(HS Tapia 150718 2026) Play Without Barriers: Child-Centered Play Therapy for Physical Disabilities and Chronic Illness

Course overview

Children with physical disabilities and chronic illnesses often face emotional, social, and developmental challenges that traditional therapies overlook. Play therapists sometimes struggle to integrate play therapy in ways that honor the child's autonomy while adapting to their physical or medical limitations. This presentation introduces an integrated child-centered play therapy approach - blending developmental, medical, and therapeutic frameworks to create meaningful, healing play therapy experiences. You'll learn how to adapt the playroom environment, modify play therapy interventions, and collaborate with families and medical teams to support resilience, emotional expression, and empowerment. Dr. Tapia will teach you: -How to adapt play therapy environments and interventions for physical limitations -Integrate play therapy techniques to support autonomy and empowerment -Ways to collaborate effectively with medical teams and families through the therapeutic power of play -Tools to address internalized ableism and promote inclusion -Practical methods to integrate developmental, medical, and therapeutic frameworks for holistic care -How to expand therapeutic flexibility and deepen empathy through accessible play therapy strategies