WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?

Play is described as the child's world of "make-believe", a safe place to work through inner conflicts, where toys are used as tools. For the therapist, it is one of the best places to learn about the child's inner thoughts, personality, worries and wishes (Irwin). Giants in the field such as Virginia Axline, Clark Moustakas, Carl Rogers and Haim Ginon have contributed much to the early development of play therapy. Play therapy is a specialized field in which the trained therapist creates an environment where the child uses play to heal.

This specialized training is not offered in most mental health related graduate programs. As a result, there are few fully trained child therapists/play therapists. Obtaining play therapy credentials is not mandatory but does demonstrate to consumers, parents/caregivers and health insurance companies added expertise and increased credibility. Every agency that provides therapy to children and families should have at least one Registered Play Therapist that is fully trained and credentialed.

The Association for Play Therapy located in Fresno, California offers Registered Play Therapy credentials to licensed mental health clinicians. In order to obtain credentials, 150 hours of play therapy training, in addition to clinical supervision is required. Content of training includes history, theory, techniques/methods, and the application of play therapy to special populations and in special settings. In addition, there are specific requirements that must be met before obtaining credentials. Please contact the Association for Play Therapy for more specific written information. CBPS provide over 150 hours of training. Our provider number is APT#97-034. To contact the association, please call Tel.# 559-252-2278 or send an e-mail to: info@a4pt.org. Website: www.a4pt.org. Please note that CBPS does not provide credentials or licensure of any kind.

Play Therapy Theories (40 - 50 hours recommended):
  • History, Theory & Foundations of Play Therapy: 2 hours
  • Fundamentals of Play Therapy: 6 hours
  • Child Centered Play Therapy - Day 1: 6 hours
  • Psychodynamic Play Therapy - Day 1: 6 hours
  • Gestalt Play Therapy for Children & Adolescents - Day 1: 6 hours
  • Filial Family Therapy - Day 1: 6 hours
  • Jungian Analytical Play Therapy: Activating the Child's Self-Healing Archetype (ADVANCED LEVEL): 6 hours
  • Play Therapy Skills Lab I - Day 1: 6 hours
  • Play Therapy Skills Lab II - Day 1: 6 hours
Total Hours: 50
Play Therapy Techniques or Methods (40 - 50 hours recommended):
  • Play Therapy Skills Lab I - Day 2: 6 hours
  • Kaleidoscope of Art/Play Therapy Techniques: 6 hours
  • Child Centered Play Therapy - Day 2: 6 hours
  • Gestalt Play Therapy for Children & Adolescents - Day 2: 6 hours
  • Use of Art in Play Therapy for Understanding Child Development: 6 hours
  • Play Therapy Skills Lab II - Day 2: 6 hours
  • Use of Therapeutic Stories in Play Therapy: 6 hours
  • Filial Family Therapy - Day 2: 6 hours
  • Psychodynamic Play Therapy - Day 2: 6 hours
  • Family Play Therapy: 6 hours
  • Nuts & Bolts of Portable/In-Home Play Therapy: 6 hours
  • Teaching Social Skills Using Play-Based Techniques: 6 hours
Total Hours: 72
Play Therapy Applications(special settings or populations, 40 - 50 hours recommended):
  • Guidelines & Techniques of Art Therapy Treatment with Traumatized Children in Play Therapy: 6 hours
  • Play Therapy for Children with ADHD: 6 hours
  • Play Therapy with Elementary School Age Children Affected by Trauma: 6 hours
  • Strategies for Smart Parenting: Ideas that Work!!! (Parenting Skills for Play Therapists): 6 hours
  • Grief & Loss Issues in Play Therapy: 6 hours
  • Group Play Therapy for Children & Adolescents: 6 hours
  • Play Therapy with the Angry Child: 6 hours
  • Ethics & Clinical Supervision for Play Therapists/Child Psychotherapists: 6 hours
Total Hours: 48

Play Therapy History (4 - 5 hours recommended):
  • History, Theory & Foundations of Play Therapy: 4 hours
Total Hours: 4