Presented by: Janet A. Courtney, PhD, RPT-

Dr. Janet A. Courtney, PhD, LCSW, RPT-S, is the Founder of FirstPlay® Therapy, a TEDx speaker, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and internationally recognized leader in Infant Mental Health and Infant Play Therapy. She is a past Chair of the Association for Play Therapy Ethics and Practice Committee and former President of the Florida Association for Play Therapy.

Dr. Courtney is the author and co-editor of several books including Infant Play Therapy: Foundations, Programs, Models and Practice, Healing Child and Family Trauma Through Expressive and Play Therapies, Nature-Based Play & Expressive Therapies: Interventions for Children, Teens, and Families, and Touch in Child Counseling and Play Therapy: An Ethical and Clinical Guide. She has also authored several book chapters related to a variety of play therapy topics.

 She provides professional training and certification in FirstPlay® Therapy, along with workshops and presentations on Infant Play Therapy, Infant Mental Health, the Ethical and Clinical Competencies of Touch, Expressive Family Therapies, and Nature-Based Play Therapy.

Friday, August 28, 2026

CE Content - 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Location: Zoom (Virtual)

The field of infant mental health is expanding rapidly, and an increasing number of play therapists are seeking to deepen their knowledge and clinical skills to work effectively with infants and very young children within the context of the parent–infant relationship. In this training, Dr. Janet Courtney will provide a rich and engaging overview of infant mental health as it applies to the practice of play therapy. Participants will be introduced to a “working definition” of Infant Play Therapy, offering clarity and direction for clinicians entering this emerging and meaningful area of practice. Special attention will be given to understanding the infant not as an isolated client, but within a co-regulating system of the parent–infant dyad.

Grounded in current neuroscience, attachment theory, and research on touch and relational development, this session will introduce participants to FirstPlay® Infant Play Therapy—an attachment-based model that integrates nurturing touch, playful engagement through storytelling and play. This unique approach supports early attachment, co-regulation, and the deepening of relational connection through structured yet flexible playful interventions.

Participants will be guided through key elements of the FirstPlay® model, including the use of storytelling, attuned touch, and “serve and return” interactions that foster safety, connection, and emotional regulation. The training will also highlight how these interventions can be used to strengthen parental confidence and sensitivity, while supporting the infant’s developing nervous system.

The workshop will be an introduction to four core parent–infant attunement skills. These foundational skills provide a practical framework for observing, understanding, and responding to infant cues in ways that promote secure attachment. This training offers an opportunity for participants to expand their  clinical lens and deepen their understanding of early relational health within an Infant Play Therapy framework.