PLAYTHERAPY VOLUME 21, ISSUE 3 • SEPTEMBER 2026 10


IN EVERY ISSUE 2 Leadership


8 Book Review 28 News 30 Member Storytelling 31 Play Therapy™ Magazine Reviewers 32 Credentials


SPECIAL SECTIONS 3 Memoriam - Dr. Garry Landreth


FEATURES 4 Rooted in Theory: Intentional Play Therapy


Practice BRITTANY MASSENGALE HOUIN, PHD, LPC, RPT™ & KIMBERLY HAGMANN, MS, LPC-IT


Bridging theory and practice, this article introduces the INTENT framework to help play therapists translate theoretical orientation into intentional, moment-to-moment clinical decision- making.


10 Using the Fantasy World of Role-Playing Games


to Teach Social Skills JULIE SKELTON, MSW, LCSW, RPT™ & SAMANTHA IREY, MSW, LMSW An exploration of the therapeutic potential of role-playing games, demonstrating their potential to cultivate social competence, resilience, and authentic connection through the therapeutic powers of play.


16 Filial Therapy: Bringing Children and Parents


Together JACQUELINE GEORGE, MSSW, LCSW, RPT-S™, CFT-I-S An overview of Filial Therapy that illustrates how equipping parents with therapeutic play skills can strengthen attachment, foster family .


22 


Child Adjustment and Clinical Practice ANNA STEPHENS, MS, LPCC-S, RPT™ Designed for clinical practice, this article supports play therapists in identifying, ethically managing, and supporting children impacted by 


CLINICAL EDITOR CLINICAL EDITOR


Mistie Barnes, Ed.D., LPC-S, RPT-S, is an assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Psychology at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. She supervises the three-tier review process observed by Play TerapyTM mistiebarnes@yahoo.com


magazine.


Jared Andes, LCSW, RPT-S™, is the founderofFullSpectrumCounseling, serves in leadership with the Utah Association for Play Therapy, and is a graduate of the APT Leadership Academy. He specializes in Jungian Analytical Play Therapy, anxiety, and working with neurodivergent children and families. Jared advances play therapy through clinical practice, presentations, and supervision. jaredandes@fullspectrumcounseling.org


www.a4pt.org | September 2026 | PLAYTHERAPY | 1


21 Credentialing - Embracing Integration 26 Leadership Academy


30


TM

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36