Are you ready to unlock the transformative power of geek culture in therapy? Join us for A New Hope Play Therapy's annual Geek Play Therapy Summit, where we bring together experts, practitioners, and enthusiasts worldwide to explore the intersection of geek culture and mental health.
The inaugural 2024 Geek Play Therapy Summit and our follow-up 2025 Summit were unprecedented online gatherings aimed at professionals, enthusiasts, and advocates in the fields of psychology, therapy, and geek culture. This innovative summit offers a unique exploration of the intersection between play therapy techniques and the diverse realms of geek and pop culture.
Our 2026 Geek Play Therapy Summit is bigger and geekier than ever before, taking place over 3 days on on April 30 - May 2, and we can’t wait to see you there! Check out our epic speaker line-up, and save your seat today to level up your therapeutic practice.
"Geek therapy and play therapy are like twin galaxies, each holding a universe of healing potential. In the playground of imagination and the realms of geekdom, we discover that healing is not just a journey, but an epic adventure waiting to unfold."
—Sophia Ansari, LPCC, RPT, owner of Let's Play Therapy Institute
Why Attend the Geek Play Therapy Summit?
At the Geek Play Therapy Summit, you'll discover innovative approaches to therapy that harness the therapeutic potential of video games, comics, movies, and more. Whether you're a therapist looking to expand your toolkit, a gamer seeking deeper insights into your hobby, or simply someone who believes in the healing power of stories, this summit is for you.
For geeky therapists, this summit offers a chance to deepen your understanding of incorporating your passions into your practice, enriching your therapeutic approach and connecting with clients on a new level. But even if you don't consider yourself a "geek," the Geek Play Therapy Summit offers plenty! You'll learn how to leverage the universality of geek culture to engage clients, spark meaningful conversations, and promote healing in unexpected ways.
Through engaging workshops and interactive discussions, you'll learn how to leverage geeky interests to foster resilience, self-discovery, and personal growth. The Geek Play Therapy Summit offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of geek culture and its profound impact on mental well-being.
Don't miss out on the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, gain valuable insights, CE credits, and explore new frontiers in therapy. Discover how embracing one's inner geek can lead to profound healing and empowerment, regardless of background or interests.
"In the heart of every geek resides a deep connection to the hero's journey. Geek therapy harnesses this narrative capacity, empowering individuals to discover their own resilience, triumph over adversity, and unveil the hero within."
— Jared Andes, LCSW, RPT, Owner of Full Spectrum Counseling
Key Themes
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Play Therapy Techniques: Expert-led discussions and workshops on the application of play therapy methodologies in clinical practice.
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Geek Culture Integration: Exploring how elements of geek culture—such as gaming, comics, fantasy, sci-fi, and more—can be incorporated into therapeutic approaches.
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Empowerment through Passion: Understanding how embracing one's passions within geek culture can be a vehicle for self-expression, identity exploration, and healing.
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Diversity and Inclusivity: Addressing the importance of inclusivity and diversity within both the realms of therapy and geek culture, emphasizing representation and acceptance.
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Innovation and Research: Showcasing cutting-edge research, case studies, and innovative techniques that blend play therapy with geek culture.
“We look for characters in media who we see ourselves in, and our expressions of fandom can be healing."
— Dr. Drea Letamendi, Marvel's 616 on Disney+
Who is the Summit For?
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Psychologists, therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals4
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Educators, researchers, and students interested in psychology, therapy, and geek culture
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Advocates, enthusiasts, and influencers within geek culture communities
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Individuals seeking innovative approaches to therapy or personal growth
"Geek play therapy bridges the worlds of fantasy and reality, teaching us that the heroes we admire in stories can inspire resilience and courage in our own lives. It's a testament to geek culture's power as a healing and empowerment tool."
— Ariel Landrum, LMFT, ATR
Clinical Director of Guidance Teletherapy Family Counseling Inc.
2026 Geek Play Therapy Summit Schedule & Speakers*
Thursday, April 30
9:00 - 12:15 MDT
Pre-conference workshop: Demons, Shame, and Belonging: Using Fandom Narratives in Adlerian Play Therapy with Erika Walker, LSCSW, LCSW, LICSW, RPT-S, CAdPT-A, GTC
Friday, May 1
9:00 - 10:30 MDT
10:45 - 12:15 MDT
12:15 - 1:15 MDT
1:15 - 2:45 MDT
Keynote: Honoring the elemental in play therapy - An attachment exploration of Avatar: The Last Airbender with Marshall Lyles, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S
Lunch break - on your own
Using Manga, Kpop, and other East Asian Media in Play Therapy to Explore Gender Identity and Expression with JoAnna Hubbard, JD, LPCC, NCC
3:00 - 4:30 MDT
The Galaxy Needs You: Using Rey’s Journey from Star Wars to Cultivate Self-Acceptance and Self-Compassion in Gestalt Play Therapy with Janet P. Nordine, MS, LMFT, RPT-S
Saturday, May 2
9:00 - 12:15 MDT
1:15 - 2:45 MDT
1:15 - 2:45 MDT
Welcome to Brookhaven: Play Therapy in a Digital Neighborhood with Rachel Altvater, Psy.D., RPT-S & Victoria Kennedy-Adkins, Psy.D.
Lunch break - on your own
With Great Loss Comes Great Healing: Using Geektray™ Play Therapy to process Grief with Bianca Kisselburg MS, LPC-S, RPT-S™, ICST-P, RST-C/T, GTC
All times are posted in Mountain Daylight Time. See how this translates into your timezone.
*Presenters and topics may be subject to change
CE information: There are a total of 15 APT and NBCC CEs available over the 3 days. For the APT criteria met by each workshop, please refer to each individual session details. A New Hope Academy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7816. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.
Of Note: Per our CE provider agreements, if you are attending the conference live, it is required that you have your video on and are actively participating in order to earn the offered CEs. We honor that we are all human, so if you need to step away for a moment or disengage for a breath, please do.
3:00 - 4:30 MDT
The Rise of the Misfit: Exploring Identity and Belonging Through Pop-Culture and Play Therapy with Dana Wyss PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC, RPT
“The more we understand human nature and behavior, the more we recognize human complexities. The emergence of multiple innovative theories and approaches to assist in navigating the human condition is necessary in meeting the diverse needs of human beings."
- Rachel Altvater, Psy.D., RPT-S
Registration Rates
White Lotus
Full Rate Pass
$300
✓ Access to all 3 days of events events live*
✓ Or register for recordings-only
Kyoshi Warriors
Mid-Rate Pass
$250
✓ Access to all 3 days of events live*
✓ Or register for recordings-only
Air Nomads
Student & Accessible Pass
$180
✓ Access to all 3 days of events live*
✓ Or register for recordings-only
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*Please note that all registrants who select the live option of a full conference will also be sent the recordings with 30 days access. Please contact Maria at maria@anewhopeacademy.org if you have questions or need assistance!
About Your Summit Host
A self-proclaimed geek, Maria Laquerre Diego, LMFT, RPT-S, is an internationally recognized expert and leading voice in integrating play and pop culture into clinical practice to make therapy more culturally-responsive and enhance connection in the therapy room.
Her innovative work, featured in national conferences and academic publications, invites therapists to reimagine mental health through the lens of play, fandom, and the Force. She is author of the book chapters published in 2025, “Embracing Geek Play Therapy: A Creative Approach for LGBTQIA+ Individuals” and “Are Villains Even Villains”.
"There are so many aspects of pop culture I am not aware of, this was extremely enlightening! I found it very revealing to point out all the different areas of pop culture that sometimes I miss, since I'm so focused in my own little world. Super interesting to cover such a broad variety of interests and to label pop culture as such."
—2024 Geek Play Therapy Summit Attendee