Adler Graduate Professional School in partnership with The Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) are pleased to offer the only accredited play therapy program internationally that is:
- Professionally accredited - our courses are accredited by the leading international organisation that recognises play therapy as a distinct profession – Play Therapy International (PTI).
- Evidence Based Competency framework - the foundation of training, learning and practice and approach to play therapy practice is evidence based.
- Comprehensive – covering the main therapeutic play approaches – the “Play Therapy Tool-Kit(TM)" with maximum opportunities for hands on experiential learning.
- Competency based – on the rigorous PTI Standards.
- Cohesive - you will benefit seeing how the different approaches may be used in an integrated way.
- Consistent – employers in any country can be assured that candidates who have received PTI accredited training will have had the same opportunities.
- Fully evaluated – most courses are evaluated at the four levels required by the international standards including the standard measurement of students’ clinical work.
Certificate in Therapeutic Play
CPT-501 Module 1: Orientation to Setting up play practice using non Directive Play Therapy
CPT-502 Module 2: Using Symbolic Play Therapy Tools and Metaphor Safely
CTP-503 Module 3: Using Expressive Art Therapy to Reach the Unconscious
This Certificate is designed for anyone with experience of working with children or adolescents, and who wishes to work therapeutically with them including, Adoption/|Foster Agency Workers, Arts Therapists, Clinical and Educational Psychologists, Counsellors, Dance/Movement Therapists, Music Therapists, Nursery or Primary School Teachers/ Assistants, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Pediatricians, Psychiatrists and Psychotherapists.
The Certificate is the starting point for therapeutic work with children using play and the creative arts.
The courses have been designed to:
- Enhance your career/professional skills
- Meet the requirements of registration as a health professional through a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority
- Increase your satisfaction in working with children
- Provide you with the skills to help children develop their emotional literacy
- Provide you with the skills to alleviate behaviour and mental health problems
- Assist your own personal development
- Provide you with the Profession Structure Model competencies defined by PTI/PTUK to work with individual children who have slight to moderate problems
In order to successfully pass the courses you will need to complete:
- 100 clinically supervised sessions with children, within 20 months of starting the course
- A Process Diary
- A PowerPoint presentation showing the effectiveness of play therapy
- Four written and creative assignments, resulting from your training- equivalent to a total of 6000-8000 words
- A case study of a client (4000 words)
- A satisfactory report from a clinical supervisor or equivalent
Diploma in Play Therapy
Pre-requisite - Completion of Certificate in Therapeutic Play
CPT-604 Module 4: Working Therapeutically with Groups of Children- developing metaphorical play skills at an advanced level
CPT-605 Module 5: Therapeutic decision taking, based on deepening skills for working with more severe problems
CPT-606 Module 6: Integrating the therapeutic tool-kit with practice and research
The Diploma revisits and expands upon the play therapy tools taught in the Certificate. The courses will enable you to work with children who have more severe problems and also to work with children in groups. New theoretical concepts are introduced including: the Embodiment, Projection and Role framework (EPR), the Play Therapy Dimensions Model (PTDM) and the neurobiology implications for specific conditions. The entry requirements are the successful completion of the taught modules of the Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills and a minimum of 50 clinical hours of work with children. You will be encouraged to consider working directively as well as non-directively with appropriate clients. You will also be exploring ways of integrating the child as the centre of a social system, which includes schools, families, and team of support. Systemic aspects are considered including your role as an advocate for children who have become part of the justice system. The courses include the support you need to become a fully autonomous, evidence based, reflective Play Therapist in order to develop a new play therapy service from scratch.
A bridge from tutor-led to student-led study starts early in the Diploma course with an introduction to research methods. During the modules of the Diploma students are required to apply these methods to projects and assignments. Opportunities for many forms of creativity will enrich your learning experience.
Learning Methods
Participants will continue to learn through working with other members of the course, as well as during their practice with children, about the roles and responsibilities of the therapeutic relationship. There will be tutorials on theory, but formal teaching and lecturing will be kept to an essential minimum.
Learning will be mainly experiential and collaborative using pair, group work, role-play and case presentations. More emphasis is placed on written work including an essay, a project plan and implementation portfolio.
In order to successfully pass the diploma courses you will need to:
- Complete 100 clinically supervised sessions with children, within 20 months of starting the course
- Submit a satisfactory Process Diary
- Write an in-depth essay on aspects of play therapy (3000 words). This could be the basis of your MA dissertation
- Submit a case study of a group of children that you have worked with for at least 6 sessions (3000 words)
- An assessment of series of 3 sand trays produced by one of your clients, showing your understanding of your learning
- A written analysis and assessment of a series of 3 child’s drawings
- Produce a portfolio and commentary upon a project for developing a play therapy service in a new setting (equivalent of 4000 words)
- Obtain satisfactory reports from a clinical supervisor or equivalent and your placement
- Satisfactory complete the experiential exercises
Play Therapy Application Requirements
To be eligible to participate in the Play Therapy Certificate & Diploma program a student should have the following:
- BA in related subjects – psychology, education, children studies, nursing, occupational therapy, social work or equivalent proven competencies.
- Two years working with children between the ages of 3 – 14.
- Presently or planning on working with children, access to supervised placement an asset.
- Evidence of educational knowledge of basic psychological principals, could include undergraduate/graduate courses in child development.
- English language proficiency, demonstrated by either: a. English being the applicant’s first language or b. Completion of the applicant’s undergraduate degree at a university in which the language of instruction and examination is English. Or, submission of proficiency from a recognized assessment organization.
Successful Applicants will be required to provide the following:
- Police Reference Check
- Registration with Play Therapy Canada or Play Therapy International
If you have any questions regarding the above requirements but are interested in registering for the certificate program please send an email to [email protected]
Certificate Program - 15 days of training (120 hours)
Diploma Program* - Additional 15 days of training (120 hours) - (leads to Certification as Registered Play Therapist)**
*pre-requisite - Certificate Program
**plus any additional CRPO requirements, please see website at www.crpo.ca