Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy
Program Overview |
Admission Requirements |
Application Process
Program Overview
Play therapy is a specialized area utilized by counselors, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists to treat children and adults as an alternative to and in conjunction with traditional talk therapies. The Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy is designed for licensed mental health professionals and graduate students who have met prerequisites to learn and develop methods to help individuals address and resolve their own problems through play. Children, adolescents, and their families are the main populations who can benefit from play therapy; however, play therapy is also used with the growing number of adults dealing with trauma and addictive behaviors and with seniors. The graduate certificate in Play Therapy provides the educational background necessary for students to become Registered Play Therapists.
Total: 18 creditsPLT601 Introduction to Play Therapy (2 cr.)This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of play therapy, a psychotherapeutic modality of choice for individuals, youth, and family.
Prerequisites:
- PY641 Marriage and Family Counseling
- PY605 Developmental Psychology
- PY607 Theories of Personality
- PY613 Counseling Theory and Technique
PLT611 Theories of Play Therapy (4 cr.)This course focuses on the major play therapy theories and models and provides the history of play therapy and its relationship to other mental health fields. The relationship of play therapy to principles, assessment, and diagnosis within psychology and family therapy is examined.
Prerequisites:
- PLT601 Introduction to Play Therapy
PLT631 Directive Application of Play Therapy (4 cr.)This course focuses on cognitive, behavioral, and experiential directive psycho-educational play therapy techniques. Didactic interventions to address family, parenting, and attachment concerns are explored.
PLT641 Non-Directive Application of Play Therapy (4 cr.)This course focuses on cognitive, behavioral, and experiential non-directive play therapy techniques. Expressive interventions to address trauma and abuse concerns are explored.
Prerequisites:
- PLT611 Theories of Play Therapy
PLT670 Practicum I (2 cr.)Play therapy theory and techniques are put into practice in a clinical setting for 250 hours. Accompanying practicum seminar sessions provide for the evaluation of issues, ethics, interventions and the articulation of personal play therapy models.
Prerequisites:
- PLT601 Introduction to Play Therapy
- PLT611 Theories of Play Therapy
- PLT631 Directive Application of Play Therapy
- PLT641 Non-Directive Application of Play Therapy
PLT671 Practicum II (2 cr.)Play therapy theory and techniques are put into practice in a clinical setting for 250 hours. Accompanying practicum seminar sessions provide for the evaluation of issues, ethics, interventions and the articulation of personal play therapy models.
Prerequisites:
- PLT601 Introduction to Play Therapy
- PLT611 Theories of Play Therapy
- PLT631 Directive Application of Play Therapy
- PLT641 Non-Directive Application of Play Therapy
- PLT670 Practicum I
Program Staff
Marriage and Family Therapy - Program Director
Counseling and Psychological Services/Marriage and Family Therapy - Program Coordinator