Zines for Teen Play Therapy
A beginners course about the therapeutic benefits of zines and how to incorporate it into Play Therapy sessions with teen clients.
If you're looking for some fresh ideas, enroll!
Zine templates and instructions included!
If you're looking for some fresh ideas, enroll!
Zine templates and instructions included!

The course itself
Picture this: A 15-year-old client is sitting in your office. They've been masking all day at school. They're exhausted by the effort of translating their autistic brain into allistic-approved sentences. When you ask how they feel, you get the dreaded: "I don’t know." They insist they're too old for your play room.
After this training, you'll have:
🖍️ A deeper understanding of autistic masking and queer identity exploration from a lived-experience perspective.
🖍️ 9 ready-to-use, printable zine templates (3 designs, 3 distinct styles each) that you can use in your very next session.
🖍️ Scripts for when teens say, "I'm not creative." (No art skills required!)
🖍️ A bridge-building tool: How to connect confused guardians to their teen.
You don't need any previous Play Therapy experience to learn how to use zines as a Play Therapy activity. We will explore how zines intersect with Gestalt Play Therapy and Child-Centered Play Therapy to benefit our teen clients. Whether you're directive or non-, there will be something in this training to suit your style! You’ll learn to use zines and their materials as “the toys” for CCPT and as a Gestalt “experiment.”
✨ Special focus given to autistic, queer & trans clients.
Stop asking "and how does that make you feel?" and start facilitating deep, identity-affirming play.
Bonus content includes:
📘 9 page PDF of 3 zine templates to use with clients
✨ 3 variations of each template
📗 5 page PDF of instructions, prompts & resources
✨ Canva Pro users can create their own template
📺 Includes video of how to fold and cut zines
You want to honor their identity, boost their self-esteem, and help them express themselves, but traditional talk therapy (and standard CBT worksheets) aren't cutting it.
What if you handed them a marker, some collage materials, and a blank piece of paper?
After this training, you'll have:
🖍️ A deeper understanding of autistic masking and queer identity exploration from a lived-experience perspective.
🖍️ 9 ready-to-use, printable zine templates (3 designs, 3 distinct styles each) that you can use in your very next session.
🖍️ Scripts for when teens say, "I'm not creative." (No art skills required!)
🖍️ A bridge-building tool: How to connect confused guardians to their teen.
You don't need any previous Play Therapy experience to learn how to use zines as a Play Therapy activity. We will explore how zines intersect with Gestalt Play Therapy and Child-Centered Play Therapy to benefit our teen clients. Whether you're directive or non-, there will be something in this training to suit your style! You’ll learn to use zines and their materials as “the toys” for CCPT and as a Gestalt “experiment.”
✨ Special focus given to autistic, queer & trans clients.
Stop asking "and how does that make you feel?" and start facilitating deep, identity-affirming play.
Bonus content includes:
📘 9 page PDF of 3 zine templates to use with clients
✨ 3 variations of each template
📗 5 page PDF of instructions, prompts & resources
✨ Canva Pro users can create their own template
📺 Includes video of how to fold and cut zines
Additional Information
🕒 You can access this course at any time after you purchase it. It's self-paced and pre-recorded.
📝 A course transcript PDF is provided with the purchase.
🚫Due to the nature of digital products, we cannot offer a refund. It is very important that you read this product page and its description thoroughly.
❔If you have any questions, please direct them to hello@cryptidlearns.com .
📋 Case studies and session materials are only shared with client consent on file.
🏆 This product does currently provide Continuing Education credits. Completion and passing the post-test qualifies for 1 non-contact APT CE credit and 1 NBCC credit hour.
📝 A course transcript PDF is provided with the purchase.
🚫Due to the nature of digital products, we cannot offer a refund. It is very important that you read this product page and its description thoroughly.
❔If you have any questions, please direct them to hello@cryptidlearns.com .
📋 Case studies and session materials are only shared with client consent on file.
🏆 This product does currently provide Continuing Education credits. Completion and passing the post-test qualifies for 1 non-contact APT CE credit and 1 NBCC credit hour.
Course Lessons
Learning Objectives
- Participants will apply a non-directive and a directive framework to zine-making in Play Therapy.
- Participants will interpret core Play Therapy principles for use with teenage clients.
- Participants will prepare a zine-making intervention for use in Play Therapy with teen clients.
Presented by
Dr. Kade Sharp
PhD, LICSW, CMHS, CST, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this training qualify for Continuing Education credits/hours?
Yes! Currently, completion of this course qualifies for 1 non-contact Association for Play Therapy Continuing Education credit. There is a post-test that must be passed in order to receive the certificate. (Play therapy credit available to mental health professionals & graduate students in a mental health program.)
Curious Cryptid Learning is an APT Approved Provider #25-797.
Additionally, this content is geared toward NBCC's Category 1: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship content area for 1 NBCC credit hour.
Curious Cryptid Learning has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7930. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Curious Cryptid Learning is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
This course does not qualify for AASECT continuing education credits.
Additionally, this content is geared toward NBCC's Category 1: Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship content area for 1 NBCC credit hour.
Curious Cryptid Learning has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7930. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Curious Cryptid Learning is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
This course does not qualify for AASECT continuing education credits.
Is this about in-person or telehealth sessions?
Both styles of sessions are discussed with a focus on in-person.
Can I incorporate this into sessions if I've never made a zine before?
Yes! This is essentially a beginner's guide, so no prior experience is needed with zine creation or with Play Therapy.
Can I buy the zine templates for Play Therapy without buying the course?
Yes! If you would like to only purchase the 5 page PDF of instructions and resources (including a How to Fold Zines video) with the 9 page PDF of zine templates for $12, click here.
This resource is meant to be reusable with multiple clients (a "clinical use" copy.)
This resource is meant to be reusable with multiple clients (a "clinical use" copy.)
Conflict of Interest and Financial Declaration:
The presenter will receive financial gains from the purchase of this pre-recorded webinar. The presenter is the owner of this learning platform and has no other conflicts of interest.
Policy for Complaints:
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with the quality of this course or any other issue related to this training, please email us at hello@cryptidlearns.com and we will respond within 48 business hours.
What if I need accommodations?
Curious Cryptid Learning aims to be inclusive and understands there are many different ways people need to access learning information & materials. Curious Cryptid Learning strives to provide ADA compliant content to the public for physical, visual, and auditory disabilities.
If you need accommodations for this pre-recorded course, please contact us at hello@cryptidlearns.com and let us know your needs. This course comes with a full transcript PDF.
If you need accommodations for this pre-recorded course, please contact us at hello@cryptidlearns.com and let us know your needs. This course comes with a full transcript PDF.



