Mental health professionals, students, and faculty explored how play therapy supports healing, regulation, and connection for children, teens, and families at Utah Valley University’s (UVU) inaugural Play Therapy Conference on June 13, 2026. All proceeds from the conference benefited a scholarship fund for students pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at UVU and working in community-based settings.
“Play therapy is a powerful therapeutic modality for working with children, teens, and families,” said Dr. Clair Mellenthin, UVU faculty member and registered play therapist. “Understanding the role of play is essential for professionals who want to respond effectively to emotional needs, support regulation, and help children heal through developmentally appropriate care. This conference offered students and clinicians alike the opportunity to learn about this important therapeutic tool and how it can be utilized to address behavioral problems and disorders in children.”
Breakout workshops, practical clinical training, and keynote speaker Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, offered an opportunity to learn from leading play therapy professionals and strengthen the tools used in therapeutic work with children and families.
Dion is an international teacher, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, founder and president of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, cofounder of the Synergetic Education Institute, creator of Business of Therapy, and host of the “Lessons from the Playroom” podcast.
“Play therapy works because play is the natural language of children, giving them a way to communicate experiences, emotions, and trauma before they have the words to fully explain what they feel,” Dion said. “In a safe, attuned therapeutic relationship, play helps children externalize what feels overwhelming, experience regulation and connection, and process emotional experiences in ways that support healing, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.”
Breakout sessions offered guidance on beginning with play therapy, navigating play therapy intensity and aggression, and using play therapy to address unique circumstances.
UVU’s MSW program is considered an Advanced Generalist program. In addition to skills related to clinical social work and substance use, UVU MSW students develop skills that span social work practice at individual and community levels, including program planning, advocacy, policy analysis, and evidence-based interventions. 90% of UVU MSW graduates from 2022 to 2025 received job offers in the social work field at the time of graduation. Employment of social workers is projected to grow 9% nationally from 2021-2031 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
To learn more about UVU’s MSW program, please visit https://www.uvu.edu/besc/msw/.
