, Liliana is particularly sought-after for her specialist expertise in mental health and its links to cultural diversity and social justice in a global context.
Liliana brings a unique cultural lens to her therapy, supervision, workshops, and presentations drawing on over a decade of in-depth clinical experience primarily treating LatinX community members, and providing bilingual therapy and supervision in English and Spanish. Liliana has become a well-respected expert and thought leader in the specialist fields of treating families, couples, and children with experiences of global migration along with trauma, abuse, and multicultural issues.
