Play Therapy Training

Play therapy training is so important because it provides professional therapists with the opportunity to practice innovative and exciting therapy techniques. These techniques, which can be used during play therapy sessions, are important to learn and practice if you are a mental health professional interested in becoming, or improving as, a registered play therapist.

Why play therapy?

Play therapy provides a unique opportunity for children to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, and self-healing process. This process is highly effective because a child’s experiences and knowledge are often communicated through play. A registered play therapist works with children and their caregivers to research, assess, and treat developmental issues. A play therapist might work with children who exhibit any of the following challenges: anger issues, grief and loss, divorce and/or family stress, anxiety and depression, developmental delays, other learning or attention problems, such as ADHD, episodes of sadness, anxiety, or depression, social withdrawal or isolation, other social challenges, such as being the victim of bullying or bullying other children, decreased interest in previously enjoyed activities, changes in appetite, sleep, or mood swings, overly aggressive behavior, and separation, divorce, or relocation. Play therapists are trained to use many psychology techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, play therapists might incorporate one or several different types of play models that are designed to help children feel safe and heard. Play models may include but are not limited to models such as sand tray therapy, puppets and masks, and play therapy with animals.

As an approved provider for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Association for Play Therapy, and the American Psychological Association, the Academy for Play Therapy Training is approved to provide play therapy continuing education units to MFT’s, LCSW’s, LPCC’s,and Psychologists. (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 CEs through play therapy training, such as play therapy training near me, and play therapy training in Los Angeles. If you are interested in this training, please contact us at 925-626-0084.

Introduction to Play Therapy.

As an example of the training found at the Academy for Play Therapy Training, we offer an introduction to play therapy. This workshop presents the history, theories, and components of play therapy as a model to work with children, adolescents, and families. We cover theories such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, Ecosystemic Play Therapy, family therapy, and expressive arts. We also offer Child Centered Play Therapy, a non-directive method of working with children who are struggling with a variety of issues. The focus in this class is on the therapeutic relationship and deepening the connection as the therapist learns to enter into their young client’s world. This course will discuss, examine and practice the core set of skills needed to help children who are experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties. Other specific CCPT issues that are covered in this class include skills of: structuring, empathic listening, imaginary play, limit setting, understanding themes, trauma play, and tracking progress.

Years of experience.

If you would like to learn more about play therapy training 2019, play therapy training near me, and play therapy training in Los Angeles, please contact us at 925-626-0084. Our team includes Marriage and Family Therapists Mary Ruth Cross and Leslie Baker. A licensed therapist with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Mary Ruth is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor with multiple interns under her wing. She is a former president of the California Association of Play Therapy and a member in good standing with the Association of Play Therapy. Leslie Baker is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with over 25 years of experience in psychotherapy and has been a National Board Certified Counselor for the past 10 years. She is also the author of Healing Feelings: A healing story for children coping with a grown up’s mental illness. Leslie began her training in Play therapy as a pre-licensed clinician in Gestalt Play Therapy. She continues to apply her skills in the field of play therapy working with tweens, teens, and adults utilizing integrated play therapy interventions. She is committed to learning the latest trends including computer-mediated play and art therapies.

Contact us today to get started.

Please contact the Academy for Play Therapy Training at 925-626-0084 for more information. You may also review our play therapy training and workshops here on our website. We look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you might have!