March 2026
The Power of Play in Learning: Inviting Belonging, Engagement, and Transformative Learning
Annual PACE Teaching & Learning Conference, Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, TN.
Interviews, keynotes, workshops, and presentations
Previous Work
Here’s a fuller look at interviews, invited talks, keynotes, webinars, workshops, trainings, and conference presentations across playful pedagogy, play therapy, and human development.
Interviews and Media
Media
Podcast
June 2025
Is This Even Working? Patience, Process, and Patterns in Play Therapy
Therapist Confidential Podcast, Psychotherapy.net
February 2024
Adults Just Want to Have Fun: Why People Are Seeking Refuge in Toys and Experiences Again
Interviewed for NBC News
December 2023
Nonconformists Embrace Play as a Tool for Teaching and Learning
Interviewed for Inside Higher Ed
September 2023
Meet Lisa Forbes
Interviewed for CanvasRebel Magazine
Keynotes
Higher Ed
Learning
Belonging
February 2026
The Classroom as a Living System: Teaching with Play at the Center
The 2026 Excellence in Teaching and Learning Summit, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ.
April 2025
Carving Your Own Path
Chi Sigma Iota Beta Alpha Omega New Member Initiation, CU Denver.
February 2025
The Power of Playful Pedagogy: Igniting Belonging, Engagement, and Learning
University Forum 2025, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT.
April 2024
Resisting Soul Deconstruction through Rebellion and Play
University of Northern Colorado Chi Sigma Iota Rho Epsilon New Member Initiation, Greeley, CO.
February 2024
Playful Pedagogy: Igniting Belonging and Engagement
The Playposium at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
January 2024
Playful Pedagogy in Higher Education
Spring Symposium at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC.
April 2023
The Power of Playful Pedagogy: Igniting Belonging, Engagement, and Connection
Center for Educational Excellence Evidence-Based Teaching Conference Series, Palo Alto University.
May 2022
Playful Online Learning: Engagement, Joy, and Connection
Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference, Virtual.
Workshops and Webinars
Training
Workshop
Webinar
October 2026
Narrative Child-Centered Play Therapy: Expanding Possibility Through Story and Play
The Association for Play Therapy National Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Upcoming
April 2026
Narrative Child-Centered Play Therapy
The Colorado Association for Play Therapy Spring Conference, Westminster, CO.
March 2026
Bringing Play and Developmental Science Back Into the Classroom
Webinar, The Society for Research in Child Development, Virtual.
February 2026
The “Pitch It” Game: Designing Playful Interventions
Workshop, The 2026 Excellence in Teaching and Learning Summit, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ.
January 2026
Trauma-Informed and Play-Centered Teaching for Dance Educators
PD Training, The Colorado Ballet, Denver, CO.
November 2024
Play Therapy-Informed Skateboard Lessons
Webinar, Oklahoma Association for Play Therapy Continuing Education, Virtual.
November 2024
Simplifying Play Therapy for Supervisors
PD Training, CU Denver Counseling Program and Student and Community Counseling Center, Virtual.
June 2023
An Unlikely Ally: Harnessing the Power of Play at Work
Pre-Conference Workshop, Educause Learning Initiative, Anaheim, CA.
April 2023
Faculty Playground Session
Session 6 of 6 in Playful Pedagogy: Reviving Teaching Through Play, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
March 2023
Protecting Time and Enhancing Well-Being
Session 5 of 6 in Playful Pedagogy: Reviving Teaching Through Play, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
February 2023
Harnessing Play for Efficacy & Student Engagement
Session 4 of 6 in Playful Pedagogy: Reviving Teaching Through Play, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
January 2023
Playful Rebellion: Not Taking Ourselves Too Seriously as Adults and Academics
Workshop, ThinqStudio Presentation.
November 2022
Faculty Playground Session
Session 3 of 6 in Playful Pedagogy: Reviving Teaching Through Play, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
October 2022
Overcoming Barriers That Restrict Our Playfulness
Session 2 of 6 in Playful Pedagogy: Reviving Teaching Through Play, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
October 2022
Playful Pedagogy: The Power of Play in Higher Education
Webinar, HDFS Speaker Series, Colorado State University.
September 2022
Re-Centering a Belief in the Power of Play
Session 1 of 6 in Playful Pedagogy: Reviving Teaching Through Play, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
August 2022
Play Therapy and Creativity with Adult Clients in Psychotherapy
Invited Workshop Talk, The CU Denver Counseling Center.
February 2022
Designing a Playful Classroom and Increasing Student Learning
Lunch and Learn, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at CU Denver.
January 2021
Play in Teaching and Learning
Invited Talk, New Faculty Orientation, CU Denver.
October 2021
Re-Envisioning Academia with Playful Minds and Joyful Hearts
Invited ThinqStudio Talk, CU Denver.
March 2020
Play Therapy
Student and Community Counseling Center, CU Denver, Master’s Level Practicum Guest Seminar.
February 2020
Fostering Classroom Discussions in Zoom with Play
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice, CU Denver.
January 2020
Filial Therapy at Home
Mile High Early Learning Preschool, Denver, CO.
Conference Presentations
Conference
Presentation
June 2025
Play as Resistance and Subversion
Conference Presentation, Playposium 2025, Kennedy Mountain Campus, Red Feather Lakes, CO.
October 2024
Playful Pedagogy: Igniting Inclusion, Belonging, and Engagement
Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Tucson, AZ.
February 2024
Playful Spirits of Practice: Playful Pedagogy
Conference Presentation, The Playposium, Los Angeles, CA.
October 2023
Playful Pedagogy: Igniting Belonging, Engagement, and Learning
Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference, Denver, CO.
November 2022
Playful Pedagogy: Harnessing the Power of Play to Better Prepare Future Counselors
Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Regional Conference, Coeur d’Alene, ID.
July 2021
The Future Is FUN: The Transformational Power of Play
ShapingEDU Winter Games, Arizona State University, Virtual.
February 2021
Wanna Play? Incorporating Playful Pedagogy in Counselor Education
Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Regional Conference, Virtual.