Therapeutic Best Practices with Children & Youth
Friday, January 23, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Online via Zoom
Join the Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota Center for a training on therapeutic best practices working with children, youth, and their families!
Cost: $115 (early bird price of $105 if registered before December 5)
Morning Session
9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Applications of Sandtray in Counseling with Children, Adolescents, and Families
Kristin Meany-Walen, PhD, LMHC
This workshop introduces clinicians to the basics of sandtray interventions —a dynamic, experiential approach that taps into the power of metaphor, symbolism, and nonverbal expression. Designed to be both informative and practical, this workshop blends didactic instruction with interactive learning. Attendees will leave with tools and insights to begin integrating sandtray techniques into their own clinical settings with children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe three (3) benefits of using sandtray interventions with clients.
- Outline the materials needed to use sandtray interventions in their practices.
- Tailor sandtray prompts that respond to the treatment plans and unique needs of clients.
- Apply basic skills of facilitating a sandtray session with clients.
- Reflect on the symbolic and metaphorical meaning of miniatures and tray configurations in the therapeutic process.
- Differentiate between Sandtray Therapy and other expressive or play-based modalities.
- Recognize the ethical considerations and cultural responsiveness involved in using sandtray interventions.
Afternoon Session
12:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Connecting with Kids and Teens: Engaging Youth and their Family System in Therapy
Mindy Kimmel, MSE, LMFT
Engagement matters and begins with the first contact with parents and youth. Often the key to youth accessing mental health care also means involving their caregivers. Being a child and/or adolescent therapist requires navigating complex dynamics such as systemic trauma, custody challenges, mandated reporting, client confidentiality, and barriers around scheduling, technology, and transportation all while trying to build rapport with clients (and their caregivers). This training will explore some of the challenges and clinical contexts present when working with youth as well as creative interventions applicable for clients of all ages.
Learning Objectives:
- Strengthen Therapeutic Engagement with Youth and their Families Virtually and In Person.
- Integrate Child Development Knowledge into Therapeutic Practice.
- Apply Creative Interventions throughout the Therapy Process, including Emotion Regulation.
- Recognize and Respond to Impact of Trauma.
- Identify Ways to Engage and Collaborate with Parents and Caregivers.
- Navigate Challenging Family Dynamics and Legal Contexts
Meet Your Trainers:
Kristin K. Meany-Walen, PhD, LMCH, is clinical faculty at University of Northern Iowa and a counselor in private practice. She is an experienced clinician specializing in expressive therapies, specifically Adlerian Play Therapy. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, Kristin has worked extensively with children, adolescents, and families across a variety of clinical settings, including schools, community agencies, and private practice. Kristin frequently presents and publishes on topics of Adlerian play therapy and effective interventions for working with children and families. She co-authored Doing play therapy: From building the relationship to facilitating change and Partners in play: An Adlerian approach to play therapy (3rd ed.).
Marinda “Mindy” Kimmel, MSE, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MN and WI) and clinical supervisor at the MNSU Mankato Rural Behavioral Health Clinic. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a Bachelor of Applied Science in psychology and the University of Wisconsin Superior with a Master of Science in Education in community counseling. She has 15 years of experience providing mental health services in a variety of settings including at clinics, telehealth, schools, and in home throughout Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. She provides a wide range of psychotherapy for couples, families, adults, teens, and children including use of the DC: 0-5 for children age 5 and under. She has received training in several trauma approaches including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Trauma Resilience Model (TRM), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Trauma Informed Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and adoption competency. She emphasized strengths-based and family systems approaches as well as solution-focused, acceptance and commitment, creative arts, and cognitive behavioral interventions into her work. She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) as well as approved supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, WI DSPS Marriage and Family Therapy, and MN Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.
Registration Questions: Email workforce@mnsu.edu or call 507-389-1094
Training Questions: Email elizabeth.harstad.3@mnsu.edu
Center for Workforce Professional Education
workforce@mnsu.edu
