Effective Treatment of ADHD Using Child-Centered Play Therapy and Parent Consultation

Amy R. Work

MA, LCMHC-QS, RPT-S

Saturday, June 20, 2026

12:30 pm-3:45 pm (EST)

(APT Non-Contact CE Hours)

Disclaimer: UNC Charlotte encourages the following guidelines for CE credits for participating in Live Webinars/ Non-contact. All participants in live webinars must 1) actively participate in the Live Webinar through the chat feature and experiential activities; 2) have their camera on and each participant is onscreen for the Live Webinar; and 3) complete an evaluation and post-test questions within one week of the webinar. UNC Charlotte staff will monitor attendance. UNC Charlotte utilizes Zoom for their Live Webinars.

Session Description

Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often present in play therapy with high activity levels, impulsivity, emotional intensity, peer conflict, and frequent power struggles that can leave caregivers feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. This session presents an evidence-based treatment approach for treating ADHD using Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) paired with strategic parent consultation. Participants will learn how CCPT supports executive functioning, emotional regulation, self-direction, and an increase in frustration tolerance. This session will also explore how CCPT is uniquely equipped to remove conditions of worth in the playroom and support the development of a positive self-concept, a key protective factor for children with ADHD.

A central focus of this training is the reality that parenting a child with ADHD is associated with elevated stress, fatigue, and feelings of inadequacy, especially when caregivers are managing frequent behavioral escalations, negative school feedback, and strained family routines. Because caregiver regulation and consistency are key mechanisms of change for children with ADHD, supporting parents is not an “extra” part of treatment, but rather essential to sustainable outcomes for children. The presenter will also provide a clear structure for parent consultation that aligns with CCPT philosophy, helping caregivers respond effectively to impulsivity, tantrums, executive functioning problems, and social challenges without over-relying on punitive or compliance-based strategies.

Participants will leave with concrete strategies they can implement immediately, including a step-by-step approach to integrating CCPT and caregiver work to promote improved regulation, reduced behavior escalation, and a healthier self-concept for children with ADHD.

Primary Area: Play Therapy Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, Play Therapy Skills and Methods, Play Therapy Special Topics, Play Therapy Cultural an Social Diversity Topics

Play Therapy Competencies Addressed: Knowledge & Understanding of Play Therapy

Theoretical Basis: Child-Centered

Webinar Schedule:

12:30-3:45 pm- Present Content

2:00-2:15 pm- Break

2:15-3:45 pm Present Content

Learning Objectives

Describe how Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) supports children with ADHD in developing executive functioning skills.
Explain how CCPT uniquely supports the preservation and development of a positive self-concept in children with ADHD by reducing conditions of worth.
Implement CCPT-consistent caregiver consultation strategies that decrease escalation, increase caregiver confidence, and promote sustained progress at home.

Brief Bio:

Amy R. Work, MA, LCMHC-QS, RPT-S, is a counselor educator, clinical supervisor, and play therapist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She currently a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Amy is the founder and owner of Renewed Counseling & Play Therapy, where she provides play therapy, caregiver consultation, and supervision, with a particular interest in strengthening parent-child relationships. Her clinical and scholarly work focuses on child-parent relationship therapy, parent consultation, and beginning counselor development.

Questions?

Please contact the Office of School and Community Partnerships at oscp-coed@charlotte.edu if you have any questions.