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Presentation - seminar Event

Play Therapy & Adolescent Therapy - Attachment Treatment Perspectives

Overview

Play Therapy & Adolescent Therapy – Attachment Treatment Perspectives

Date: 18 April 2026

Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The APS Gold Coast Branch is pleased to present a full-day professional development workshop, “Play Therapy & Adolescent Therapy – Attachment Treatment Perspectives,” delivered by highly experienced Clinical Psychologist Tania Kalkidis.

This workshop offers a valuable opportunity for clinicians working in the mental health field or anyone with an interest in working with children, adolescents, and families to deepen their understanding and clinical skill base. Drawing on psychodynamic psychotherapy and attachment theory, the workshop will explore key principles that guide therapeutic work with children using Play Therapy, including the distinctive features of these approaches and how they inform treatment.

Participants will gain insight into the treatment process with children, including how therapeutic work is conceptualised, implemented, and meaningfully integrated with parent involvement. Particular attention will be given to how clinicians can effectively communicate formulations and therapeutic progress to parents and caregivers.

The workshop will also examine adolescent therapy and family therapy, focusing on formulation development and ongoing treatment processes when working with young people and their families. Through case examples, discussion, and role-play exercises, participants will have the opportunity to engage actively with the material and enhance their practical therapeutic skills.

This event is open to all interested participants, not only psychologists. Mental health clinicians, social workers, occupational therapists, counsellors or any professional working with children, adolescents and families are warmly invited to attend.

Join us for an engaging and practical day of learning designed to enrich clinical practice and deepen understanding of attachment-informed therapeutic work.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

  • To learn in more detail the explicit theory of the therapist-client relationship and how this is governed by early attachment dynamics.
  • To understand the principles of “Play” in therapy and its application in ongoing treatment of children and their families.
  • To learn about Play therapy through demonstrations and case examples.
  • To enhance your understanding of the major “tasks of adolescence”.
  • To review and describe the “relationship focus” in individual adolescent therapy.
  • To understand the principles of Family Therapy in the context of working with children and adolescents and how this can be integrated into short and long term treatment.

Presenter(s)

Ms. Tania Kalkidis

Notes

Registration includes 7 hours of CPD, along with morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea provided throughout the day.

Target Audience

This event is aimed at psychologists, mental health clinicians, social workers, occupational therapists, counsellors, and any professionals interested in working therapeutically with children, adolescents, and families.

Please note:

  • This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the venue details) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
  • A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, and any additional resources shared during the session.

Duration of Access

This event will not be recorded. 

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.

In-Person Event

*Early Bird Rate (EBR) available till 4th April 2026.
APS member $325 (EBR: $275)
APS student member $150 (EBR: $100)
Non APS member $450 (EBR: $400)

The event will not be recorded.
Registrations close: 13/04/2026 12.00pm AEST

Gold Coast

Mantra Legends Hotel

Cnr Surfers Paradise Blvd and Laycock Street, Surfers Paradise
Gold Coast , QLD 4217
Australia
Venue is wheelchair accessible


18 Apr 2026

09:00AM-05:00PM AEST QLD Time


Show Location