2026 PA APT Annual Conference
Dr. Terry Kottman
2026 PAAPT Conference
Registration open
April 24-25, 2026
Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center
State College, PA
We are thrilled to welcome Terry Kottman, Ph.D., RPT-S, LMHC. Dr. Kottman founded The Encouragement Zone and developed Adlerian Play Therapy, an approach to working with children families, and adults that combines the ideas and techniques of In dividual Psychology with Play Therapy. She is the author of Play Therapy: Basics and Beyond, co-author (with Kristin Meany-Walen) of Partners in Play:An Adlerian Approach to Play Therapy (3rd ed.) and Doing Play Therapy: From Building the Relationship to Facilitating Change,along with several other books. In 2024, she won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Play Therapy, and in 2017, she won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa Association for Play Therapy. She is also Jacob's mom and Rick's wife, the best accomplishments of her lifetime of striving.
Accepting Nominations
THE GUERNEY AWARD for Excellence in the Promotion and Leadership of Play Therapy in Pennsylvania
THE CAMBURG CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP recognizes a graduate student who expresses through their actions a sincere interest in play therapy
Nominations of qualified individuals can be made by contacting the current PA APT Vice President, Laurie Schein (vice-president@paapt.org)
Virtual Training Opportunity
Title: Seeing Myself in Play: Caring for the Self of the Play Therapist
FREE: Virtual Training by Laurie Schein, LCSW, RPT-S
March 20, 2026 2P-3P EST
CE Hours: 1 Non-Contact
APT Approved Provider # 98-040
Play therapy credit is only awarded to mental health professionals
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Presenter Bio:
Laurie Schein, LCSW, RPT-S, is an outpatient therapist, group practice owner, clinical
supervisor, and trainer. Laurie has been in the play therapy field for over 10 years and has spent much of her career studying and exploring attachment, trauma and family
dynamics. She holds a Masters in Social Work, as well as a Masters in Marriage and
Family Therapy. She has been trained in EMDR, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Theraplay, Child-Centered Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, and is certified in Synergetic Play Therapy.
Laurie also enjoys speaking on attachment and trauma and the impact on the family
system and values supervising clinicians towards licensure and earning the RPT.
Currently, she is the Vice-President of the PA Branch of APT.
Overview:
As we do the work of play therapy, it is important for us to maintain a healthy
view of self as we engage in deep play with kids. This time together will focus on how we take care of ourselves during the play.
Abstract:
This interactive hour is an invitation for us to dialogue together about how our own self shows up in the playroom and how we take care of ourselves during the play. When we are deeply immersed in the play with kids, it is important for us to explore how we maintain connection to ourselves while also holding the space for the client. Our time together will focus on the challenges we may experience in the session, how we gain awareness of it, developing in the moment containers, and taking care of ourselves after intense play sessions.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify 1-2 personal challenges that we as play therapists experience in the midst of a play session.
2. Explore ways to contain and regulate our own parts of self that show up in a congruent manner.
3. Discover 2-3 new ways we use selfcare following sessions.
Cancellation Policy:
In the event that this free training is cancelled you will be notified via email.
We are also thrilled to welcome these local vendors:
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Beth Richey of Beth Richey Counseling will feature play therapy games and handmade sand tray therapy miniatures.
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Brian Schein of RustyBoots featuring 3-D printed, hand painted figures; signs; sand tray miniatures; play therapy toys. (Brian will also be accepting custom orders). Find more information about RustyBoots on Etsy.
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VENDORS
Act now for this special offer from Self Esteem Shop!
Please use coupon code: PAAPT2023 for 15% off preorders delivered FREE to the conference when you order by Friday April 14th. You will also continue to enjoy 15% off EVERYTHING purchased at the conference as well!
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**Be sure to preorder Karen's books through Self Esteem Shop as they will have a limited number available at the conference**

We are also thrilled to welcome back these local vendors:
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Beth Richey of Beth Richey Counseling
Peg Diehl of Discovery Toys
Tony of Vapor Artistry​

SES is offering 15% off purchases made by Sunday April 13th with FREE
delivery to the conference!!
Preorder code PAAPT2025
When using the code select FREE shipping at checkout and note: "pick up at PAAPT"
***Additionally, anyone that preorders will also receive 15% off everything purchased at the conference***
2025 PA APT Annual Conference
APRIL 25-26, 2025
State College, PA
PA APT would like to extend a heartfelt
Thank You to Dr. Robert Jason Grant
Dr. Grant thank you for the inspiring and informative presentation at the PA APT Conference. Your insights made a meaningful impact and left us all energized and motivated.
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We also sincerely thank all the vendors who joined us — your support, expertise, and enthusiasm helped make the conference a great success. We appreciate the vital role you play and look forward to seeing you every year!
Thank You to all the conference attendees, your energy, commitment to learning and engagement made the conference a vibrant and memorable experience.
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We are grateful to each of you for making this event such a success and look forward to many more opportunities to grow and connect together!
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2022 PA APT CONFERENCE
Thank you to everyone who attended our first in-person conference since 2019! What a inspirational and validating experience. Thank you to Lisa Dion for educating us on Aggression in Play Therapy as well as her many insights and her vulnerabilities that she graciously shared with us over the 2 days.
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Congratulations to our 2022 Camberg Scholarship winner, Micah Small!
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Congratulations to our 2022 and 2020 Guerney Award winners
(we were unable to award the 2020 Guerney Award in person due to COVID):
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Jessica Cosby (2022)
Nikki Bricker (2020)
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For more information on the Camberg Scholarship and the Guerney Award,
visit the Awards page.
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Would you or someone you know like to present for PA APT? Check out the information located here and then contact us to start the conversation!
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UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS
DATE
TIME
LOCATION
FEBRUARY 5, 2021
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
In-Person - State College, PA
APRIL 29, 2022
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
2022 Annual Conference
Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center
State College, PA
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REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for OUR 2023 CONFERENCE!
April 28-29 2023
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Karen Doyle Buckwalter at the Penn Stater in State College
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Interested in being a presenter? Learn more here
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
PA APT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE BOARD

ANNJANE ROSS
Past President
Contact email - President@paapt.org
County of Work - Clearfield

JANINE YORK
President
Contact email - Vice-President@paapt.org
County of Work - Berks

STEPHANIEÂ GALLOWAY-MASLANIK
Past-President
Contact email -Â stephieg01@hotmail.com
County of Work -Â Huntingdon

JENNIFER JOHNSON
Treasurer
Contact email -Â Treasurer@paapt.org
County of Work - Centre
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JESSICA COSBY
Secretary
Contact email -Â Secretary@paapt.org
County of Work -Â Clarion
SPOTLIGHT ON
PA APT MEMBER
Malinda Beck, MA
Malinda is an emerging play therapist who is passionate about her work with families in the Grove City, Pennsylvania area. She skillfully works with children of all ages with various needs including anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, grief, and behavioral difficulties. She works closely with both parents and children using play therapy and Theraplay® techniques. Malinda obtained her Bachelor's degree in Counseling from Moody Bible Institute in 2015 and her Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2020. Malinda enjoys her home in Grove City after spending most of her life living in Chicago, Illinois and Budapest, Hungary. In addition to spending time with her husband and family, she loves traveling, coffee, and being outdoors.
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT
2023 CONFERENCE PA APT!
We had so much fun with Karen Doyle Buckwalter, LCSW, RPT-S at the Penn Stater!
Thank you to all of our vendors this year!
Congratulations to our 2023 Camberg Scholarship recipient:
Kaylee Buziewicz
Congratulations to our 2023 Guerney Award recipient:
Laurie Schein
For more information on these awards and our 2023 recipients, check out our Awards page.






