About this course

Learning Objectives

• Define and apply the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) framework in play therapy settings.
• Explain the four domains of the Therapeutic Powers of Play and how they apply to LGBTQ+/SOGIE clients.
• Examine the role of intersectionality and cultural humility in fostering supportive therapeutic environments for LGBTQ+ youth in play therapy.
• Identify ethical principles and inclusive strategies to support LGBTQ+ clients and families through affirmative play therapy practices.
• Demonstrate an understanding of directive and non-directive interventions, such as storytelling, sand tray therapy, bibliotherapy, and expressive arts.
• Evaluate treatment planning considerations and trauma-informed care approaches specific to LGBTQ+/SOGIE populations within play therapy.

Learning Levels

• Intermediate

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Kurt W. Oster, LBS, LICSW-S, LCSW-QS, BCD, Registered Play Therapist™

  CEO, VonOstir Innovation Services, PLLC & Chief Clinical Officer, Aspire Integrated Healthcare Solutions, LLC

  Transformative Innovator • Clinical Leader • Educator • Author • Advocate

  Kurt W. Oster is a dynamic and visionary clinician, educator, author, and entrepreneur with over 16 years of dedicated service in the field of mental health. As Owner, President, and CEO of VonOstir Innovation Services, PLLC, and Chief Clinical Officer of Aspire Integrated Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Mr. Oster is committed to advancing inclusive, evidence-based care across clinical, educational, and community systems.

  A multi-state licensed clinical social worker and nationally board-certified expert in trauma and play therapy, Mr. Oster is a Pennsylvania Licensed Behavioral Specialist (LBS), an Alabama and Minnesota Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW-S), and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He is also a Florida Qualified Supervisor (QS), a Certified School Social Worker (CSSW) in both Florida and New Jersey, a Board-Certified Diplomate (BCD) in Clinical Social Work, a Registered Play Therapist (RPT™), and a Certified Playmaker through the Life is Good Playmaker Project.

  Mr. Oster holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Urban Studies from Rutgers University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Science (MS) in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Colorado Technical University. He is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and a FEMA Professional Continuity Practitioner, Level I.

  Specializing in trauma-informed care, LGBTQIA+ mental health, and child and adolescent therapy, Mr. Oster provides direct services to children, youth, young adults, and families navigating complex emotional, developmental, and systemic challenges. His clinical work integrates play therapy, identity-affirming practice, and resilience-building strategies across diverse populations.

  As an internationally recognized presenter and subject matter expert, Mr. Oster regularly provides training on youth civic engagement, SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) mental health, trauma recovery, disaster preparedness, and crisis response. He is a Member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and is widely respected for his commitment to culturally responsive, community-embedded care.

  Mr. Oster is currently authoring his first textbook, Transformative Expressions in Play Therapy: Working with LGBTQ+ Clients, set to be published in June 2025. In addition to his clinical and academic work, he is also an internationally acclaimed author of young adult fantasy fiction, known for weaving themes of identity, resilience, and belonging into richly imagined worlds. His forthcoming textbook is poised to become a foundational work in the field of affirmative play therapy, blending theory, practice, and advocacy to support LGBTQ+ youth and families through creative and transformative approaches.

Disclosure

References

• Abreu, R.L., Lefevor, G.T., Barrita, A.M., Gonzalez, K.A., Watson, R.J. (2023). Intersectional microaggressions, depressive symptoms, and the role of LGBTQ-specific parental support in a sample of Latinx sexual and gender minority youth. Journal of Adolescence, 95(3), pp. 584-595. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12139
• American Psychological Association. (2023). Ethnic identity. APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/ethnic-identity
• American Psychological Association. (2023). Racial identity. APA dictionary of psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/racial-identity
• American Psychological Association. (2017). Gay and poor: The intersection of sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. 32. https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-32
• Byrd, R., Lorelle, S., and Donald, E. (2021). Transgender and gender-expansive affirming child-centered play therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(2), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000155
• Gil, E., and Drewes, A. A. (Eds.). (2021). Cultural issues in play therapy (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
• Landreth, G.L. (2024). Play Therapy. The Art of the Relationship (4th Ed.). Routledge.
• Lewis, C. C., Boyd, M., Puspitasari, A., Navarro, E., Howard, J., Kassab, H., Hoffman, M., Scott, K., Lyon, A., Douglas, S., Simon, G., & Kroenke, K. (2019). Implementing measurement-based care in behavioral health: A review. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(3), 324–335. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3329
• Oster, K.W. (2024). Treatment Planning with LGBTQ+ (SOGIE) Youth and Families. In Wonder, L.L. and Affee, M.L. Play Therapy Treatment Planning with Children and Families. pp.203-208. Routledge.
• Stutey, Klein, D. E., Henninger, J., Crethar, H. C., and Hammer, T. R. (2020). Examining Gender in Play Therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy, 29(1), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000108
• Sarvet, B. (2020). Measurement-Based Care in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am, 29(4), 691-702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2020.06.009
• Schaefer, C. E., and Drewes, A. A. (Eds.), (2014). The therapeutic powers of play: 20 core agents of change (2nd ed.). Wiley.
• Stulmaker, H.L. and Purswell, K.E. (2022), Cultural opportunities with religious populations. In D. Ray, Y. Ogawa, Y., and Y. Chen, (Eds). Multicultural Play Therapy, Routledge.
• Swan, K. and Scholttelkorb, A. (2022). Cultural opportunities with children with disabilities. In Ray, D., Ogawa, Y., and Chen, Y. (Eds). Multicultural Play Therapy, Routledge.
• Todd, B. K., Barry, J. A., and Thommessen, S. O. (2017). Preferences for ‘gender-typed’ toys in boys and girls aged 9 to 32 months. Infant and Child Development, 26, e1986. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/icd.1986