Join ORAPT for a six-hour engaging & experiential workshop to equip Play Therapists with the knowledge and skills to provide affirmative, culturally responsive care for SOGIE* clients.

Presented by: Kurt W. Oster, MAT, MS, MSW, LBS, LICSW-S, LCSW-QS, BCD, RPT™ is a senior-level social work professional, advocate, educator, and author with extensive expertise in developmental disabilities, ethics, trauma-informed care, and LGBTQ+ mental health. With over 15 years of experience across schools, child welfare, and community programs, he is dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations through clinical practice, research, and policy advocacy. His work spans the U.S. and the U.K., including consulting on youth initiatives in Northern Ireland. Specializing in expressive therapies, emergency management, and health disparities, Mr. Oster integrates play, art, sand, and drama into therapeutic interventions to foster resilience and empowerment.

Friday September 19, 2025
CE Content - 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM with 1 hour lunch
Location: TBD

This engaging and experiential six-hour workshop equips play therapists with the knowledge and skills to provide affirmative, culturally responsive care for SOGIE clients. Using Crenshaw’s Intersectionality framework and the Therapeutic Powers of Play, participants will explore identity development, discrimination-related trauma, and the impact of systemic influences on SOGIE individuals. Through hands-on activities, case studies, and self-reflection, therapists will learn practical interventions to foster self-expression, resilience, and social connection in diverse clients. This workshop empowers mental health professionals to create inclusive, affirming play therapy spaces where SOGIE clients and their families feel safe, supported, and valued.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and apply affirmative play therapy techniques that facilitate communication, self-expression, and personal development in SOGIE clients.

2. Analyze identity development and intersectionality using Crenshaw’s framework to enhance culturally responsive play therapy interventions.

3. Examine the role of play therapy in processing identity-related challenges, fostering resilience, and strengthening social relationships in SOGIE individuals.

4. Define and integrate culturally sensitive language, ethical considerations, and best practices in play therapy with SOGIE clients and their families.

5. Apply the Therapeutic Powers of Play to address the social, emotional, and psychological impacts of SOGIE identity formation and discrimination-related trauma.

6. Demonstrate insight into personal bias and its influence on clinical practice while incorporating affirmative approaches to support and empower SOGIE youth and their caregivers.

ORAPT/APT Member: $150

Professional Non-Member: $175

Student: $110

ORAPT is an APT Approved Provider (#99-054). ORAPT approves this workshop to offer 6 contact APT CEs*

*The Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers (OBLSW) has placed the Association for Play Therapy (APT) on its list of Accepted Credentialing Bodies. Social workers who take courses approved by an APT Approved Provider (such as ORAPT) can count the hours toward their continuing education requirement.*