Villains, Antiheroes, and Shadow Selves in Play and Therapy

Wed, Oct 7, 2026 at 10:00am EST

2205 York Rd, Washington, DC

2205 York RoadTimonium, MD 21093

$161.90

Event Description

Learn to use villains, antiheroes, and shadow characters in play therapy to promote insight, emotional integration, and healing.

Villains, antiheroes, and shadow characters often appear in children's play as symbolic expressions of fear, power, shame, protection, unmet needs, and resilience. Rather than viewing these characters as "bad," we can understand them as meaningful representations of internal experiences, adaptive survival strategies, and emerging identity. This training explores how symbolic characters within play, sand tray, storytelling, and expressive interventions can deepen assessment, strengthen the therapeutic relationship, and facilitate emotional integration.

Drawing from attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, developmental psychology, and play therapy principles, participants will learn how to recognize and ethically respond to these symbolic figures while utilizing developmentally appropriate interventions that promote emotional expression, self-awareness, resilience, and narrative healing.

Learning Objectives:

- Identify how villains, antiheroes, and shadow characters symbolically represent emotional experiences, attachment patterns, and internal conflicts within play therapy. - Explain the influence of trauma, attachment, and developmental experiences on the emergence of complex characters in children's symbolic play. - Demonstrate at least three play therapy interventions that utilize symbolic characters to promote emotional expression, self-awareness, and narrative integration. - Apply developmentally responsive and culturally attuned play therapy techniques that support exploration of shadow themes while fostering safety, resilience, and therapeutic growth.

My Crossing Paths Training Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7253. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. My Crossing Paths Counseling Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. My Crossing Paths Training Center is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Provider 50-37274.

My Crossing Paths Training Center, has been approved as an Association of Social Work Boards Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Provider. ACE provider approval number is 1877. Training that are ACE approved with be identified on the training material with correct CE credit and type.

My Crossing Paths Training Center has been approved by the Association for Play therapy, APT No. 23-705. Programs that do not qualify for APT credit are clearly identified.

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