Innovations in child and family therapy certificate program

Innovations in child and family therapy certificate program

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Dates:Dates: October 7, 8, November 19 and 20, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

Facilitators: Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S., and Greg Lubimiv, MSW, CPT-S.

CE hours: 24

Client age category: For professionals who work with families and children under the age of 18.

Overview: This four-day certificate program is for seasoned and beginning practitioners who regularly work with children, adolescents, and their families and are interested in augmenting their clinical skills and therapeutic toolkit. The course will cover various topics including rapport-building, engaging resistant children and parents, implementing an innovative assessment model, strengthening core family therapy skills, and utilizing play and expressive arts techniques. Through didactic presentation, experiential exercises, and videos of actual client sessions, this training will combine theoretical material with hands-on therapeutic techniques. Participants will come away with many new and innovative engagement, assessment, and treatment interventions for use with children and families who present with a wide range of issues. 

This comprehensive program consists of four expertly designed modules, each focused on enhancing support for children and families. Each module explores a critical aspect of child and family therapy, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

Modules:

• October 7, 2026: An innovative model for assessing children and teens: What’s going on?
• October 8, 2026: Creative use of games, stories, puppets and art with children and teens: Wanna come out and play?
• November 19, 2026: Essential theory and practical skills for child-focused family therapy.
• November 20, 2026: Creative family therapy techniques.

This program is offered as an open module series, allowing the flexibility to register for any of the four individual modules or the entire series, depending on your learning objectives. Whether you choose to join one module or all four, this series aims to provide valuable insights and practical tools for those looking to support the mental health of children, teens and families.

Engage, assess, intervene, and heal with creative, practical interventions for effective child and family therapy.

Registration fee: General - $1,200  |  Student and group rates are available

For full program overview and registration details please visit:  https://cvent.me/MOVYY3

Facilitator Bios:
Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S, is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT Therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto since 1988. Her 15 books are used by mental health professionals all over the world. She is a dynamic speaker who has provided trainings throughout North America and abroad, including China, South Africa, Israel, England, New Zealand, Australia, and Slovenia. She is winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada. 

Greg Lubimiv, MSW, RSW, CPT-S, recently retired after 42 years as Executive Director of the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families in southeastern Ontario. Greg is a certified play therapist and supervisor with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy and was presented with the Monica Hebert Award for contributions to the field of Play Therapy. He is also the recipient of the Liz Manson Award for contributions to the field of children’s mental health, the Base Commander’s Commendation for services to military families, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for contributions to the mental health treatment of military children and families. Greg provides case consultation/supervision and presents on a wide range of topics. Greg is well known as a passionate, creative and playful presenter who makes learning practical, interesting and engaging. 

Continuing Education (CE) information:  24 CE hours for full certificate | 6 hours per module

SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer continuing education (CE) hours. The number of eligible CE hours are outlined within each program. SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute maintains responsibility for the programs.

Other licensing boards and professional organizations will grant continuing education credits for attendance at their own discretion; participants will need to submit the course outline and Certificate of Participation for their consideration.

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