July 12, 2025 | In Person, Las Cruces, NM
Beyond Bright: Play Therapy for the Unique Needs of Gifted Children
Beyond Bright: Play Therapy for the Unique Needs of Gifted Children
Beyond Bright: Play Therapy for the Unique Needs of Gifted Children is an introductory training designed for clinicians working with gifted children through play therapy. This workshop provides specialized tools and insights to effectively address the emotional, cognitive, and social complexities unique to gifted children.
Through this training, attendees will learn to recognize common social-emotional traits of gifted children, and understand how these traits impact the play therapy process.
The training will cover key struggles faced by gifted children, and learn how these challenges manifest through play. Additionally, this training will provide tools for equipping therapists, caregivers, and educators with the knowledge to support the emotional well-being of gifted children beyond the playtherapy room.
Learning Objectives
-
Learn at least three distinguishing factors between gifted traits, high academic achievement, and potential co-occurring conditions, such as ADHD, autism, or anxiety disorders, to provide more accurate and effective play therapy support.
-
Identify at least three common social-emotional characteristics of gifted children, including intensity, perfectionism, and asynchronous development, and their impact on play therapy.
-
Explore and learn to implement at least three specialized play therapy interventions that support the emotional regulation, creativity, and cognitive complexity of gifted children.
-
Identify at least three common struggles such as anxiety, impostor syndrome, social isolation, and heightened sensitivity in gifted children, and at least three common themes associated with those struggles observable through play therapy.
-
Learn at least three support techniques to equip caregivers and educators with insights and tools to support the emotional well-being and development of gifted children beyond the play therapy setting.
-
Learn to identify at least three common unique strengths of gifted children, while also addressing at least three common challenges they face, to promote balanced and effective play therapy outcomes.
Presenter
Madison (Madi) Duran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, applying to be a registered play therapy (RPT) in May 2025, and is EMDR Trained, seeking certification. She is a born and raised New Mexican (always choose green, IYKYK), working with children and adults in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She specializes in child-centered play therapy, EMDR, and the integration of the two.
She is a fun and creative therapist, who values the individuality of client's interests and therapeutic process, incorporating "geek" elements whenever possible, in a play room full of Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar the Last Airbender, Lord of the Rings, and other pop culture influences. Outside of the play room, Madi can be found spending time and being active with her family and fur babies, or being creative through art and sourdough baking.
Details & Registration
Date: July 12, 2025
Location: A New Hope Therapy Center
715 E Idaho Ste 2B, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Pricing:
$175 Professional Pricing
$85 Student Pricing
*Pricing includes CE Certificate
Schedule:
8:45
Check In/Sign in
9:00
Presentation Begins
10:30
15 Minute Break
11:30-1:00
Lunch Break
2:45
15 Minute Break
5:00
Presentation Ends
Of note: This is an in person training. Please dress comfortable, layers are suggested as our room can be chilly in the morning. You are welcome to bring your refillable water bottle or coffee cup - we have a water station and a Keurig for your use! We will have light refreshments available, however if you have food sensitivities, please feel free to bring your own!
This training will provide 6 CE Credits. A New Hope Therapy Center, our sister organization and partner for trainings and workshops, is an Approved Provider for the Association for Play Therapy (APT) - Approved Provider 20-631 and Maria Laquerre-Diego is an Approved Provider for the NM Counseling and Therapy Practice Board CCE020981