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Virtual Play Therapy Tips

Enroll in the Online Self-Study and complete the training on your own schedule.
1 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians, including Play Therapists

Therapists working with children in the aftermath of trauma or chronic stress are often handed complex behavioral concerns with an urgent plea: “Fix this.” But the solution doesn’t start with talking—it begins with play. In this course, you’ll rediscover how to use the therapeutic relationship itself, paired with targeted play therapy strategies, as a powerful intervention for emotional healing and resilience-building.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to engage a child virtually or discouraged by the disconnect between adult expectations and children’s needs, this course offers practical, creative tools you can implement immediately. Learn how to transform telehealth limitations into opportunities for connection and healing through developmentally appropriate, clinically grounded interventions.

Enroll in the 1 CE Online Self-Study for $20 

Register Now

Sarah Scott Dooling, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S, is a nationally recognized expert in play therapy, an experienced school-based clinician, and a passionate educator. Sarah teaches in the MSW program at San Diego State University and the Play Therapy Extension Program at UC San Diego. Her experience in both private practice and public school systems informs her deeply compassionate, innovative, and theory-driven approach to treating children impacted by toxic stress.

Sarah’s teaching is grounded in the belief that the therapist is the most powerful tool in the room. She offers a warm, engaging presentation that is both evidence-informed and immediately applicable. Clinicians will leave with a rich set of interventions and the confidence to use them meaningfully—whether working virtually, in hybrid settings, or face-to-face.

This course explores the challenges of virtual rapport-building, the use of developmentally appropriate therapeutic games, and how to creatively adapt play therapy strategies to telehealth. Participants will be introduced to tools like “Fishing for Feelings,” scavenger hunts, cornhole activities, and “What’s in Your Heart” check-ins—all tailored for online delivery. Emotional literacy, treatment planning, and therapist self-care are woven throughout to ensure sustainable, ethical practice.

Sarah Scott Dooling

Instructor

Sarah Scott Dooling, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S

Sarah Scott Dooling is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor specializing in play therapy. Sarah teaches graduate-level classes at two San Diego universities, and facilitates creative, interactive professional development workshops for clinicians and educators. She is employed at Escondido Union School District and also works in private practice.

Read more about Sarah Scott Dooling here 

Key Takeaways:

  • Develop a working lens for toxic stress: Understand how to interpret presenting problems through a trauma-informed lens and connect them to meaningful goals.
  • Apply creative, theory-based play interventions: Learn specific, playful strategies that build trust and emotional literacy in children—without overwhelming your session time or budget.
  • Prioritize professional sustainability: Identify core self-care practices that support clinicians in high-stress work with vulnerable children.

Why This Course?

  • Designed by a seasoned play therapist for real-world clinicians: Sarah Dooling’s years of school-based experience and clinical supervision work mean she knows exactly what tools clinicians need—and which ones actually work.
  • Practical, affordable, and creative interventions: The course emphasizes low-cost, transportable strategies that are adaptable to nearly any treatment setting.
  • Aligned with Telehealth Certification Institute’s mission: As a trusted CE provider, TCI is committed to empowering clinicians through high-quality, relevant education that upholds the highest standards of care.

Learning Objectives:

  • Create a conceptualizing framework for toxic stress that connects complex presenting problems with treatment goals.
  • Apply innovative play therapy interventions that build resilience in children.
  • Identify self-care principles and professional development resources for play therapists who work with children experiencing toxic stress.

You don’t have to choose between playfulness and professionalism—or between clinical rigor and creativity. This course offers both. Join Sarah Dooling in discovering how virtual play therapy can not only work but thrive, helping you bring healing to children when they need it most.

Enroll now to develop your skills, boost your confidence, and enhance your impact as a behavioral health professional.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour of video instruction and a post-test.

Enroll in the 1 CE Online Self-Study for $20

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Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: Instructions for attending and completing a course can be found here.

This program was recorded on March 23, 2021.

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