PLAY IS THE FUTURE
International Conference | Advancing Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, Psychosocial Care and Trauma-Informed Practice
Established in 2026, Play Is the Future is an annual international conference dedicated to advancing play therapy, expressive arts therapy, psychosocial care, and trauma-informed approaches to mental health and community-based interventions.
Held each year in June or July in Chiavenna, Italy, the conference brings together mental health professionals, researchers, educators, students, and practitioners from across the world to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and explore how creative and play-based approaches can promote emotional well-being, resilience, healing, and social transformation.
Organised by the International Academy for Play Therapy (INA), in collaboration with international and local partners, the conference provides a space for experiential learning and interdisciplinary dialogue, encouraging the development of innovative practices across mental health, education, healthcare, rehabilitation, and social care.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
In today's evolving landscape of psychosocial care, play therapy and expressive arts therapies are increasingly recognised as powerful approaches to supporting emotional development, healing from trauma, and fostering meaningful relationships.
Play Is the Future brings together an international community of mental health professionals, educators, researchers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge, share clinical experiences, and explore innovative approaches to play-based interventions across diverse settings — including schools, hospitals, migration contexts, and humanitarian programmes.
Through interdisciplinary dialogue, experiential learning, and the exchange of research and best practices, the conference aims to inspire collaboration and advance innovative approaches to psychosocial care, with a particular focus on children and families.
Join us in person in Chiavenna, northern Italy, or participate online. Nestled in a beautiful Alpine setting, Chiavenna offers an ideal meeting place at the crossroads of Italy and Switzerland, approximately one hour from St. Moritz and one hour from Bellagio, on the shores of Lake Como.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This international play therapy conference is designed for:
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Mental health professionals
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Play therapists and expressive arts therapists
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Psychologists and counselors
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Educators and school professionals
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Social workers and healthcare providers
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Researchers and academics
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Students in psychology, education, healthcare, and social sciences
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Professionals working with children, families, and communities
Whether experienced or at the beginning of your journey, this conference offers a unique space for experiential learning, networking, and professional growth.
MAIN TOPICS
Play Therapy, Emotional Well-Being, and Trauma-Informed Practice
Evidence-based approaches to emotional regulation, attachment, trauma recovery, and resilience through play therapy and trauma-informed care.
Expressive Arts Therapy and Creative Interventions
Use of art, movement, storytelling, sandtray, and drama within expressive arts therapy and psychosocial care.
Community Interventions and Psychosocial Care
Application of play-based interventions in schools, hospitals, refugee contexts, and community mental health programs.
Innovation in Mental Health and Education
Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating creativity, play-based interventions, and relational care.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will:
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Develop practical skills in play therapy and expressive arts therapy
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Strengthen trauma-informed care competencies
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Explore real-world community interventions
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Enhance emotional well-being and resilience and healing frameworks
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Improve interdisciplinary collaboration among mental health professionals
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Understand play as a tool for social transformation
WHY PLAY MATTERS
Play is a fundamental process for human development, emotional integration, and relational connection.
Within psychosocial care, play enables individuals and communities to process trauma, strengthen attachment, and build resilience and healing capacities.
This conference highlights how play therapy, expressive arts therapy, and play-based interventions can transform contemporary mental health practice across global contexts.
UPCOMING EVENT
DATES: June 25–27, 2027 (Friday-Sunday)
LOCATION: Chiavenna, Italy
ORGANIZER: International Academy for Play Therapy (INA)
LANGUAGE: English
FORMAT: International in-person and online conference
JOIN PLAY IS THE FUTURE 2027
For Participants
Join professionals from around the world for three days of learning, connection, and inspiration in play therapy, expressive arts therapy, trauma-informed care, and psychosocial practice.
For Speakers
Share your research, clinical experience, innovative practices, or perspectives on play therapy and related fields with an international audience at the Play Is the Future 2027 conference. We welcome proposals from professionals, researchers, educators, and practitioners across related fields.
Submission deadline: September 30, 2026.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Play Is the Future?
Play Is the Future is a leading international movement in play therapy, expressive arts therapy, psychosocial care, and mental health innovation.
Play Is the Future includes an annual international conference, a series of specialized articles, and a range of branded merchandise, the proceeds of which are donated to support the Academy’s psychosocial projects. Exciting new developments will be announced starting in 2027.
Are CE hours awarded at the conference?
Yes. By attending the conference, you will earn CE hours, which are valid for obtaining or maintaining play therapy credentials with the Association for Play Therapy (United States) and the Association for Play Therapy Italy.
Can I combine the conference with a holiday in Italy and Switzerland?
Yes, absolutely. Chiavenna is a strategic and charming location in northern Italy. It is about one hour from St. Moritz in Switzerland and one hour from Bellagio on Lake Como, making it an ideal base for combining the conference with a holiday experience between Italy and Switzerland.
Can I stay at the conference venue with my family?
Yes, this may be possible. Priority is given to conference participants, but if availability allows based on final registrations, we will be happy to also accommodate family members at an additional per-person fee. In this case, you will be placed on a waiting list, and we will confirm availability closer to the event.
Chiavenna Hosts the Best of International Play Therapy
"Chiavenna has once again confirmed its role as an international hub for Play Therapy. Following the international conference Play Is the Future, held from 2 to 4 July, Ostello Al Deserto hosted the first level of the international Crisis Play Therapy certification program from 6 to 12 July, transforming the town into a meeting point and training center for professionals from around the world.
The conference brought together ten international speakers and dozens of participants from 11 countries, offering a rich program of keynote presentations, workshops, and discussion sessions focused on the role of play as a tool for healing, inclusion, and community development.
Topics covered included the design of play-based community interventions in crisis settings, the use of expressive arts to overcome cultural barriers, the interpretation of children's drawings in war contexts, transcultural approaches to engaging families in therapeutic processes, and work with Indigenous communities and the world's most vulnerable populations.
At the conclusion of the conference, the international Crisis Play Therapy Certification Program officially began. This training pathway is designed for professionals working in mental health, education, rehabilitation, healthcare, and social services.
The program provides specialized competencies for designing and implementing clinical and psychosocial interventions in emergency and high-vulnerability settings, addressing trauma, grief, natural disasters, armed conflict, migration, and poverty through the integration of Play Therapy, expressive arts, and the latest advances in neuroscience.
Both events were organized by the INA – International Academy for Play Therapy, a Swiss association founded by Claudio Mochi, Scientific Director of the Certification Program, and Isabella Cassina, Director of International Project Management. For many years, they have led training initiatives and psychosocial projects in crisis settings across numerous countries worldwide". (ZMR, July 11, 2026)