The MS Association for Play Therapy Spring Conference (MSAPT)

Welcome to the MS Play Therapy Association Spring Conference!  

Session Agendas and Information 

*This year we are offering 2 full days of Continuing Education! Sessions are available Friday and Saturday. CE credits are available for both days of learning for LPC, APT, NBCC, LCSW, and MDE! Please see the timed agendas and session information below.* 

Friday Agenda- 3 Sessions (6 CE credits) 

Registration 8:00-8:30

8:30-10:00- Ethics in Play Therapy

10:00-10:30- Break #1

10:30-12:00- The Counselor Connection: A Team Approach to Supporting Student Mental Wellness

12:00-1:30- Lunch

1:30-3:00- Little Hands, Big Feelings: Play Therapy with Preschoolers

3:00-3:30- Break #2

3:30-4:45

Saturday Agenda (6 CE credits)

INCLUSIVE PLAY:
ADDRESSING MULTICULTURAL ISSUES AND DIVERSITY IN PLAY THERAPY

8:00-8:30- Registration

8:30-10:00

10:00-10:30- Break #1

10:30-12:00

12:00-1:30- Lunch

**1:00-1:30- networking meet and greet

1:30-3:00

3:00-3:30- Break #2

3:30- 4:45

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ticket Sales Information

Due to the conference being a 2 day event, please be sure to choose the ticket type that best fits your needs.  Early Bird Special is available until January 30th before prices increase. 

School Counselors:  Due to Purchase Orders not being accepted for registration, we advise you to personally purchase your preferred ticket. CE fees are included with your ticket.  Once you receive your invoice via email, you may use that documentation to request reimbursement from your district/school. Thank you for your understanding.  

Please register as soon as possible as tickets will be limited!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Continuing Education Information

Friday = 6 CE credits

Saturday = 6 CE credits

Full Event = 12 CE credits

Certificates and CE payments are included with your conference ticket! 

Attendance will be collected with sign in/out sheets and evaluation forms. Be Sure to Sign In & Sign Out each day at the registration table. EVAULATIONS will be provided at the end of each day. You must sign in/out and turn in your evaluation after your session(s) to receive a certificate! 

CE's provided for LPC, APT, NBCC, LCSW, and MDE! 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meet your Presenters! 

Dr. Jerrilyn Stokes, LPC-S, RPT-S, BC-TMH

Dr. Jerrilyn Stokes is a licensed mental health therapist, supervisor, and registered play therapist supervisor with over 13 years of clinical experience in the field of psychology and counseling. She is the founder and CEO of Progressive Therapy, LLC, a private practice, located in Jackson, MS. that provides mental health services & wellness support to children, adults, & organizations.

Her work reflects a strong commitment to culturally responsive counseling and addresses the impact of intergenerational trauma within Black and Brown communities. Through her practice, Dr. Stokes has guided clients in unlearning harmful generational patterns, navigating anxiety and depression, and developing healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.

Beyond direct clinical care, she is also an experienced clinical supervisor, trainer and mentor for emerging therapists to strengthen their skills, ethical practice, and cultural humility. She has provided workshops, trainings, and public speaking engagements on topics such as trauma-informed care, social justice in mental health, multicultural counseling, and play therapy interventions.

Dr. Stokes’ expertise and experience expands to building partnerships in numerous states. She and her colleagues offer culturally responsive counseling and wellness support to grassroots advocacy and community based organizations such as MS Food Systems in Jackson, Mississippi, Rhode Island Food Policy Council, Interaction Institute for Social Change in New England, and John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Currently, she continues to merge clinical practice, education, and advocacy by supporting individuals & organizations in the therapeutic space, but also preparing the next generation of counselors through teaching, supervision, and professional development.

She believes; when we unlearn philosophies that no longer serve us & honor ourselves, we expand our capacity to love, to lead, to live fully, & transform generations.

Dr. Kenisha W. Gordon

Kenisha W. Gordon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Counseling at a local university. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University in Psychology and Counselor Education, respectively. Dr. Gordon graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Dr. Gordon has over 20 years of professional experience. She has worked with children and adults in the judicial court system, educational system, and private practice. She has presented at several local, national and state conferences. Her interest areas are play therapy, family therapy, counselor supervision, and multicultural issues in counseling. Dr. Gordon is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a state Licensed Professional Counselor, Supervisor (LPC-S), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), a Registered PlayTherapist Supervisor (RPT-S) and an Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider(BC-TMH).

Stephanie McGary, LPC-S, RPT-S™

Stephanie McGary is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™. She currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer at Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region and is the founder of Tots-N-Teachers Counseling and Consultation Services, a private practice exclusively dedicated to supporting children and educators.

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Stephanie has worked extensively with children affected by both individual and collective trauma. Her passion for integrating mental health into school systems has led her to collaborate closely with educators and school staff, helping them weave mental wellness and social-emotional learning into academic environments. She is particularly committed to increasing awareness around the nuanced mental health needs of both children and adults in educational settings.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Southern Methodist University in her hometown of Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Kristy A. Brumfield

Dr. Kristy A. Brumfield is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Nationally Certified Counselor with more than two decades of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. She is a Professor of Counseling at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she teaches clinical mental health and school counseling courses, including play therapy, group work, behavior disorders, and trauma-focused interventions.

Dr. Brumfield has held leadership roles in both the Louisiana and Pennsylvania Associations for Play Therapy. She served on the board of the Louisiana APT for seven years and was President of the Pennsylvania APT from 2018 to 2019. In 2010, she completed the Association for Play Therapy’s prestigious Leadership Academy and was honored with the PA-APT Louise & Bernard Guerney Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Play Therapy in 2017.

Her clinical background spans schools, nonprofits, mental health agencies, and private practice settings in both New Orleans and Philadelphia. Dr. Brumfield specializes in child-centered play therapy, filial therapy, and creative counseling approaches. She has published on multicultural caregiver consultation, play therapy with African American families, and relational aggression among youth, and she is committed to culturally responsive and developmentally informed care.

A frequent presenter at state and national conferences, Dr. Brumfield is passionate about training the next generation of play therapists and advancing the integration of play-based practices in clinical and educational settings.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Hotel Suggestions:

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1759783326186&key=GRP&app=resvlink
- The booking link above will no longer work after Monday, January 26. After this date, please contact the hotel directly to book at 228-864-4310 and Reference Group Code: MSAN

Parking: Coast Transit Authority (CTA) Parking Garage
1417 20th Avenue
Gulfport, MS 39501
- When you enter the parking garage, take a parking ticket. When exiting, you have to present the ticket directly to the person at the exit gate and verbally tell them you are here for the play therapy conference. This will comp your parking. When coming back after lunch, it applies all over again.

Event Center Address: Coast Transit Authority (CTA) Gulfport Event Center is:
1401 20th Ave.
Gulfport, MS 39501
- After parking in the garage, walk in the direction of the aquarium to exit. Please enter the event center on the side FACING the Mississippi Aquarium.