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Hosted By: The Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling
The deadline to register is 9/7/2026.
Free parking: Brenau Downtown Center Parking Garage, 301 Main St. SW, Gainesville, GA 30501 (The parking garage is located directly behind the Gainesville Renaissance Building.)
Directions to meeting room: The Gainesville Renaissance Building is located at 106 Spring St. SW, Gainesville, GA 30501 on the downtown Gainesville square. Enter the building through the main door on the side of the building that faces the Gainesville courthouse as well as a small courtyard (on the same end of the building as Cotto Modern Italian restaurant). Take the elevator up to the second floor.
Event Organizer
Dr. Marshall Bruner
Workshop Presenter
Tiffany McNary, Ph.D., LPC, CPCS, RPT-S
Dr. McNary is the Founding Director of the Advanced Center for Play Therapy and Expressive Arts where she provides clinical supervision, consultation and trainings for mental health professionals seeking deeper knowledge and experience with treating trauma through play and the expressive arts. She taught and supervised in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University for nearly 17 years as both a part time instructor and clinical assistant professor and has recently joined Brenau University’s School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling as an Associate Professor. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Professional Counselors Supervisor and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. She earned her Doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Practice in 2009 and her Master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy and Counseling in 2002. Dr. McNary has dedicated her entire professional career to counseling children and families impacted by trauma. She has 26 years of clinical experience serving clients in the non-profit, hospital and private practice settings. Dr. McNary has an expertise in working with traumatized and chronically ill children through incorporating the Expressive Arts and Play Therapy into her counseling sessions.
Workshop Description
Increasingly, most applied psychology practitioners and mental health therapists are responsible in their workplaces for providing specialized care for children and adolescents exposed to trauma, though are not being trained in developmentally appropriate ways to provide such care. Dr. Tiffany McNary has designed a three-hour training that helps fill this learning gap for the purpose of studying theory, techniques, and issues related to counseling traumatized children and adolescents using play therapy and the expressive arts. The theme of this training is to explore the expanding trauma, play therapy and expressive arts therapy literature base and present trauma anchored, play and expressive arts informed, developmentally appropriate techniques and strategies. This training will consist of lecture, video presentations, experiential activities and case studies.
Workshop CE Approval
- 3 CORE hours of continuing education have been approved by The Georgia Society for Clinical Social Work (GSCSW CEU Approval #072526)
- 3 hours of continuing education have been approved by the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia LPCA S-0828-957.
- The Georgia Psychological Association has granted this program with GPA-Approval. GPA-Approval allows for psychologists to apply this program to Georgia licensure CE requirements under Area IV, Please check with other states on eligibility for credit 3 hours of CORE credit for psychologists is awarded for this CE program, (GPA CE Reference # 26.09.11-1) Level of Workshop: Basic to Intermediate, Prerequisites: None
Workshop Schedule
- 8:30-9 a.m.: Check-In/Login
- 9-10:30 a.m.: Training (1.5 hours) – Welcome. Introduction. History of Psychological Trauma. Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Attachment and Child Development
- 10:30-10:45 a.m.: Break
- 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Training (1.5 hours) – Three Stages of Trauma. Integrating Play Based and Expressive Arts Techniques
Workshop Learning Objectives
- Explain attachment, attachment styles, and attachment behaviors as they relate to trauma informed work with children and adolescents
- Identify and explain three distinct stages of Trauma Recovery
- Explain the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
Registration Fees
- All Current Brenau Graduate Students – $20
- Brenau MS Clinical Counseling Program Alum – $60
- Graduate Students from other universities – $20
- Brenau Faculty and Adjuncts – $60
- Community Professionals – $90
**You will receive a confirmation email with the in-person workshop session location and payment total. Contact Dr. Marshall Bruner at [email protected] if you do not receive this confirmation.
Cancellation Policy
A 30% cancellation fee will be charged for any cancellations prior to 9/4/2026. No refunds will be given after 9/7/2026. Paid reservations may not be transferred to other individuals.
**Message for Brenau Darby School of Psychology graduate students ONLY: You will receive three Professional Development activity credits by attending.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Dr. Tiffany McNary has no conflicts of interest related to the presentation.
