Iowa Association for Play Therapy- Fall Conference September 10-12, 2025

Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S

With over 25 years of clinical experience, Sueann Kenney-Noziska, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S, specializes in clinical practice with abused & traumatized children. She owns a private practice and is part of her community’s multidisciplinary team on child abuse and maltreatment. Sueann is internationally recognized and has presented throughout North America as well as Japan, China, Jamaica, Estonia, and England. She is a contributing author to several peer-reviewed publications and has testified as an expert witness at the state and federal levels. Sueann established the mental health component of the Children's Advocacy Center in her community and served as its initial Clinical Director. Best known for her work with sexually abused children, she frequently presents at major child abuse conferences and has trained thousands of professionals.

WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP, 9/10/25: 

Trauma-Informed Supervision: Expressive Approaches in Play Therapy Supervision (3 hours)

Overview:

Supervision is a cornerstone of professional development and the acquisition of clinical skills for play therapists. Using a trauma-informed lens, this workshop will explore play, art, and sand as expressive approaches for play therapy supervision. Participants will learn several play and expressive methods to incorporate into their supervisory practice. 

Objectives:

1. Identify the core components of trauma-informed play therapy supervision 
2. Describe the use of play, art, and sand approaches to integrate into play therapy supervision from a trauma-informed lens
3. Link specific play, art, and sand interventions with core components of trauma-informed supervision for play therapists 

THURSDAY, 9/11/25: 

Integrative Play Therapy for the Treatment of Childhood Abuse and Trauma (6 hours)

Overview:

This workshop will explore an integrative approach to using play therapy with victims of childhood abuse and trauma. Research, including findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, and literature describing trauma's impact on the brain, treatment of posttraumatic stress, and trauma-informed treatment will be reviewed. This will include a description of findings in the field of neuroscience which support the use of play therapy & other expressive interventions in the treatment of trauma and abuse for children and adolescents. The use of posttraumatic play and trauma-informed play therapy interventions will be discussed. Lecture, experiential activities, group discussions, & case examples will provide participants with a comprehensive learning experience.

Objectives:

1. Define integrative play therapy 
2. Describe at least three findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study
3. Describe at least two ways that trauma impacts the brain
4. Discuss 1-2 ways play therapy & other expressive interventions are consistent with findings in the neurosciences
5.  Describe at least two ways that posttraumatic play therapy interventions can be used in clinical practice with abused and traumatized children and adolescents
6.  Identify a minimum of five trauma- informed play therapy interventions to use as part of treatment for abuse and trauma

FRIDAY, 9/12/25: 

The Intersection of Play Therapy and Childhood Sexual Abuse (6 hours) 

Overview:

This workshop will emphasize using play therapy with victims of sexual abuse and trauma. Frameworks for conceptualizing the impact of sexual abuse, treatment components from evidence-based practice models, & play therapy will be integrated to create abuse-informed assessment and interventions that are developmentally appropriate & clinically sound. This will include discussion of differences between dynamic and toxic posttraumatic play. Attendees will receive a variety of directive play therapy interventions which address core components of sexual abuse treatment including psychoeducation, emotional expression, cognitive coping, & trauma narration. Furthermore, areas of clinical need for children & adolescents who have been victims of childhood sexual abuse will be identified to delineate ways in which play therapy can be utilized to meet these needs. Cultural influences of childhood sexual abuse will be explored. Additional special considerations for play therapists working with sexually abused children and adolescents will be discussed, including self-care and scope of practice. Lecture, experiential activities, group discussions, & case examples will provide participants with a comprehensive learning experience. 

Objectives:

1. Identify a minimum of ten play-based interventions to use in clinical practice with sexually traumatized children & adolescents
2. Identify the difference between dynamic and toxic posttraumatic play 
3. Identify at least three dynamics of sexual abuse that may be utilized to underscore play therapy assessment and intervention of sexually abused individuals 
4. Describe areas of clinical need for children & adolescents who have been victims of childhood sexual abuse & discuss ways in which play therapy can be utilized to meet these needs
5. Identify 2-3 cultural considerations when using play therapy with sexually abused children 
6. Discuss 1-2 areas of special consideration when using play therapy with sexually traumatized children and adolescents