The Inner Canvas Collective  Training Program

Philosophical & Theoretical Foundations

Our approach: Go back to the basics, ground and solidify the frame and relational foundations, and discover who you are as a person and play therapist.

Aligned with the traditions and origins of play therapy, The Inner Canvas Collective draws upon an integrative framework focused on family-based, psychoanalytic, and child-centered foundations. We base our training on the psychoanalytic roots of play therapy, which provide a strong foundation. Our approach centers on valuing the play therapy relationship, including containment and transference (countertransference), and creating a method that feels personal and authentic to you. Our training focuses on continually understanding the use of self (person of the play therapist) as a tool to enhance effectiveness and outcomes.

The Inner Canvas Collective’s Training Program is focused on two broad areas:

1. Approved Provider of Play Therapy Training & Cont. Ed.

   Our play therapy trainings are designed as a series, meeting weekly over 2-4 weeks depending on the program. This intimate format fosters genuine community and connection among participants while creating space for meaningful integration of theory, research, and clinical practice. Between sessions, the intention is for you to apply what you learn, then return to the group with your cases, questions, and insights. This approach creates rich, practice-based learning that bridges the gap between knowledge and application.

Play Therapy Series

• Introduction to Play Therapy (Offered Fall each year)

• Play in Psychodynamic Child and Play Therapy (Coming March 2026)

• Introduction to Sandtray Play Therapy

• Partnering with Parents Series

• Person of the Play Therapist Series (Winter 2026)

• Symbols & Themes in Sandtray Play (On-demand course)

  Play Therapy Supervision Series

• Becoming a Play Therapist Supervisor

• Basics of Clinical Supervision

• Assessment of Supervisee Competency (December 2025)

• The Supervisory Alliance (Jan 2026)

2. Mental Health Professional Wellness

• Creative Growth, Wellness & Career Longevity (Webinar Series coming Summer 2026)

Training formats: You have options!!

Training can be completed in various formats. When it comes to RPT/S credentialing, we want to be transparent that while we don't set the requirements, we do follow the guidelines established by APT. The good news is that we're here to support you as you work toward your credential!

We encourage you to take some time to review APT's credentialing processes so you're familiar with what to expect. If you have specific questions about RPT/S requirements, need accommodations, or have questions about the application process, we're happy to help. For the most detailed and official information, APT can provide direct answers to credential-specific questions. We recommend you call or email them directly.

Our training delivery is organized into three categories

(here we go as transparent, real, kind, and honest as possible):

On Demand Training: Self-paced learning at any time, with the opportunity to schedule a supervision/meeting with Dr. Elyssa for questions and support. Our on-demand training is largely composed of recordings from prior webinar series.

Live Webinars: Live webinar (in real time over Zoom) series are composed of three sessions that occur over three consecutive weeks (one day a week for three weeks in a row). We want you to know that our intentions in this format are to build a community and help you integrate training materials over time, in conjunction with your current clinical practice. Live webinars allow us to expand our reach while connecting you to your peers nationally. Please note: All webinars are in Eastern Standard Day Time (unless otherwise noted). We are here to support you, but the workings of your own Zoom, computer, and schedule are your responsibility.

In-person training: We'd love to connect with you in person! We know that factors like cost, scheduling, location, and attendance can sometimes make that challenging. As a small woman-owned business in our early stages, our training center is based in Langhorne (Bucks County), PA. We actively seek out partnerships and collaborations that allow us to expand our reach.

If you're interested in partnering with us to bring training to your community, we'd be thrilled to hear from you! Please reach out to us here or look into our in-service training opportunities. We're excited about the opportunity to grow together and create enriching learning experiences through collaboration.

For more, see our FAQs page.