Virtual Fall Conference to Focus on Social Justice Counselor Training

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Peggy Ceballos

The Office of Play Therapy Research and Training at the University of Arkansas is hosting a virtual fall conference on Nov. 13-14 that will focus on culturally responsive child-parent relationship therapy.

The keynote speaker is Peggy Ceballos, an associate professor at the University of North Texas. Her research agenda has a special focus on adapting play therapy services to the Latinx populations.

Kristi Perryman, an assistant professor of counselor education in the College of Education and Health Professions and the director of the Office of Play Therapy, said there's a high need for mental health professionals in our area to have more training on working with minority populations.

"That's why we're offering child-parent relationship training with a focus on Latinx families," she said. "Also, since so many mental health professionals are counseling virtually, this training will be very conducive as it teaches parents play therapy skills to incorporate with their children at home."

Registration is limited to 40 people — 20 professionals and 20 students — in order for it to count as contact hours with the Association for Play Therapy. The online event will offer up to 12 continuing education hours.

The workshop will equip working play therapists, counseling majors and parents with multicultural and social justice counseling competencies. It will also delve into the Child Parent Relationship Therapy model, including child-centered play therapy.

Ceballos has clinical experience as a school counselor and community counselor. As a counselor educator, she has engaged in development, management and dissemination of research in the areas of culturally responsive school- counseling services for minority students, culturally informed parent and teacher training interventions and other issues relevant to multiculturalism and social justice.

She has conducted over 60 professional presentations and has been the recipient of 11 professional awards, including the 2016 TCA Advocacy Award and the 2011 American Counseling Association (ACA) Best Practice Award for best research.