"Play therapy is often understood as mere technique, a collection of interventions applied to presenting problems. This session argues something different: that play therapy, practiced with depth and intentionality, is one of the most sophisticated clinical frameworks available across the lifespan. This introductory session provides an accessible foundation in play therapy theory and practice, tracing the field’s theoretical roots before introducing Jungian psychology as a depth-oriented lens for understanding what happens in the playroom. Participants will explore core Jungian concepts, including the psyche, the persona, and the shadow, and examine how these frameworks illuminate the symbolic communication of clients across developmental stages. A central premise of this session: the therapist is the most important play material in the room. Understanding our own persona, the face we present professionally, and the shadow it conceals is not secondary to clinical competency. It is clinical competency. Participants will engage in a hands-on mask-making experiential to explore one dimension of the consciously known persona, followed by reflective processing and clinical application. No prior knowledge of Jung or play therapy is required. This session is appropriate for clinicians, supervisors, and students across mental health disciplines at all experience levels seeking to deepen their understanding of play-based and depth-oriented approaches."