Child Play Therapy Training

The benefits of child play therapy.

Child play therapy training provides professional therapists an opportunity to learn, practice, and hone innovative and exciting play therapy techniques! These child play therapy trainings from Mary Ruth Cross, often offered through the use of play therapy continuing education workshops, conferences, and retreats, allow mental health professionals the chance to begin or continue the path to becoming a Registered Play Therapist. As a Registered Play Therapist, counselors are then able to work with children and primary caregivers to research, assess, and treat developmental issues. A play therapist might work with children who exhibit anger issues, grief and loss, divorce and/or family stress, anxiety and depression, developmental delays, learning or attention problems, social withdrawal or isolation, decreased interest in previously enjoyed activities, changes in appetite, sleep, or mood swings, or overly aggressive behavior.

Get started with our introductory course.

One of the most popular and recommended trainings for those who wish to become a registered play therapist is offered by our team instructor Mary Ruth Cross at the Academy for Play Therapy Training™. This foundational training is called “Are you kidding? An introduction to play therapy” and presents the history, theories, and components of play therapy as a model to work with children, adolescents and families. During this child play therapy training, we cover psychodynamic theories, cognitive-behavioral models, Ecosystemic Play Therapy, family therapy, and expressive arts. Learn more about this workshop and register for the next available workshop on our website here!

Earn continuing education credits while you learn.

In addition to convenient workshops like this introduction to play therapy, Mary Ruth Cross at the Academy for Play Therapy Training™ also offers retreats. A mental health professional can earn up to 20 continuing education by attending a retreat (approved for MFT’s, LPC’s, LCSW’s, LEP’s and licensed mental health professionals). This immersive training is an opportunity to temporarily leave behind the usual distractions of life for a time long enough to foster inner change. During this retreat, participants are able to:

1. Complete the ProQol assessment tool for the assessment of psychotherapist burnout and compassion fatigue
2. Identify and apply 3 expressive play therapy and/or art-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of psychotherapist burnout and compassion fatigue
3. Examine and investigate 5 developmental stages of play in children and teens
4. Examine and utilize 3 play therapy interventions that enhance understanding of brain functions
5. Describe and apply three self-assessment interventions that explore play therapists’ goals and development
6. List and explain 3 developmental considerations for play therapists to use in Sandtray Therapy
7. Explain and demonstrate 2 strategies that play therapists can use in witnessing, processing and drawing out the story of the sandtray

At the Academy for Play Therapy Training™ our instructor Mary Ruth Cross knows how important it is to not only understand the ins and outs of play therapy but to also feel equipped to build a successful, ethical practice. This is why we offer therapists and counselors the opportunity to continue studying child play therapy training through a class we call “Law and Ethics: What play therapists and counselors need to know”. In this class, we examine legal and ethical issues with the help of seasoned attorneys and Mary Ruth Cross a Registered Play Therapist with over 20 years of experience. This workshop is for new clinical supervisors as well as the more advanced supervisor. We will examine the different developmental phases that clinicians go through and how best to build a competent practice.

Interested in signing up? Let us know!

If you are interested in child play therapy training, please review the Academy for Play Therapy Training™ website at https://www.trainingplaytherapy.com! You may also wish to contact our team at (925) 626-0084 or send an email to Maryruth@tcservices.org. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, we are an approved provider for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Association for Play Therapy, and the American Psychological Association. Mary Ruth Cross is approved to provide Play Therapy continuing education credentials to MFT’s, LCSW’s, LPCC’s,and Psychologists. ( Mary Ruth Cross APT Approved Provider 09-2411 CEs for Marriage & Family Therapists, Licensed Social Workers, Professional Counselors and Psychologists offered through Sierra Institute for Contemporary Gestalt Therapy BBS provider 349 and approved by APA AND Association for Play Therapy-APT Approved Provider 09-241.) We provide these CE through play therapy training events, such as our play therapy training, play therapy workshops, and play therapy conferences. We look forward to hearing from you soon and answering any questions you might have about child play therapy training!