Purple Stream
Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
Therapeutic Play Skills
6 Day Certification
This certificate program offers specialized training in therapeutic play skills for those working with children and/or families. The program focuses on play-based strategies and techniques and introduces participants to a variety of play modalities and theories of play interventions based on principles of child development. This course is suited to those who do not intend on becoming a registered or certified play therapist. The program is designed for those who want to increase their knowledge and skills when working with children through acquiring this specialized certificate.
The course is comprised of a total of 6 days of training – 42 hours offered in a Blended Format (In-room or Live on-line) and 2 non-contact hours (44 hours total). A minimum number of participants are required for In Room attendance). The practical skills attained during this course may apply to a wide range of developmental, educational, counselling and outreach settings. Not all settings have a designated play space in which to work with children and youth, therefore participants learn how to create a portable play kit. Participants will receive training on the use of play-based strategies from a wide range of modalities including: Expressive Art, Puppets, Miniatures, Therapeutic Games, Therapeutic Stories, use of Doll Play and Sandtray.
During the last two days of the program, participants will focus on the experiential use of sandtray, meeting with parents/caregivers and teachers, group work using play-based strategies and case conceptualization using the Therapeutic Play Conceptualization Form. The program addresses specific topics related to schools, counselling centres and outreach counselling. Overall, the program is based in theory and is highly experiential. The practical skills will meet the requirements for the Competencies Checklist for Therapeutic Play.
The last two days of the Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills focuses on practice and applications training. During this part of the course Upon successful completion of the program (which includes full daily attendance for all 6 training days) as well as a quiz, participants will receive a Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills awarded by Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute. All participants will receive an extensive training manual.
Also view: 9-Hour Certificate: Foundations in Therapeutic Play Skills (for host organizations)
External Review of Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills Program
RMPTI is proud to share that The Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (Purple Stream) is externally reviewed by Academic and Research Discipline Lead in Play Therapy Dr. Judi Parson, at Deakin University Australia. External review provides a level of assurance for students that course material and course expectations are evaluated by other than RMPTI. RMPTI is dedicated to ongoing excellence in training in the field of Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy and is accountable to review standards.
Dr. Judi Parson is a paediatric qualified Registered Nurse, Play Therapist and Senior Lecturer in Play Therapy. She is the Discipline Leader for Play Therapy in the School of Health and Social Development based at the Waterfront Campus, Geelong.
Judi’s PhD led her to investigate play therapy knowledge and techniques. She completed her MA Play Therapy (with Distinction), at Roehampton University London, United Kingdom, to become a fully qualified play therapist. She has been actively involved in the development of play therapy in Australia and a co-founding director of the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA). Judi is also a founding member of the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA).
Judi A. Parson, PhD, MA Play Therapy, BN, RN, APPTA RPT-S, Discipline Leader and Senior Lecturer in Play Therapy, School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia. Judi is dedicated to the development of Play Therapy and Therapeutic Play.
Admission Requirements
- Completion of course work at College-level (minimum)
- Academic background is focussed in the areas of Humanities, Health, Early Childhood Education, Child and Youth Worker, Social Science, Education or Mental Health
- Relevant work experience with children and/or families
Program Goals
The primary goals of this program are to introduce play-based and expressive activities as a way to work with children in a variety of educational and counselling settings including schools and outreach/community settings, and to enhance awareness of clinical judgment in selecting, tailoring and implementing play-based activities. Case vignettes focus on common referral issues in school and community-based settings and are related to working with minor to moderate adjustment issues. During the program two theories of play therapy practice will be reviewed: Child-Centred Play Therapy and Adlerian Play Therapy.
Click here for the details of the Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
To access program dates see the training calendar
Learning Objectives
To provide practitioners working in a variety of settings tools for working with children and youth with mild to moderate adjustment problems. Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills 47 hour program is intended to provide practitioners with basic play and expressive knowledge and skills.
Methods
- Experiential activities
- Readings
- Video examples
- Case examples Experiential Activities
- Group Work
- Pairs Work
Upon successful completion of the program, each participant will be able to:
- Describe up to 6 play-based activities suitable for use in a variety of educational, counselling and outreach settings
- Describe basic principles of Child-Centred and Adlerian Play Therapy Theories
- Demonstrate basic inquiry skills
- Demonstrate an ability to follow the child’s lead in a play session
- Describe Ethical issues in therapeutic play practice
- List play categories
- List core therapeutic powers of play
- Use developmental frameworks when engaging in therapeutic play
- List common themes in children’s play
- Describe the core dimensions of the Play Therapy Dimensions
- Describe the roles of parents, caregivers and teachers in the therapeutic play process
(Full Syllabus available to Therapeutic Play Skills students)
Certificate Award
Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills indicating the completion of 42 contact hours, 2 non-contact hours (44 hours total) of specialized training in therapeutic play skills. RMPTI is an Approved provider for APT, CAPT and BCPTA. This certificate may be submitted towards continuing education for those who are currently Registered with APT or Certified with CAPT or BCPTA.
APT, CAPT, & BCPTA Continuing Education Credits will only be awarded to Mental Health Professionals. All credits must be approved by the appropriate governing body and cannot be guaranteed by RMPTI.
This program DOES NOT provide the adequate training for Certification or Registration to become a Play Therapist. It is designed to provide practitioners with specialized Therapeutic Play Skills for those who do not qualify or who do not wish to take the path towards registration/certification as a Play Therapist. Play Therapists must have a Clinical Masters Degree in a Mental Health field in order to qualify for Registration or Certification. If you take this course and do have a Masters degree in a Mental Health field and decide you would like to pursue a Play Therapy designation, you will qualify to apply for the Green stream “Foundations of Play Therapy”program
The Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills is awarded by Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute on the basis of:
- Satisfactory attendance (no whole module may be missed unless there are extenuating circumstances. A make-up assignment may be required depending on amount of time missed)
- Submission of the Self-Assessment as related to core competencies of the Therapeutic Play Practitioner and approval from the External Examiner
- Successful Completion of a Mastery Test